Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-04-27
WILL HELP ROADS.
Federal Government Will Back Funds
for $ao,coo,0oo System in the
PHILIPPINES,

Chicago, April 26.-Active RAILROAD
construction in the Philippine islands
will begin within Il year Bonds to the
approximate amount of 900 are
to be issued by the syndicate which
contracts for the building of the lines
and per cent. interest on the bonds
will be guaranteed by the government.
The construction will approximate
1000 miles. Seven hundred miles will
be built on the island of Luzon. NE
largest of the Philippine archipelago.
and the remainder is to be divided be-
Cebu, Leyte and Samar i'll 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 person intimately
associated With the work that the Phil
ippine commission Low is considering
the installation of a railway system in
the islands. Within a week or ten days
the outlines being prepared by Il Chi
cago engineer will be completed and
will 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 p-to-Date System.
The advertisement will call for bids
for constructing a comprehensive rail-
way system for the Philippines With
broad guage track and first class mod
ern equipment in 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-
tenn for the Philippines is the bill passed
by congress last February. This pro-
vides that for the purpose of aiding
q, no CT of
islands as the insular government may
specifically authorize the commission is
empowered to enter into Il contract
with any railroad company. 1t further
is provided that the total liability OF
the government shall not exceed an
annual amount of $l.20O,O0o and the
guarantee of interest is limited to thirty
years.
E. A. Delano Working on Prospectus
f. 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 ul
the prospectus which will govern the
| bidding for the government contract
His preliminary work is nearly com
/ p!eted.
The government has not gone ahead
with this preliminary work without
/ first being assured that there would be
| plenty of capital forthcoming to buile
the railroads. Ii is expected eighteen
! or twenty syndicates will submit bids
for the work. Assurances have beer
received from tinanciers and capital
| lists.
1t was argued by the advocates o
the new railroads that they will sav'
the government much money by lessen
ing the cost of transporting troops anc
supplies. 1t was said the annual de
crease in expenses on this score vii
more than equal the amount guar
| anteed as interest should the lines b.
4 unable to earn a cent beyond enough Il
pay the expenses of operating.
Supplies Must Be Imported.
Mr.. Deano explained yesterday tina
the cost of building the Philippine
roads would not exceed 100000 a mile
! III would not reach this figure We're j
not necessary TO import most of TIN
supplies from the United States Ever
timber must be transported across tn
4 Pacific and be cresoted in order to say
ot from the white ants which infest th
islands. AS an offset to the expens
of transporting supplies is the cheap
ness of labor in the islands.