Items of Interest May 27, 1905 Issue

Items of Interest

Plans for the enlargement of the terminal and dock facilities at Colon and Panama, and the double tracking and re-equipment of the road, entailing an expenditure of approximately $2,000,000, were approved by the board of directors of the Panama Railroad Company at a recent meeting in New York City. In a formal statement given out at the conclusion of the meeting, it was announced that the board had investigated the question of securing additional ships of American registry, but had been unable up to the present time to find any such vessels of satisfactory size and character.

Secretary Taft's public announcement that the Isthmian Canal Commission will purchase material for the construction of the waterway in the lowest market, without preference for American goods, and without restrictions as to American bottoms, has raised a great commotion in the ranks of the "protectionists" and "stand-patters." The action is regarded in some quarters as a very frank notice to manufacturers that they must come down in their prices, so that the goods may be bought in the home markets at the same price as identical goods can be bought in foreign markets after being exported.

The start of the eleven yachts entered in the ocean race for the "Emperor's Cup" was made on Wednesday, May 17. They crossed the line in the following order: Ailsa, Hildegarde, Atlantic, Endymion, Hamburg, Thistle, Fleur de Lys, Sunbeam, Apache, Utowana, and Valhalla. The first crossed at 12.15 and the last at 1.05. The first six crossed within three minutes of one another, and the others at intervals varying from five to twenty minutes. The Atlantic was sighted Saturday evening by three incoming steamers, about 650 miles due east of Sandy Hook. The Thistle was spoken the same afternoon, about 450 miles east of the Hook.

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