Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-12

during the rest of their naural life. In the
meantime, we went around Cristobal Point
up the river, and began the construction OF
wharyes at what was originally intended 70
be the mouth of the canal. The conmis-
sion has already completed two docks
Nos. II and (which are equipped with
modern machinery. including Brown hoists
and travelling cranes. These docks are
each between 500 and 900 feet long. and
a third dock of similar size is being con-
structed between the two. The three VIII
accommodate eight of the largest ocean
going steamers. We find by experience
against any storms we have yet had.
having the protection OF the point ana De
Ing up the river.
THE machinery for handling freight is
modern. consisting OF both hoisting and
travelling cranes. and Is capable OF taking
care of 100000 tons of freight per annum-
One OF the docks Is covered and the other
is not. The tracks are put in lengthwise.
50 as to load Immediately from the ship TO
the cars, and there 10 no reason Tor tne
delay OF package between New YORK
and San Francisco for single day beyond
the regular sailing dates. Since December
15 there has been no delay beyond the
sailing dates OF any ship. The only accurn.
ulation IL caused by holding the cargo Tor
the sailing Of the ship that 1t Is intended
for. Each line has its sailing schedule.
made regardless OF the schedules OF other
lines, and there Is often an accumulation
OF freight for 8 particular ship. because 1t
may be as long as four weeks from the
time the freight first arrives before the
sailing OF the ship for which It u m
tended.
eat Panama our docking facilities are not
yet completed. We are waiting until II Is
decided what type OF canal viii be con-
structed before spending any more money:
In case certain type OF canal ID DECIDED
upon. we shall have to abandon the present
terminals and create new ones, and we 90
not want to spend any money on that until
we know definitely the type OF canal TO De
built. We have. however. built two DOCKS
In addition to the old docks found there.
making a continuation OF the old steel
docks capable of holding three large ships,
so that we can now take care OF nye large
ships at Panama at one time; and there -
no delay to freight there except the actuai
and necessary delay between sailing dates
of the ships. All the ships do not start
from Panama. It Is port OF call for some
of them and freight has to be kept until
the ship for which it is intended arrives
Policy Of the Commission.
The policy of the commission. because
the Panama railroad is a New York cor
poration, organized for commercial busi-
ness, has been to operate 1t so that there
shall be no delay to or interference with
the shipping that may be offered. as Well
as to take care OF the business made neces-
sary by the construction of the canal
Is the policy to increase our terminals.
which include the terminal yards. the
acquisition of heavier power and larger
cars and the construction of passing
tracks and intermediate yards, not only
to take care of the commercial business
that Is offered US, which we have been able
to do since the middle of December, but
the very heavy traffic thrown on the 18TH
mus by reason of the arrival OF canal sup
plies And this will be done without any
delay. either to the commercial business,
on the one hand, or to the commission sup
plies, on the other We will extend these
facilities as occasion requires. We are
there to do a traffic business as well as to
build q canal, and have demonstrated our
ability to carry on both without any inter-
ference the one with the other.
"A double-track system has been COM
menced on the railroad. first from the
points where the tracks lead down from
the various levels of the Culebra cut. and
connecting with the main track both on
the Atlantic and the Pacific sides, where
the heavy traffic movement begins first.
The double-tracking will be carried for
ward as fast as 1t Is needed to take care
of the movement of freight over any por-
ton of the road. We are also increasing
the rolling stock all the time