Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-02-14
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONGRESS

titled before the senate comittee or
interoceanic canals concerning the
feasibility of the Panama route for q
canal. Mr.. Plume Is contractor and
railroad man, and in the latter ca
pacity spent five years as roadmaster
of the Panama railroad. He said the
difficulty of excavating canal in that
region would be very great because OF
the character of the soil. The coun-
try, according to his count, Is full OF
small springs which keep the soil in
such a moist condition that 1t is quite
impossible to handle 1t except in the
most tedious and expensive manner.
He also spoke of the section as the
most unhealthy on the American con-
tinent saying that of fifty-three men
sent to the isthmus as engineers, SUI
perintendents, clerks, ETC., all but
three had died within three months.
Major McClaughry, warden of the
military prison at Leavenworth, and
Representative Curtis, appeared be-
fore the cimmittee on appropriations
and asked that sufficient funds be set
aside for the completion of the exterior
of the new prison building at once.
1t was explained that If this Is cone
the prisoners can be removed from
the old buildings and themselves COM
plete the interior work.
Governor Taft continuing his state
ment concerning conditions in the
Philippine archipelago before the SEN
ate committee on the Philippines. re-
sumed his account of his last years
tour of the provinces. He said that,
next to Manila, Cebu came nearer to
being city in point of population
and manner of improvement than any
other place in the archipelago. The
island of Cebu, he said, is the most
densely settled of the group. 1t had
been a question whethc. a civil gov
eminent should be established in Cebu,
because, just before the arrival of the
commission, the insurgents had been
firing into the capital site, but people
had insisted and the organization had
been effected. Speaking generally,
Governor Taft said there were no
roads in the Philippine islands under
tie Spanish regrime, bkut that since
the establishment of American control
81, 100000 had been appropriated for
road improvements, 10th for strategic
and commercial purposes Most of the
towns are on the sea coast and the
greater part of the travel for any dis
lance is by boat. He also said that
the wheels of such vehicles as are used
are so narrow that they cut up the
roaGs badly. Moreover, the frequent
freshets in the streams render 1t diff
flcult to maintain the roads. In most,
If not all, the islands, Colonel Taft
said there is a mountain backbone
which is practically impossible. Cen
eral Hall had succeeded in crossing the
Luzon mountains, but his men were
almost dead when they emerged. In
his tour Governor Taft had found the
industries in progress, though much
interrupted, largely on account OF the
destruction of the water buffalo or
cariboo, the work cattle of the island.
The brief of the state of Kansas in
the proceedings of that state against
latter in the use of water from the
Arkansas river has been filed in the
United States supreme court. The
document covers $50 printed pages.
1t is claimed that the diversion of the
waters of the Arkansas affects $780,
900 acres of land in Kansas. worth |
$50 000,0 900, and that much of this |
land is owned by the state itself. 1t
Is set forth tnat it would he imprac-
ticable for individual owners to in
that Colorado. not only as a party in
interest, but as the party responsible
for the creation of all ditch corpora
tions, is the proper respondent. II is
asserted that there is no desire to in
jure or harrass the state of Colorado
by the proceeding. but that the only
purpose of the suit is t protect the
interests of Kansas. On this point the
brief says in part: "The Arkansas
river, is in its natural condition. a
generous stream, and insofar as it's
waters can be used in Colorado for
purposes and then returned
to the bed of the river, and insofar
as the waters can be diminished in
seasons of food and at other times
without injury to ourselves. their TAX
ing will not be resisted by rs. We
wish it understood that we do not ask
Dr. expect the destruction of the IT.
'igation bitches heretofore constructed
and now used by persons and cor
)orations in Colorado. Doubtless
some restrictions should be placed
Ipon the use of the waters, but is is
sought by this proceeding merely to
prevent the state of Colorado from
Using its vast power and wealth in
liverting these waters. and to stop it
rom granting authority to others to
10 So
The house committee on territories
rave hearing tn 81 DELEGATION from |