The Cairo bulletin., 1908-01-21
CONDITION IS
VERY SERIOUS
TRAFFIC OVER PANAMA RAIL.
ROAD DWlNoLIhG Ar VERY 8
RAPID RATE.
COMPLETE EXTINCTION
May Be Reached Before caral il
competed-Report on conoi-
tons Submttec 20 Senate
Canals Committee.


! Washington, Jan. 2O--Seeretary
TAFT. today today transmitted to the
lsenata committee Oh inter oceanic
canals the report OF ] L. Bristow,
who was sent by the war department
to investigate relaticns existing be-
tween the Panama railroad company
land steamship lines operating on the
Pacific coast with a view to ascertain
ling whether the government ought to
engage in steamship business on the
Pacific coast in order to preserve the
business of the Panama route aud
furnish traffic for, the poyerament
steamers plying north on the Atlantic
side
The report contains interesting
data gathered By Bristow and a
recommendation which may give the
canals committee some important
legislatiye points to consider in con
nection4 with the building of the
canal
1t Is shown that the government is
facing a rather serious condition Of
affairs IN that the traffic overe@the
Panana railroad from west to east
II dwifaling at d rate which viii 'prac
ticaiy mean the extinction of trade
between San Francisco and New
York by steamer route by the time
the canal is built. sGusincss at the
Pacific terminal Of the railroad has
been reai eed one-haI since the gov
arnment took charge, AT the preseat
time n1oet steamers operated by the
government on the Atlantic ocean arc
compelled to return north in ballast
The traffic depression is. mainly
due to The action OF Inc Pacific Mail
Steamship company which has been
refused the exclusive contract with
the Panama railroad
The question now arises as to whe-
ther the government should save an
income to its transportation line on
the eastern side by running some
hisk on the western coast in operat- !
ing steamship line and retaining
the traffic through the canal AS
conditions are at the present time. |
according to the report of Bristow, |
there is danger of traffic being |
diverted to Tehauntepec and other
routes.
Senator Dolliver today introduced a
bill erect new buildings in Washing |
ION for the use of the department OF |
agriculture TO cost Sl,750,000 The |
preamble of the bin states that the |
number Of employees OF the depart
nent has increased from 1.100 to q,
100 since the brilding nearing com
pleticn was commenced
President Witherspoon Of the
Army War College, talked ccnlden-
TALLY for an hour today to the house
committee or naval affairs about the
plans aud purposes Of the war col
lege In the accomplishment Of
scheme whereby the Unlte,l States
lay be Transformed from a peace to
q war footing at an instant's notice.
The war college asks congress for
,bout 100000 chiefly on this score.
Past experiences and future possibili-
les in peace and war attitudes of the
powers We're discussed by the prcsi
lent OF the war college with such
rankness that before quitting the
committee room he bad made a spec
al request that the details OF the
conference be held ian strict con.
idenee. lh
If the appropriation asked for is
'iyen, the war college proposes TO
ihape military course, which will
illow the throwing Of an army of
100000 CT 100000 into the field at
-ers short notice. should so grave
necessity arise. 1,