The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-19
Plans Under Way to Again
Advance the San Bias
Route Proposed Last SUM-
mer.
Said to Have Met Somewhat
With Approval of Presl-
dent ROOSeveit-VIeWS OF
Senators.

TranscontinentaI railroads have turned
to the President for assistance in pre-
venting canal legislation at the present
session Of Congress. and according to
rumors he has given a willing ear 10
their entreaties- It is fair to him. how
ever. to say that the hand Of the rail
road interests has been kept under
cover. This phase OF the question has
been revealed by Senators who have
given the canal routes thorough study
and have personally advocated the taxi
ing Of some action at this session.
President Roosevelt has begun an in
vestigation Of the san Bias route. which
was presented TO Congress at the last
session. through the influence OF Cen
eraI soTreI, promoter of a company or
ganized in New Jersey Senator Scott
made a speech in favor of the route. L
provides for a canal only twenty-nine
miles long, but FIVE miles of that is
through a tunnel of solid rock. The route.
is wholly within the territory embraced
in the concession to the Panama Canal
Company. so that to obtain the route
it would be necessary for he United
States to negotiate with this company.
as well as TO secure treaty with Co
IOmbia. The President is said TO b1
considering this route in comparison
with the Panama and Nicaragua
routes, with view TO determining which
IS the better
Members Of The Senate Committee on
Inter-Oeeanic Canals profess 10 know
that the railroads, headed by the South
erR Pacific. are responsible for the re-
EiEaal-s6-tAe san Bias discussion sna
that it IS due 70 their renewed activity
that the President has become interest
ed These Senator's say that unless some
discussion foreign TO that which viii be
brought OUT by the two routes now pend
ing in Congress. Legislation VIII be pass
ed before adjournment, March + There
fore. In casting ABOUT for some means Of
blocking the program they have adopted
the san Bias r6uae,
The Izthmylu Canal Commission re
ported that yfhe tunnel route was not
practical. 20 Admiral Walker. president
Of the coI9nlission. has advised the Pres
ident against it Senator Hanna was
mach IL favor OF the route when The
proposition was first presented TO him.
but Y4e Immediately entered into com
1luIE.cat5ou with ship owners and ship
ma5 5ters ana was Informed that they
E4UlJ Ect take vessels through tunnel
fy-e miles long under any circumstances.
YcEator Hanna then Joined in The opposi-
ton, and il was supposed until d few
days ago that The route had been finally
rejected.
The men back OF General SorreI- and
people now here who are said To rep
resent the railroads in their antagonisnl
10 canal legislation Of all kinds, plan to
again throw the route into Congress and
at this stage induce The President to
suggest a commission to visit the route
and report 10 Congress. If this can be
done il would delay legislation another
year or two
The present Congress would never con
slider the san Bias route ia view of
the report Of the shipping interests.
made through Senator Hanna, the route
Is regarded IS inpractieeble. Tney say
that even il a fye-mile tunnel through
solid rock is not an impossible engineer
ing feat lGe snip masters would never
run the risk Of being caught by scaling
rock or encoUnteriug The many other
dangers that might result