The Washington times., 1902-01-18
ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION.
Continued from First Pase.)
lombia from treating with the United

States
The commission agreed that if they ac-
cept the Panama offer these concessions
must be removed in order that treaty
may be entered into with the United
States to enable the latter to control the
isthmus. Notwithstanding these obsta-
cles. the members argued that the phys
ical advantages and the shorter route of
the Panama Canal would probably Offset
the difficulties to be encountered in ac-
quiring the territory from Colombia.
1t is admitted by some of the members
| of the commission that were it not for
| the difficulties expected in negotiating
| with Colombia and the question Of inter
nal trouble in Colombia at this time,
when a treaty will have to be made,
there would be no opposition whatever
to the Panama route and no trouble
would be experienced in reaching an
agreement.
Title to Panama Properties.
The question which particularly en-
gagged the attention of the Commission
was in regard to the title which the Pan
anna Railroad Company can give for its
properties. The assurances of NJ. Lampre
on Thursday before the Commission were
emphatic upon this point.
talk about the results of the meetings of
the past few days Of the special session.
Senate Committee Meets.
The Senate Interoceanic Canal Commit
tee was called together yesterday by Sen
ator Morgan and was in session nearly
two hours. The various phases OF 18TH
mian canal legislation We're earnestly dis
cussed, but no definite conclusions were
reached.
The most important action taken was
the appointment of a subcommittee con-
sisting OF Senator's Harris, Foster of
Louisiana, and Kittredge to hear the
arguments the advocates of the Mendano
Canal Company desire to present in favor
of their project. The subcommittee in the
afternoon heard representatives of the
American Isthmian Ship Canal Company,
which proposes to build the canal by one
of the so-cailed granite routes.
The san Bias Route.
This is also called the San Bias route.
1t runs from a point near Mendano har
hor to a point near Pearl Island, and IS
but thirty miles in length, at sea level
and without locks.
Edward W. Serrell, consulting engineer
for the company; Col. F. f. Adams, of
New York, vice president and Theodore
Schroeder, counsel for the company, were
examined by the committee. They ad
mitted that the company had no oonces-
sions on property: that they ned never
mace extensive surveys OF the proposed
route, but depended on surveys made by
McDoug2l in 1864 ana by Prof. Hopkins
in 1886. The company had been organized,
however, and plans and estimates pre-
pared.
Route Shorter, Cost Eess.
The route was much shorter than either
the Panama or the Nicaragua projects,
and. according to all estimates, would
cost much less. The estimates called for
an expenditure OF $75,OGO,OCO, and they
placed the outside limit OF cost at $780,,
OQG 900 for the completion OF the canal in
three years. II included the construction
of a tunnel 202 feet in the clear through q
solid mountain of granite five miles in
length and an electric trolley TO tow the
vessels through the tunnel.
The company proposed TO issue bonds
and construct the canal under Govern
ment supervision and inspection. AS fast
as they had expended $4,000, 600 and the
work was satisfactory TO the Government
inspectors, the Government should pay
them s. ,0C0, Gee, and so on until the canal
was completed within the limit. In other
words, the company was to build and own
the canal, and the Government was to pay
half of the cost, in return for free tran
sit for its warshics forever.
Asks Thirty Days to Prepare Plans.
Senator Hanna asked the representa-
tives of the company to submit to the
committee d formal proposition. stating
just what the company would undertake
TO do, but Mr.. Schroeder asked for thirty
days in which to prepare detailed esti-
mates and plans. The agents of the COM
pany were now on the isthmus, he said
gathering data and enquiring into the