The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-03
AFTHRARSFROMTHETTHMUS
BREAK IN RESERVOIR AT COLON
WORRIES HIM A LITTLE.

Panama Railroad Not Equal Yet
TO the Demands Upon It-Net Earnings
Less-DirectOr I'm Place OF Parsons.
Secretary Taft came over from Washing
ton yesterday afternoon, attended the
annual meeting Of the Panama Railroad
Company and left In the early evening ior
Tuskegee, Ala, where he Is to deliver an
address at Tuskegee Institute. Az the
conclusion Of the railroad meeting he TAXED
at some length of canal prospects on the
Isthmus.
As far as 1 can learn he said, every
thing Is progressing there generally In q
highly satisfactory condition. I've no
doubt Chief Engineer Stevens has MS
troubles. These are bound to come, but
affairs are in much better shape there than
ever before.
THE only disquieting new I have heard
"a that there has been n break in one OF our
new reservoirs at Colon. l don't know
how serious 1t Is, for / a not received an
answer to a message l sent to Stevens Tor
particulars. I am in hopes, though, that
1t can be repaired. for the problem OF prov1d-
ing an adequate water supply has presented
a great many difficulties. The dry season
there is absolutely dry. Not a drop OF
water falls, and it Is absolutely essential
than an adequate supply be stored against
this season, if healthful conditions are to
be maintained. How the people managed
to survive at all on the Isthmus without
water storage is one Of the wonders that
has impressed me most about the 1sthmus.
"Mr. Stevens and most Of his associates
nave taken up their residence in Culebra,
where the conditions are better than at
Panama, and are much pleased with the
change in location. They have now the
advantage Of a new town, with architecture
suited to the climate, and good sewerage
and water systems, as against the heavy
buildings, narrow streets and oppressive
atmosphere of Panama. But there will
be a great improvement in Panama when
the wide thoroughfare extending from
the railroad station direct through the
heart of the city to the harbor is COM
pleted. With the improvements in sewerage
and water supply this t~horoughfare will
help make life much more worth living In
that city.
sThe railroad has handled u greatly in
creased amount Of business recently, but
its capacity Ii by 40 means equal to the
dem ands upon 1t. When the process Of
double tracking ia completed 1t will I'M
doubtedly prove adequate, but until then
there is not much chance that it will be able
to handle with despatch the passengers.
the supplies and materials for the work.
men and the other freight traffic and at
the same time help In removal of material
excavated from the bed of the canal.
NO, / do not care to state whether in
my opinion the sea level canal or the IS foot
canal will finally be adopted or when deci-
sion will be reached, There is, Of course,
no necessity of my restating my position,
for | am on record with the President as
favoring the IS foot level. But both Mr..
Stevens and myself are anxious that a
decision be made soon. in order that the
work can be expedited more rapidly h
at present"
Besides the secretary. there were present
at the meeting Edward A. Drake, William
Nelson Cromwell, Benjamin NJ. Harrod,
ME-. Endioott. p. c. Hams and o., H. Ernst.
The railroad Is owned by the Government,
and Mr.. Taft, as holder Of the Govern
ment's stock, voted 90 ,087 shares out Of the
total issue Of 10, 900. II only change in
the board of directors was the election Of
W. Leon Pepperman, assistant chief in the
office of Isthmian Canal affairs at Washing
ton, who succeeds William Barclay Par
sons. Mr.. Parsons resigned because he is
no longer connected with the lsthmian
Canal Commission. All the rest Of the di-
rectors have such a relation.
The officers presented a financial report
covering the ten months ending October
Is. 1905, and a supplemental report which
will be embodied with the former on it's
pres e~ntation by Secretary Taft to Con-
gress. Setting off the business for the
ten months period against the preceding
ten months, the report draws these COM
parsons; Total railroad earnings, 8 1872
552, 80 in 1905, as against 81 $40 ,34s.sO in 1904; !
net railroad earnings, $89s ,942. "A, against
$797, OO1 "a; total steamship earnings, 81 1885,
O58. 9S, against $3.50, $50. 80; net steamship
earnings. S5s, $50. IL against $l09 ,517.87; grand |
total earnings, $3,077, eli %, against 81, 541,-
Ol9. 10; grand total expenses, $3.50 .938. go, |
against s1,64o, 1913 total net earnings, |
1857 ,872,8e, against 5000 1921.