The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-13
ALMOST A new PANAMA R. R.
THE CANAL BUILDERS ADOPT
IMPORTANT PLANS.
Double Track and Cheaper Freight Rates
Part az the Scheme-They Alsn Decide
60 Give japanese and Chinese Labor
ers a Chance 1T the Ditch Digging.

Double Track and Cheaper Freight Rates
Part Of the Scheme-They AlsO Decide
TO Give Japanese and Chinese Labor
rrs a Chance 1T the Ditch digging.
WASHINGTON. April l2-The Executive
Committee Of the Isthmian Canal Com
mission met with Secretary Taft to-day,
and decisions were reached upon many
pending questions. Tho plea Of the dlpIo-
matte representatives Of seven South and
Central American countries-Guatemdla.
Chile, Ecuador Peru. Bolivia, Colombia and
Nicaragua for readjustmert Of the
freight rates on the Panama Railroad, was
thoroughly discussed. and the diplomats
were called in to aid in reaching decision.
II was finally decided to conduct the road
which Is entirely in the possession Of the
Government, with three points in view
For the Transporting Of material for the
canal work; to increase its capacity COM
mercially as much as possible; and TO earn
enough from the freight revenues to main
tain the road and the steamship line, and,
if possible TO pay interest on the 100000
the Government has invested in the project.
With these points in view, II will bopossiblo
to make much lower rates. and It Is expected
thst the increase in traffic caused by the
reduction will increase the volume OF busl-
ness between the west coast and the United
States 50 much tnat tho actual earnings
viii decrease but little
To carry out tie plars. discussed to-day
| IL will be neCt ssary 10 make repairs 70 the
road and fur ish IL with an entirely rcw
| equipment. New engines and cars VIII
I be purchased. ThCse now in use will not
| be discarded. but will be used for work
\ on tie canal. The ordinary box car Of
| the present equipment has capacity Of
about ten 10 twelve TOYS Tie new cars
| will carry at least thirty-fiye tons, and the
| new engines will be caIable Of pulling
I much heavier train than these now IN use.
The use Of heavier rolling stock will Of
| course niece ssitate much repairing Of tracks
| and bridges. Ultimately the line across
| the Is,hmUs will be double tracked. IL
! is the desire Of the commission ~ MAINTAIN
| the road 40 a link between the Pacific ard
| the Atlantic until the canal il fl isEed and
to make il as important commercially as
/ pc sslble.
1t is the intention to establish a fat rate
Of much lCss u an S. ton for freight trar e.
ported acre So the is:hmvs. This will mean
! a reduction Of probably 20 per cent. Of
the cost Of trar spoTtation from South and
| Central American ports TO New York or
| to Europe At pros'nt, il Is cited. the
cost Of trar epOrtation across the lsthmrs
| alone is about 50 and s1metimes as ugh
20 IS a ton. According 10 Chief Engineer
Wallace TIE actual cost Of moving "A ton
Of freight from ono side Of the lsthmUs TO
the other Il l~ss thsn s., so.
As an experiment a contract will be made
for 1000 Japanese and 1900 Chinese labor
ers for work on the canal. These viii be
sent TO the lsthmus as soon as possible Tor
a trial. II the plan works satisfactorily
contracts will be made for more Of the orr
entail wUrktnCn.
The meeting Of the executive committee
and Secretary Taft also decided on work
for the four members Of the Connnlss on
who we're appointed to M the quota Of
seven equired 10y law. Under the plan
Of reorganization Of the commission the
work was divided into three departments
and three Of the members. Mr.. Shonts,
Judge Magoon and Mr.. Wallace were
each made the head Of department. Prac-
ticallv no duties remained for the four
other members
II was decided to-day that those mem
bers, Major Ernst, Mr. Harrod, Rear Ad-
miral Endcott and Brig. Gen. Haines,
ell engineers, shall constitute board 70
pass on engineering questio rs which may
arise during the construction OF the canal.
No further selections Of mombers OF the
consulting board Of engineers, which viii
have three foreigners in Us personnel
were made.
It is said that NJ. Bunau- Varills. the
first diplomatic representative from
Panama 70 the United States, and who
participated in the negotiations for the
purchase Of the canal property. will sub
mit to the consulting board a plan for build
ing the canal II has teen said that NJ
Bunau-N arilla contends that 10y his plan
the canal can he completed IN four years
The Washington Offices Of the commits
sion arc to beplaced under the supervision
81 Col. Clarence r. Edwards chief Of the
Bureau Of lnsular Affairs, who will, how
ever, remain at the head OF the insula
bureau