Salt Lake Tribune | 1914-09-27 | Page 4 | Canal Zone has Great Opportunity

i oil zi is" ! GREAT OPPORTUNITY National Assembly Undertaking Under-taking Legislation Looking Look-ing to Development. PRESIDENT HOPEFUL Vast Tract of Rich Land Can Be Opened Up by Contemplated Railroads. PANAMA, Sept. 26. The National assembly, which convened on September Septem-ber 1, has before it one of the most comprehensive programmes of progressive progres-sive legislation in its history. As outlined out-lined in a message by President Porras, the programme calls for the development develop-ment of Panama's resources to the fullest full-est extent, chiefly in agriculture. The president asks for immediate sanction for the loan receutlv negotiated nego-tiated in New York for $3,000,000, with which to construct the railways in the provinces of Chiriqui and Los Santos. In the former province the work of construction is already uudcr way with the assurance that the loan will be forthcoming. Open New Territory. Wheu the two roads are completed they will open up the large coffee-growing and cattle-grazing country in Chiriqui Chi-riqui and the mining region of Los Santos. It has been the dream of the republic to see the country traversed bv a through line across the Costa Kiean .and Colombian borders, but the construction was fraught w-ith many engineering difficulties as well as with opposition from the United States government gov-ernment to any foreign-built railway crossing the Panama canal. President Porras insists that the assembly as-sembly take some action toward clearing clear-ing up land titles, which are so insecure inse-cure that planters scarcely know of borrowing money to harvest crops. Together To-gether with definite laud titles, which would be guaranteed by the government, govern-ment, it is suggested that a charter be granted to the National City bank of New York for an independent branch in Panama, which would have the authority author-ity to make land mortgage loans. Plans for Protection. Another recommendation by President Presi-dent Porras is the building of towns or forts with police garrisons on both coasts of the -region now occupied largely by IndiaDS hostile to civilization. civiliza-tion. With such protection he believed the development of this country, which j is rich in natural resources and which i has been practically untouched since ! the days of Spanish occupation, could be carried out. ! He said that assurances had been I given that if a protective duty on su- aar were imposed here the industry, vhieh is now confined to the growing of cane sugar for the manufacture of bitious programme would be carried out an inferior grade of rum, would become a flourishing one. He said he was hopeful that his am-bv am-bv the enactment of the legislation he recommended, and he pointed out that the assembly was composed largely of members favorable to his policies.