The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-10-22

boats to pass through the canal. The
company was declared bankrupt. 1t
had spent one billion three hundred
million francs and had accomplished
practically nothing.
The receiver tried TO continue the
work and obtain extension OF credit.
He got three extensions of time
from the Republic of Columbia,
which had set time limit on the
work. the last extension giving until
1910 in which to complete the ca
nal. In 1894 the receiver organized
the Panama Canal Company with a
capital stock of about $4,000, 900,
individual shares being valued at
100 francs, of which Colombia took
$4,000.
Several international commissions
of engineers investigated the work
upon the canal and reported that
completion of the work should be
practicable. In 1899 President Nc
Kinley sent a commission of engin-
GERS to Panama. which commission
reported in favor of accepting the
offer of the Panama Canal Company
to sell its concessions and property
for s40.O00,000. After a careful
probe of the title of the Panama
Company Congress. in 1902, author
lied the President to purchase the
franchise of that company and its
property for $4,000, 900, and this
was done.
Efforts were then made to effect
treaty with Colombia which would
allow the United States to go ahead
and construct the canal without in
reference or confusion with Central
American politics. Colombia appar-
entity thought ii saw an opportunity
70 get rich quick, and an effort was
made to gently stick up" Uncle
Sam. All efforts AT treaty-making
failed because of Colombias exorbi-
tant demands, which caused much
dissatisfaction in Panama, and in
1903 Panama declared it's independ-
cree Of Colombia.
And then Colonel Theodore Roose-
cit, as President Of the United
States, welded the big stick" with
telling effect. A treaty made be-
tween the United States and Colon
bia in 1916 gave to the United
States the right 10 maintain uninter-
rupted transit across the Isthmus
of Panama, and because of this,
President Roosevelt directed the
commanders OF the battleships, !
Nashville and Marblehead, then in
Colombian waters, to prevent any
invasion of Panama by Colombian
troops. This the warships did, and
the American officials in charge of
the Panama Railroad refused to
transport Colombian soldiers. Co
lombia, unable to 10 anything to
put down the rebellion of Panama.
was forced to sit back while the
nited States soon after officially
recognized the Republic of Panama.
which republic granted to the Unit
ed States exclusive control and oc-
cupation OF the Panama canal zone
Ire United Statfs under tie treatv
with Panama also had sanitary con
troll over the cities of Panama and
Colon, with the right to maintain |
order in those cities rby force of |
arms, which gave US an excuse to
quarter troops in them.
Colombia sent a special Ambassa-
dor to Washington with a PROPOSE
ton that the United States allow
Colombia to reannex Panama in re-
turn for which Colombia would
greatly reduce her former offer with
regard to the canal, Colombia was
now very humble, and evidenced no
iesire whatever to hold up" Uncle
sam, but the authorities at Wash
ngton declined to have any further
iealings with that Central American