OCR Text |
Show PANAM AIDING TrIE BIG CANAL Washington, Sept. S. With every disposition to encourage thc Investment Invest-ment of capital In tho dovelopment of tho isthmus of Panama, tho government govern-ment is resolved that it will not permit per-mit tho issue of concessions by the Panaman congress that will In any degreo threaten tho business of the canal. Attention has been drawn to tho subject recently by the passage of a law In Panama granting a concession con-cession to a company to construct a railroad from tho clt of Panama to tho southward. It has been alleged that tho concession is bo drawn as to permit tho construction or extension exten-sion of lines of road that might cross tho isthmus and so prove to be an active competitor for business with tho canal. Thoro is already a project under way for thc construction of a railroad entorlng Panama from David on tho north, but this is regarded desirable because it will form part of the great Intercontinental railway system to the development of which the United States Is committed. If It can be shown that the projected project-ed southern road can be likewlso made available as part of this systom, and that It can not be turned into a cross road between thc Caribbean and the Pacific, it Is probable that thc stato department vill make no objection objec-tion to the concession. A careful Inquiry In-quiry Is being made to ascertain tho facts. |