Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-18
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.l

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Washington, d. c., July Is.
The notice which DR.. Herran, the
Columbian Minister, has given Secre-
tary HAY. that the special session of the
Colombian Congress will not end on
Tuly 20. AS has been understood, but
will continue indefinitely to consider
the Panama canal treaty, is a piece OF
news of the greatest Importance to the
banking interests of the country, partic-
ularly the large banks of New York
CITY In effect this notice means that
payments on account OF the Panama
Canal will have to be made by either the
Treasury or the banks holding govern
ment money before January next. Until
this statement was made, it was believed
that the canal treaty would be ratified
by the Colombian Congress on or before
the goth of this month. This meant
that following such ratification $50, OOO,-
600 in gold would have to be paid out
by the United States, $40, 900, 600 to
the Panama Canal Company, and SlO,-
600 600 to Colombia. OF this $50, OOO,-
600 Treasury officials expected to furnish
500, 600, 900 from the gold held in the
treasury and the balance would have
been taken from the large banks in New
York and elsewhere that hold govern
ment funds. This prospective with
drawal of gold has been of much con-
Germ to bankers, as it meansa Tightening
of money rates for some time to come;
indeed it is understood that the present
high rates for time money are in a
measure due to preparations by some of
the banks in anticipation Of the canal
pavment. With the latter now post
poned until January, this will enable
Secretary Shaw to deposit some of the
free gold with depository banks.
Cable communication between the
United States and Colombia have been
entirely cut off and the State Depart
ment has no means of hearing from or
communicating with Minister Beaupre
at Bogota regarding the canal treaty
except through the tedious process Of
the mail. The following notice has
been issued by the Central and South
American Cable Company to the West
ern Union Telegram Company ; "After
July 18th Geographic communication
with Bueua Ventura, and inland Col
ombia beyond will be closed until
further notice Steamers leave Panama
for Bueua Ventura fortnightly after
July a." Back of this announcement
there is an interesting story of an at
tempt to "hold up" the Colombia gov
eminent to compel the granting of
monopoly which would be very embar-
RAISING to the United States when work
on the Panama Canal actually begins.
Never before in the history of the
United States have military manOeuyers
been held Oh such large and compre-
hensive scale as those which are TO
take place next month off the coast of
Maine. First, two immense fleets, COM
prising the flower of the American navy,
will combat for supremacy-One repre-
senting an American squadron defending
a port on the New England coast, the
other taking the part Of an enemy at
tempting to capture the port or 50 elud-
ing the watchful eyes Of the home fleet
as to afford an opportunity TO prey on
the coast commerce of this country. AT
the conclusion of this co-called search
problem, the representative American
squadron and the former enemy will
combine forces under the command of
Rear Admiral S. Barker, and, forming
the largest and best equipped fleet Of
warships that has ever been modified
off the coast Of the United States, will
swoop down upon Portland harbor,
Me-, and will endeavOr by all means
known to naval strategists ofthis country
to prove that the army land defenses Of
that important port are unable to with
stand the attack of fleet ofthis strength.
Such are the general features of the
mammoth manOeuyres that have been
planned under the direction of the most
capable and best known army and navy
officers of the United States. On August
Is a most spectacular inspection of the
immense feet will be made by the Presi-
dent of the United States, the Secretary
of the navy and Admiral George Dewey
off Oyster Bay.
The President has selected Col Thos. II.
Barry, assistant adjutant general, to be
brigadier general ia the line to fill the va
cancy that will be created by the promotion
of Gen. Leonard Wood TO be major general.
Col. Barry is now adjutant general Of the de-
partment of the east and is stationed IN New
York city.
The court has passed an order directing the
sale ola paper called the News, published in
this city By Watson, the defaulting clerk, and
in which he has lost nearly $4,000.