The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-01-17

therefore, 10 restrict tnG executive
choice of commissioners to representa-
tives of the engineer corps of the army
or the navy. The commission should
consist of FIVE, or preferably of three
members, whose respective duties, ap-
pointments and salaries shall be as
signed to them by the president and
who should be placed under the mem
Der of the cabinet whom the president
directs. OF these men, the one ap-
pointed as administrator of the canal
strip should also serve as minister of
| Panama.
(Signed,) Theodore Roosevelt"
"The White House, January 13,
1906"
The secretary strongly recommends
the acquisition by the government of
per cent of the stock of the Panama
Railroad Co., now in private hands,
which may be secured by condemna-
ton, or through lease of the road
to the canal commission which would
practically effect the same purpose as
actual ownership of the stock.
! Referring to the existing contract
between the Panama Railroad Co., and
the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., giving
the right to issue through bills of
lading on business between San Fran
cisco and New York, the secretary
says that he thinks that the contract
is invalid. Regarding the New York
and Colon service Of the Panama Rail-
road Co., the secretary recommends
! that the present system be changed
by the leasing of the docks at Colon
to some concern that will give reason
able rates and proper weekly ser
vice between New York and Colon"
The secretary concludes that in view
of business on this line some other
American steamship line might be in
duced to undertake the business under
proper restrictions as to private and
government rates.
In the first report of the Isthmian
Canal commission attention is call
ed to the fact that it is presented at
a time when the several departments
created for convenient sub-divis-
ion of the work are still in a forma.
tive state. For this reason the report
is restricted to statement of what
has been done since the first meet.
ing of the commission, March %, 1904.
The commission is not yet ready to
recommend whether the canal shall
be constructed on the sea level or
with locks. In this connection the re
port carries long technical statement
explaining it's reasons for delaying its
recommendation.
Final plans for the deep water chan
mel and the inner harbor at the Colon
terminus of the canal, including about
mile of the canal line Immediately
within the entrance says the commits.
sion, will be concluded within the nexr
two or three months.
The Investigations as to the loca,
ton of the dam or dams to control the
Chagres river are nearing completion
and already data have been secured
sufficient to determine some of the
more important features of the prob
lem.
The construction of the entire water
works system for Panama Is being rap,
lulN DiCSSCu loWait SolhpiSaiohJ oii
will be available early in 1906.
! Considerable Importance is attached
in the report to the question of santa
tion and a full description is given
of the work being done along that
line.
1t is thought that the expenditures
, on the canal, including those made
: prior to the appointment of the com
, mission, may reach $5,000,000 to the
end of the current fiscal year.
| The treasurers report shows an un
expected balance out of the $10,OO000C
appropriated by congress OF $S,770,3SS
on November 30, 1904.
, Friction between General George w
Davis, governor of the canal zone, and
the Panama government, began OF
!. the second day of his arrival on the
! isthmus, according to his report which
} is made a part of the commission
report.
} However General Davis explains that
; it was due entirely to his demands thai
the canal treaty be properly inter
t preted and Secretary OF War Taft fl
! naly Strengthened out all differences
Of opinion.