The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24
President Announces Intention
to Make Personal Inspection
Pfabab|y in OctOber
ABANDONS PROPOSED TRIP
THROUGH MIDDLE WEST
VIII Be Unable to Go to San Fran
cisco to Take Part In Laying
Corner Stone for New
Federal Building.

Washington, June 23-President Roose-
welt will visit the Isthmus of Panama to
make personal investigation of the work
of construction of the Panama canal This
announcement was made at the White
House late this afternoon by Secretary
Loeb after a conference with the Pres-
dent. 1t is expected the President will
leave Washington for Panama the latter
part of next October or in the early days
of November. He will be absent about
three weeks
The trip probably will be made on one
of the big cruisers of the navy, but what
vessel will carry the President and his
party is not yet known.
None of the details of the trip yet has
been worked out. Beyond the bare decis-
ion to make the trip, the President has
reached practically no conclusion. 1t is
likely he will be accompanied on the
Journey by Secretary Taft, and Chairman
Shonts of the Panama canal commission,
but even this has not been determined
definitely.
Has Long Desired to Go.
The President long has desired to In
spect the route of the canal. and TO make
himself personally familiar with the great
undertaking of constructing the water
way, and the decision announced today
was not reached hastily but has been
under consideration for a considerable
time. 1t is the expectation that the
President will be able to spend at least
a week on the canal zone, and in that
time he will familiarize himself with the
situation by a study of 1t at close range.
A personal visit to the canal zone VIII
enable him to handle with absolute knowl-
edge the situation of the great problems
which constantly will be arising in con-
nection with the canal construction and
administration.
In connection with the announcement or
tho Presidents intention to visit Panama,
Secretary Loeb said the President had de-
cided not to visit San Francisco next
autumn, to participate in the ceremonies
incident to the laying of the corner stone
of the new federal building. The Presi-
dent feels that he cannot make the trip
to Panama and one to San Francisco,
too, as the two trips necessary would
fall about the same time.
VIII Abandon Proposed Trip.
For several weeks the President has
been considering the matter of making
trip next spring through the middle west,
touching points in Ohio, Indiana. Mich
igan, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and
perhaps other states He had hoped to
make the trip in order to attend the
commencement exercises of some agricul-
tural colleges, and state institutions.
Since the announcement was made Of
the likelihood of his making the trip. such
a mass of invitations have been received
from almost every state in the union, that
the President finally has decided not to
make the trip at all. 1t became evident
that If he should accept one-tenth of the
invitations he has received the trip would
occupy two or three months. The prob
ability is that he will go next May to
Lansing, Mich, to attend the semi-cen-
tennial celebration of the establishment
of the agricultural colleges in this coun-
try There he will meet many of the
prominent educators of the country. The
trip will be brief, occupying probably not
more than four or five days.