New-York tribune., 1903-08-08
NO CABLE MESSAGES.
Company's Demand Refused-,State
Department Wowied.
[FRoM TIE rnIBrNF nrnEAr.1

Washington, Aug with the State Depart
ment on the anxious seat as TO whether several
Important cable dispatches recently sent to
Bogota have been delivered, and with no way of
relieving the intense anxiety felt throughout the
United States relative to the progress that is
being made toward the ratification of the canal
treaty by the Colombian Congress, the occasion
for the cessation of all communication with the
isolated Colombian capital has been the subject
Of earnest inquiry. When this question was
asked of DR.. Herran the Colombian Minister at
Washington, to-day. he briefly reviewed the diff
Guilty between his government and the Central
and South American Telegraph Company
For the last twenty-five years this company
has held franchise from the Colombian Gov
ernment which gave it exclusive cable rights on
the Pacific side of the Colombian territory.
This franchise expires in August of next year.
Some months ago the company which has its
main Offices in New-York, represented to Min
lister Concha, DR.. Herran's predecessor that il
wished 10 improve the lines but would not do
this unless assured of an extension of the fran
chise for another twenty-five year period and
the minister in Washington was requested to
negotiate a new contract simply for an extern
sion of the franchise. Before the negotiations
could be completed the company demanded
new deal with reference to rates. Under the
original franchise tolls were made payable in
silver. At that time the difference in value be-
tween silver and gold was only about Is per
cent. As this difference has since become much
greater the company wanted the rates increased
correspondingly Another demand from the
company according to DR.. Herran, was for land
line concessions, which amounted practically to
giving the company complete monopoly of
both the east and west coasts Of the country.
These demands tied up the negotiations COM
pletely, and Minister ConCha, his retirement,
left them at a complete standstiu
When DR. Herran took, charge at Washington
the company sent him the draft of a contract
which it wanted signed by his government.
This contract, he says would give the company
an absolute monopoly of the cables of the At
lantic Coast, in addition to continuing its monop-
oily OF the Pacific Coast Besides, it wanted the
rlsht TO control the land lines of the country.
DR.. Herran says that he informed the company
that the franchise it wanted was worth much
more than the old one it had held and that if
the old franchise was to be renewed all idea of
controlling the Atlantic Coast as to cables must
be dropped, as we'll as the land line proposition.
The president of the company insisted on the
terms OF the new contract and threatened to
close the cable office at Buenaventura unless it
was agreed to. DR.. Herran informed the COM
pdny that It could not well close its Office until
the expiration of its franchise next year The
cable company however, carried out its threat
and its office at BuenaVentura was closed on
July 10, since which time all cable communica-
ton with Colombia has been practically cut off
The only way to reach BOgota by wire at the
lines, to Panama, send the message by steamer
to Buenaventura, a thirty-hour rum and then
transmit it three hundred miles over the gov
ernment land line TO Bogota Since the cable
office has been closed this land line has not been
kept in repair and 1t Is doubtful whether il is in
working order. DR. Herran says it is an ex-
pensive line to maintain. as it passes through a
wilderness. Storms are frequent and the line is
often down.
Future negotiations with this particular COM
pany DR.. Herran seems to think impossible, so
far as his government is concerned. He points
out the advantage to the United States of the
refusal of bis government to grant a ca BILE
monopoly TO the company. saying that had this
been done the United States would have been
completely at the mercy of the company should
it undertake the construction of the canal in
which event a government cable would un-
doubtedly be put down. but would have to be
laid terms to suit this company It is not
unlikely that other companies will seek a cable
franchise a the hands of the Colombian Gov
ernment. copy of the new contract demanded
by the cable company has been filed with the
State Department by 4Dr. Herran a matter of