The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-30
BRISTOW is BUSY,
San Francisco Shippers Are
Asked for Advice.
Representatives Of Commercial
Bodies Discuss Canal Problem.
GOVERNMENTS ROAD.
Uncle Sam Has Railway Left on
His Hands.
Commissioner Tells of the Pres
ent Panama Situation.

J. L Bristow. the special Panama
railroad commissioner, who is gathering
data for the president and secretary of
war bearing on the future Of the Pana-
ma railroad and the Panama. steamship
line between New York and the isthnlus,
made a statement this morning at the
st. Francis hotel, in which he invites
merchants and shippers to furnish him
with information in writing on the sub
ject Of his mission to San Francisco,
says the San Francisco Bulletin.
He said: II am anxious to get all the
information I can secure. and if any
one who has any definite information on
the subject discussed Will reduce it to
writing and mail it to me here, at the
St. Francis, or after tomorrow to Wash
ingtOn, I viii appreciate it: or anyone
who is a shipper. by the Panama route,
and who has suggestions to make which
will be of value to the government in
deter mining what policy should be pur-
sued in the operation OF the road in the
event il should be operated as COM
uerCial enterprise. 1 should be glad to
receive the suggestions, besides a writ
ten statement.
And If any one desires to interview
me I should be very glad to see the
person If that person has anything of
interest to present
This is all 1 can say. I am here to
gather information and not to impart
it. ] was much pleased with the meet
Ing yesterday, for it showed me that
your merchants realize the Importance
OF the question az issue.
Il am not certain how long 7 shall be
here but think shall probably leave
tomorrow"
The meeting referred to by Commits
sioner Bristow was held. at the large
assembly room Of the San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce yesterday after
noon, at the invitation of the Chamber
of Commerce All commercial bodies OF
San Francisco were represented in the
assemblage of merchants. capitalists,
shippers and lawyers. George A New
hall, president of the Chamber of Com
merce, presided. He introduced Com
missioner BrtstOw, who was given
cordial reception. Mr. Bristow. In ex-
planning the governments attitude on
the Panama question. said:
THE Panama railroad was construct
ed about fifty years ago by a New York
corporation, and has been in operation
since that time When the French COM
pany undertook to construct canal
across the 1sthmus of Panama it found
It necessary to purchase a majority OF
the stock in this railroad in order to
secure advantages which the railroad
had under its concession from the Col
ombian government. When the United
States government purchased from the
French company the canal property and I
determined to construct this Panama
canal it secured, as part of the assets of
that company, the Panama railroad |
that is, about 9S per cent of the stock /
The Panama railroad some years
sgO-the exact number do not now re- I
call-purchased a line of steamships |
and established a steamship line run [
ming from Colon to New York, Colon I
being the Atlantic terminus Of the Pan /
ANA railroad, and is operating that line !
at this time. When the government /
purchased the canal property, or at the |
time the government made the purchase !
of the canal property, the railroad was I
operated under New York. charter by 1
a company having its headquarters and /
its officers located in New York. 1t is \
operated at the present time by the /
same company and the same officers /
that were operating it at the time the |
United States acquired the property.
This is the first railroad, 7 believe, |
that our government has ever owned. /
It came into possession of it incident /
ally by the purchase of the canal The /
secretary of war has been given a /
good deal of advice as to what policy
should be pursued by the government |
in the management or the operation of
this road which, of course. has the |
steamship line and is operating this /
line of steamships. I will indicate the /
various opinions that have been ex-
pressed to the secretary of war by
those who have advised him as to
what policy the government should
pursue.
The secretary of war has been adj