The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-28
TAFT STARTS ON TRIP
SECRETARY OF WAR NOW EN
 ROUTE TO PANAMA.
Will Make Personal Inyestigatfon of Conditions In Order te Equip Himself fer Hivfng Advice
 to C0ngreao.

Washington Oct. 27.--secretary Taft and his party started on their Panama trip tonight leaving here at 6:so o'clock by boat for Norfolk. He VIII transfer to the United States cruiser Columbia at old Point at 2 o'clock to- morrow morning.
 MT. Taft was overwhelmed with work up to the time of his departure. In the afternoon he went over the es- timated expenditures of the Canal Commission since July l. It is expect ed the purchase of the necessary plant to build the canal will be completed by January or June of next year.
 Secretary Taft will make compre- hensive personal investigation of con- ditions at Panama and inform himself. at first hand of the needs of the canal to be presented to Congress- As the cabinet officer is responsible for the administration of the canal zone and the construction of the canal. secre. tary Taft wants direct information of canal conditions to give to the Com- mittees of Congress for guidance In future Legislation. He will have a per- sonal interview with Governor Charles E. Magoon, the administrative officer of the canal zone and minister to the Republic of Panama, and will consult with Chief Engineer Stevens to gain information which cannot be adequate ly presented in written reports.
 A number of officials connected with the Taft fertilization board will accom- pany Secretary Taft to secure prelimi- nary information as to needed fortif- cations at the terminals of the canal. The party will consist of Secretary Taft, General John P. Storey, Colonel Clarence R. Edwards, Lieutenant Col onel William M. Black, Major George W. Goethals and Lieutenant Mark Brooks, the last three officers named being of the corps of engineers. Col onel Black and Lieutenant Brooks were In Panama at the time of the transfer of the property from the French com- pany to the United States government. Colonel Edwards is chief of the insu- lar bureau, through which the admin istrative affairs of the canal have been transacted. W. W. Milcher, assistant private secretary to Secretary Taft, will accompany the party.
 Secretary Taft, at the earnest re- quest of officials of Panama and the United States, has timed his visit so as to be in Panama on November 3, the second anniversary of the indepen- dence of the republic of Panama. The officials believe that his presence on this occasion will do much to strength en the relations between this govern ment and the isthmian republic.
 Secretary Taft will go from Wash ington to Old Point Comfort by steam CT and will board the United States cruiser Columbia at Hampton Roads Saturday morning. The Columbia has been prepared for the voyage and will at once sail for Colon with the Taft party. She is a triple-screw vessel, and can make very good time. Mir. Taft expects to remain on the isthmus a week or ten days, and will return to Washington by November IS. He will take with him all of the documents and data relating to canal affairs, and it Is expected that his report for the Uni ted States Congress will be very com plete upon his return.