Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

71ST CONGRESS 2d Session

}

SENATE

{

REPORT No. 655

PROVIDE FOR A FERRY AND A HIGHWAY NEAR THE PACIFIC ENTRANCE OF THE PANAMA CANAL

MAY 15, 1930.-Ordered to be printed

Mr. SCHALL, from the Committee on Interoceanic Canals, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 4293]

The Committee on Interoceanic Canals, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4293) to provide for a ferry and a highway near the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that the bill do pass without amendment.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the annexed communication, which is made a part of this report. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., May 8, 1930.

Hon. THOMAS D. SCHALL,

Chairman Committee on Interoceanic Canals,

United States Senate.

DEAR SENATOR SCHALL: The War Department is interested in the bill H. R. 4293, to provide for a ferry and highway near the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, now pending in your committee.

May I invite your attention to the War Department letter of November 11, 1929, to the chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, which letter is printed in full in House Report No. 993, accompanying H. R. 4293, in which the cogent reasons in favor of the measure are fully set forth.

The need for improved transportation facilities between the Pacific side of the Isthmus and the interior Provinces of Panama has long been recognized. Aside from the necessities of the situation, it is felt that a moral obligation rests upon the United States to facilitate the means of communication between the two halves of the Republic of Panama.

The proposed measure is strongly commended by the Governor of the Canal Zone, and it also has the unqualified approval of the State Department.

It is hoped that your committee will find it expedient to take the measure up at an early date.

Sincerely yours,

F. TRUBEE DAVISON,
Acting Secretary of War.

The report of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce on the bill is appended to and made a part of this report

House Report No. 993, Seventy-first Congress, second session]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 4293) to provide for a ferry and a highway near the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.

After the passage of the original act of Congress authorizing the acquisition of territory from the Republic of Panama and the construction of an interoceanic canal therein, a treaty was made between the United States and the Republic of Panama by which the United States acquired a strip of land across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, 10 miles wide, being 5 miles on each side of the proposed canal. There was reserved to Panama out of this 10-mile strip the territory then comprising the city of Colon on the Atlantic side and the city of Panama, the capital of the Republic, on the Pacific side. At that time, 1904, practically the only method of transportation in the Republic of Panama was by ships and other small watercraft that traveled along the coast of the Republic on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides.

In negotiating the treaty with Panama no provision was made for allowing the inhabitants of Panama to cross the Canal Zone from one part of the Republic to the other. The canal and the Canal Zone which passed under the jurisdiction of the United States completely divided the Republic of Panama into two divisions and no arrangements were made for those on either side of the Republic to reach the other side except by boat. This was evidently an oversight, and was due, no doubt, to the fact that at that time there were no improved highways or railroads in the Republic of Panama; motor transportation had not then been, far enough developed, nor had it reached the Republic of Panama in any form. The people of Panama had always depended upon intercoastal water craft for travel and for the transportation of their products.

But in recent years the Government of the Republic of Panama has been expending large sums on internal improvements. They have built some railroads into the interior, and for several years have been constructing improved highways from various cities and villages in the interior to the capital of the Republic. But, of course, they can not construct roads over the 10-mile strip under the jurisdiction of the United States, nor have they any method of crossing the canal to reach Panama City, except by a rather antiquated barge ferry and tugboat which our Government has been furnishing and operating free just above the Pedro Miguel Locks. With the construction of improved roads into the interior of the Republic and the agricultural development that has followed such construction, travel to and from the capital has increased to such proportions that the present ferry service is wholly inadequate to take care of the traffic. Moreover, the maintenance of this barge-ferry service just above the locks is objectionable for other important reasons.

For several years negotiations have been conducted between our Government and the Government of Panama with a view to providing a crossing of the canal and the Canal Zone, but no definite arrangements have yet been made. The Government of Panama has urged very forcefully the necessity of providing this crossing for their people; and the State Department of our Government has recognized the moral obligation on the part of our Government to afford this facility to the people of Panama. The Government of Panama has urged that an improved road be constructed by our Government leading from the canal to connect up with the improved roads of the Republic, and that a bridge be built over the canal. For military and other reasons, the United States is unwilling to have a bridge constructed over the canal. In the event of war such a structure could be easily destroyed and the transit of our fleet through the canal could be indefinitely delayed. The alternative is to provide a suitable modern ferry to be installed for crossing the canal at a point where it would be least objectionable from a military point of view, and most advantageous to the people of the Re'public of Panama desiring to cross the canal in order to reach their capital.

The Republic of Panama has constructed something over 250 miles of improved highways leading from the Canal Zone back into the interior where several towns are located. They have planned and will soon begin the construction of a continuation of this road farther into the interior to connect up with an agricultural section where a great deal of coffee and other agricultural products are produced.

The committee feels that the United States should construct across its own territory, a distance of about 8 miles, an improved road to connect with the improved highways of the Republic of Panama in order to allow access to the capital of their country.

This bili provides for the construction of such a road and for the installation of two suitable modern ferryboats with necessary docks and approaches.

The bill has the approval of, and is strongly urged by the Governor of the Canal Zone, Col. Harry Burgess, who appeared before the committee and testified regarding it. The bill also has the approval of the Secretary of War, as is shown by a letter of the Secretary made a part of this report. It also has the approval of the State Department and the Bureau of the Budget. The amounts necessary to purchase or construct two ferryboats, the necessary docks and approaches, and the road leading from the ferry across the zone out to the territory of Panama are shown by the letter of Governor Burgess, made a part of this report, and appropriations of such amounts are authorized by the bill.

The construction of the two ferryboats will cost about $250,000. The ferry slips or docks including the approaches thereto will cost about $165,000. The grading of 7.2 miles of road, including culverts will cost about $242,000, and concreting the roadway will cost about $343,000, making a total of $1,000,000 necessary to complete the work.

The Republic of Panama has a population of about 500,000 people. The cities of Panama and Colon have a population of about 110,000. Practically all of the farming district of the Republic of Panama is west of the canal and until this road is constructed and these ferries provided, the people of that part of the Republic will have no suitable means of access to their capital.

Service on these ferries will be furnished free to the public and the cost of maintenance and operation will be about $45,000 per year.

It is believed by the committee that our Government ought to meet this obligation to the people of the Republic of Panama by providing these facilities for crossing the canal and the Canal Zone without further delay.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report.

Hon. JAMES S. PARKER,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 11, 1929.

Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. PARKER: Referring to the request of your committee dated October 7 for a report on the bill (H. R. 4293) entitled "To provide for a ferry and a highway near the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal," and to my acknowledgment of October 12 stating that the bill was being referred to the Governor of the Panama Canal for his comments, there is quoted below a self-explanatory letter dated October 25 received from Governor Burgess regarding this proposed legislation:

"The receipt is acknowledged of your letter of October 12, with inclosures, relative to the request of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce for a report on the bill H. R. 4293, ‘To provide for a ferry and a highway near the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal.'

"The need for an adequate and permanent ferry of this kind is of long standing, Its installation and the construction of the highway referred to in the bill would provide vastly improved and necessary transportation facilities between the Pacific side of the Isthmus and the interior Provinces of the Republic of Panama. Important military purposes would likewise be served. Aside from these considerations, it is my opinion that there is a moral obligation on the part of the United States to give to Panama a suitable highway across the Canal Zone and convenient and adequate ferry service.

"During the past few years the Republic of Panama has constructed an excellent system of improved roads throughout its Provinces west of the Panama Canal. At the present time the connection between these roads and Panama City, the capital of the Republic, is maintained through a barge ferry, towed by a tugboat, operated by the Panama Canal at Pedro Miguel Locks. This is an extremely unsatisfactory arrangement as Pedro Miguel is approximately 8 miles from Panama City. Aside from this it is necessary for the road on the west side of the canal to follow a tortuous and lengthy detour in order to connect with the

ferry at Pedro Miguel Locks. On the other hand, the highway proposed in H. R. 4293 would follow a practically straight course from the Pacific entrance of the canal to where it would connect with the main highway near Arraijan.

"In addition to its inaccessibility, the site of the present barge ferry at Pedro Miguel Locks is unsuitable for military reasons as a site for a permanent ferry. The locks constitute the sensitive points in the defense of the canal and any damage sustained by them in time of war might precipitate a critical situation. If civilian traffic is allowed to cross the canal at or near the locks the difficulties of effective protection would be vastly increased.

"The project has been under consideration for some time and preliminary surveys and estimates have been made. A blue print showing the most suitable location for the ferry and also the route of the proposed highway is forwarded herewith. The estimates show that the total cost of the highway, ferry slips, and ferryboats would be approixmately $1,000,000. This would be divided as follows:

Cost of 2 ferries (1 in reserve during wet season), each with capacity of 32 average motor vehicles...

$250,000

Cost of ferry slips ($105,000), including road approach to ferry slip on east side ($22,000) and dredging channels to ferry approaches ($38,000)

Cost of grading, including culverts, of 7.2 miles (38,000 feet) of road..
Cost of concreting roadway....

165, 000 242, 000 343, 000

1, 000, 000

Total....

"The cost of maintaining and operating the ferry is estimated at $45,000 per year.

"The project has the approval of the State Department and the Secretary of War, and it has been urgently desired by the Republic of Panama for several years. The bill introduced by Mr. Thatcher covers the project completely and is indorsed by me as being entirely satisfactory in every way in so far as the canal administration is concerned."

The blue print referred to in the foregoing is inclosed herewith.

In connection with the last paragraph of the governor's letter quoted above, the interest of the State Department in this project was brought to my attention in a letter dated June 14, 1929, reading as follows:

"I am informed that the Governor of the Panama Canal proposes to present in the near future a recommendation for an appropriation which will permit the establishment of an adequate ferry across the Panama Canal to connect Panama City with that portion of the Republic lying to the west of the Canal Zone. I should like in this connection to express this department's interests in the governor's proposal and its hope that the appropriation referred to may be approved by Congress.

"During the past few years the Republic of Panama has constructed an extensive system of improved roads in the Provinces lying west of the Panama Canal and it has naturally desired to connect these roads with the capital through the Canal Zone. The new highways are of relatively little value until such connection is provided. This matter, as you know, was dealt with in the treaty negotiated with Panama in 1926, but this treaty has not yet been ratified by either Government.

"As the Panaman Government can not establish land communication between the two halves of the Republic except through the Canal Zone, I feel that this Government, in view of the cession of the zone by Panama to the United States and in view of our interest in promoting the welfare and prosperity of Panama, should cooperate to make such communication possible. I have the honor to express the hope, therefore, that the proposal of the governor may be carried into effect."

In view of the comments of Governor Burgess, and the indorsement of the State Department, I favor the passage of legislation along the lines of H. R. 4293 and recommend that your committee make a favorable report on the bill. The proposed legislation has been submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, who advises that it is not in conflict with the financial program of the President.

Sincerely yours,

JAMES W. GOOD, Secretary of War.

О

[blocks in formation]

Mr. JONES, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the

following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 11965]

The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 11965) making appropriations for the legislative branch of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931, and for other purposes, reports the same to the Senate with various amendments, and presents herewith information relative to the changes made:

[blocks in formation]

The changes in the amounts of the House bill recommended by the committee are as follows:

SENATE:

Office of the Secretary

INCREASE

(Title of a clerk changed to executive clerk, the salary remaining the same.)

Committee employees

Clerk, Committee on Rules, toward the preparation
biennially of the Senate Manual.......

$200.00

« ÎnapoiContinuă »