The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-04
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

washington, ~. ~, April 27, 1905.
Secretary Taft has written a let
ter to J. J. Hooker of Cincinnati
which will unquestionably cause
CONSERVATION among the owners of
the transcontinental railways. The
Secretary announces that rates on
the Panama Railway will be fixed
without regard to transcontinenta
rates within the United States, and
that all steam and sailing vessels
will be at liberty to compete for the
carrying trade between New York
and Colon aud Panama and San
Francisco. Whether or not this will
operate to demoralize the rates now
charged by the railways which
cross the United States the Secre-
tary declares he does not know
and, moreover, he plainly intimates
that he does not care. The rate
which will be charged by the Pan
anna Railway will be simply sufi.
cient to cover operating expenses
and to provide for a moderate sink
ing fund which ultimately will be
used to recoup the United States
for the initial cost, Moreover, the
Secretary announces that the Gov
ernment will continue to operate
the steamship line between New
York and Colon to prevent the
possibility of monopoly by which
the Government might be robbed
OIL the transportation of materials
for the canal.
Xxx
Secretary Taft's letter was called
forth by communication from Mr.,
Hooker, who is chairman Of the
Executive Committee of the Re.
ceivers and Shippers Association of
Cincinnati, in which Mr.. Hooker
calls attention to an interview
which quotes Chairman Shonts of
the Canal Commission as saying
that the Commission purpose to do
nothing which will demoralize the
transcontinental railway rates.
The Secretary submits that it is
probable Chairman Shouts was in
correctly quoted, but adds that Mr..
Shonts does not believe that the
rates charged by the Panama rail
way will materially affect the rail
way rates within the United States
for the reason that the capacity Of
the isthmus road will be limited
and that transportation via the
isthmus is necessarily extremely
slow.
**s
While Mr.. Shonts may feel no
anxiety with regard to railway |
rates, it is obvious that the owners
of the transconinental roads are
most apprehensive. In fact, they |
have already several high priced
representatives in Washington who
have sought to have the Panama
Commission take some step to per-
petuate the monopoly now enjoyed
by the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany, which is controlled by the
railroads. 1t is true that the capac-
ity Of the Panama railway is limited
but it is equally true that the Com
mission has just determined to
double its capacity by laying double
tracks and that it has further
placed orders for new and power
ful engines, improved rolling stock
and has purchased the rails with
which to improve the road. In
any event, the consumers and
shippers of the West will be great
ly relieved to learn that the Canal
Commission will not be allowed to
take into consideration the wishes
of the American railroads.
Xxx
The cost of double-tracking the
Panama railway is estimated at
Fl, ESQ, 900 and twenty-iour big
'Mogul," double ended locomo-
tives, together with 500 freight cars
will soon be added to the equip
ment. Theodore P Shonts is
a man "who does
things" He has built one rail-
road, which he sold at handsome
profit and he has been for some
time president of another. Orders
Tor more passenger cars will also be
placed in the near future and Mr..
Shonts can be counted on to push"
the railroad in its every department