The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-05-05
WILL HELP ROADS.
Federal Government Will Back Funds
for a s3o,ooO,ooo System in the
Philippines.

Chicago, April 26.-Active railroad
construction in the Philippine islands
will begin within year. Bonds to the
approximate amount of S30,000,000 are
to be issued by the syndicate which
contracts for the building of the lines
md 4 per cent interest on the bonds
will be guaranteed by the government.
The construction will approximate
:. COO miles. Seven hundred miles will
he built on the island of LuZon, TIE
lnrgest of the Philippine archipelago,
a.nd the remainder is to he divided be-
tween the islands of Panay, Negroes.
Cebu, Leyte and Samar in short lines
of from 40 to 100 miles each.
While no definite announcements
have been made by the government
concerning the plans, the information
has been given by a person intimately
associated with the work that the Phil
ippne commission LOW is considering
the installation of a railway system in
the islands. Within a week or ten days
the outlines being prepared by a Chi
cago engineer will be completed and
WIKI be forwarded to the Philippine
government. AS soon as the plans are
approved bids will be advertised for
along the lines embodied in the pros
pectus.
Is to Be an Up-to- Date System.
The advertisement will call for bidL
way system for the Philippines with
broad guage track and first class mod
ern equipment III every detail. based
upon american standards. The line to
be built is intended to be the finest in
any country in the orient.
The basis FOR the new railway sys-
TEN for the Philippines is the bill passed
by congress last February. This pro-
vides that for the purpose Of aiding
IN the construction of such lines in the
islands as the nsular government may
specifically authorize the commission is
empowered TO enter into a contract
with any railroad company. 1t further
is provided that the total liability of
the government shall not exceed an
annual amount of 81 600 and the
guarantee of interest Is limited to thirty
years.
F. A. Delano Working on Prospectus
+. A. Delano, recently elected vice
president of the Wabash railroad and
formerly general manager of the Bur-
lington system, has been at work dur
ing the past two months drawing up
the prospectus which will govern the
bidding for the government contract.
His preliminary work is nearly COM
pleted.
The government has not gone ahead
With this preliminary work without
first being assured that there would be
plenty OIL capital forthcoming 10 Dullu
the railroads. 1t is expected eighteen
or twenty syndicates will submit bids
for the work. Assurances have been
received from financiers and capital
lists.
1t was argued by the advocates of
the new railroads that they will save
the government much money by lessen
ing the cost of transporting troops and
supplies. 1t was said the annual de-
crease in expenses on this score will
more than equal the amount guar
anteed as interest should the lines be
unable to earn a cent beyond enough to
pay the expenses Of operating.
Supplies Must Be Imported
Mr.. Delano explained yesterday thai
the cost Of building the Philippine
roads would not exceed 100000 mile
1t would not reach this figure were 1t
not necessary to import most of the
supplies from the United States. Even
timber must be transported across the
Pacific and be cresOted in order to save
OF from the white ants which infest the
islands. AS an offset to the expense
of transporting supplies is the cheap
ness of labor in the islands.