Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-07
THE PANAMA CANAL TREATY


give Colombia thc material support
that may be required in order to pre-
vent the occupation Of said islands and
ports, guaranteeing there the sover-
eighty, independence and integrity of
Colombia.
Article Z. The republic of Colombia
includes in the foregoing grant the
right, without obstacle, cost or impedi-
ment, to such control, consumption and
general utilization in any manner found
necessary by the United States to the
exercise by it of the grants to and
rights conferred upon it by this treaty
of the waters of the Chagres river and
other streams, lakes and lagoons, of all
non-navigable waters, natural and arti-
fetal, and also to navigate all rivers,
streams, lakes and other navigable
waterways within the jurisdiction and
under the dominion of the republic of
Colombia in the department of Pan
ma, within or without said zone, as
may be. necessary or desirable for the
construction, maintenance and opera
ton of the canal and its auxiliary
canals and other works, and without
tolls or charges of any kind, and to
raise and lower the levels of the waters
and to defect them, and TO impound
any such waters and to overflow any
lands necessary for the due exercise OF
such grants and rights to the United
States, and to rectify, construct and
improve the navigation of any such riv.
ers, streams, lakes and lagoons at the
sole cost of the United States; but any
such waterways so made by the United
States may be used by the citizens of
Colombia free of tolls or other charges.
And the United States shall have the
right to use without cost any water,
stone, clay, earth or other minerals be-
longing to Colombia on the public do
main that may be needed by it. All
damages caused to private landOwn-
ers by inundation or by the deviation
of water courses or in other ways aris-
ing out of the construction or opera
ton of the canal shall in each case be
and settled by a joint COM
mission appointed by the governments
of the United States and Colombia, but
the cost of indemnities so agreed upon
shall be borne solely by the United
States.
Ports Free For All Time.
Article s. The government of Co
lombia declares free for all time the
ports at either entrance of the canal,
including Panama and Colon and the
waters thereof, in such manner that
there shall not be collected by the gov
of Colombia custom house
tolls, tonnage, anchorage, lighthouse,
wharf, pilot or quarantine dues, nor
any other charges or taxes of any kind
shall be levied or imposed by the gov
eminent of Colombia upon any vessel
using or passing through the canal or
to or employed by the United
States, directly or indirectly, in connec-
ton with the construction, mainte-
nance and operation of the main work
or its auXiliaries, or upon the cargo,
officers, crew or passengers of any such
vessels, it being the intent of this con-
vention that all vessels and their car
goes, crews and passengers snail be
permitted to use and pass through the
canal and the ports leading thereto,
subject to no other demands or impOsi-
tons than such tolls and charges as
may be imposed by the United States
works, it being understood that such
tolls and charges shall be governed by
the provisions of article 16.
The ports leading to the canal, in
Guiding Panama and Colon, also shall
be free to the commerce of the world,
and no duties or taxes shall be imposed
except upon merchandise destined to
be introduced for the consumption of
the rest Of the republic of Colombia or
the department of Panama or upon
vessels touching at the ports of Colon
and Panama and which do not cross
the canal.
Though the said ports shall be free
and open to all, the government of Co
Iombia may establish in them such GUS
tom houses and guards as Colombia
may deem necessary to collect duties
On importations destined to other por-
tons of Colombia and to prevent con-
traband trade. The United States shall
have the right to make use of the ports
at the two extremities of the canal, in
Panama and Colon, as places of
in order to make repairs for
loading, unloading, depositing or trans
shipping cargoes, either in transit or
destined for the service of the canal
and other works.
Taxation.
Any concessions or privileges granted
DIV Colombia for the operation of light
houses at Colon and Panama shall be
subject to appropriation, indemnifica-
ion and payment in the same manner
as is provided by article IA in respect
20 the property therein mentioned. but
Colombia shall make no additional
grant of any such privilege nor change
the statutes of any existing conces
sions.
Article 8. There shall not be imposed
any taxes, national, municipal, depart
mental or of any class. upon the canal,
he vessels that may use it, tugs and
other vessels employed in the service
IF the canal, railways and auxiliary