The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-30
WAITING TO
 BE CONVINCED Money Will Ratify the
 Canal Treaty. THE PEOPLE INDIFFERENT Majority Have No Knowledge of Panama Waterway. Professor Caracristi Says in Case tho Compact is Not Endorsed, tho Isthmus VIII ssceds from tHs
 Colombian Government
THE PEOPLE INDIFFERENT

Washington. July 3.-(speciai. )--Frof- e. F. 2. Caracristi, Consulting Civil and Mining Engineer of New York City. who is largely identified with South American enterprises with Washington, New York and London interests. was in Washington today.
 Speaking of the Panama Canal treaty. he said:
 My information from Bogota seems to indicate that few of the boys are wait ing for some one to convince them thaA the treaty should be ratified. The Co., lombian people themselves take no intsr~ est in the pending negotiations. excepting those who live on the isthmus.
 "In fact. do not believe that 90 per cent. of the people of continental CoIom- bfa could tell you where the Panama Canal is located. Outside of the political leaders of both parties. the merchants and the clergy, but little interest is felt in the acceptance or for refusal of the treaty by the Congress.
 Tn Favor of Treaty.
 There are unquestionably able leaders for and against the treaty, the doninat~ ing power being in it's favor.
 The Government realizes that the rup- ture of negotiations with the United States and the leaving of the canal pro- Ject in statu quo will mean the secession of the Department of Panama which has for years been held by a very slender thread. Tn fact. 1t would have been lost to Colombia had 1t not been for the re- peated interference of the United States.
 Again, I find that certain Paris aa- thorities of no little importance will not accept without forcible protests on the part of Colombia that will lessen the rights of the canal company. "On the other hand. 1t is rumored in London financial circles that coup will be attempted in case the negotiations with the United States are carried through te stop the payment of the $10OO0.O00 subject to a settlement of the foreign debt, Lands and Mines.
 'aThere is some activity in Colomhian lands and mines and there will be more as soon as the canal question is settled. The rush now is for the coal lands of Colombia. These are held by the Ameri- can companies and the largest interest are represented by well known Washing ton capitalists whose engineer has been there for thirteen years. A powerful conp- pany is being formed with New York. Baltimore, Washington, Richmond. Mo- bile and New Orleans capital to operate the oil fields of the Caribbean coast and to enter largely into the fruit business by using the gulf ports in order to reach the western markets.
 'The canal will do much for the ports of Mobile, New Orleans and Pensacola. and already property values are on tho advance. owing to the fact that grain and other products from the West are finding their way over the Louisville and Nash vile, Illinois Central, Mobile and Ohio. Southern, and other roads, to the Gulf. instead of being shipped via Atlantic ports. as in the past.
 Investing in South America. 'NThe wealthy people of the Gulf ports have at last realized that in order to con trol the Latin-American commerce. they must become investors in these countries and control shipping facilities. As att tempts in this direction, especially in the banana business, have proved highly re- munerative, 1t is reasonable to assume that they will be extended.
 "If the canal is built. the price of thb meat supply in the South and Southwest will be greatly reduced, as cattle from Chili and Argentina will come into conn petition with the Western product.
 "The reason why so small a per cent age of American money is invested abroad is because the bonds and stock of com panles operating abroad cannot be used in this country as collateral 'This condition must change, owing to our extensive foreign possession. Colom- bia has unquestionably many of the worlds finest mines, and the labor condi- tions are such as to make the mines re- munerative in the extreme. am now preparing for the American Institute of Mining Engineers a report on the mines of Colombia with special reference to my own investigations covering a period of many years. R. H.. WatkinA