Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1904 — CANAL IS NOW OURS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CANAL IS NOW OURS.

FORMAL TRANSFER TO UNITED STATES MADE IN PARIS. Clear Title Is Given Uncle Sam to Panama Franchise and Rights—American Representatives Issue StatementFeatures in flic Negotiations. The Panama canal strip and thel’annina canal franchise are now the property of the United States. The formal signing of documents whereby the title passes to tiie United States took place in Paris Friday. W. A. Day and Charles W. Russell, assistant United States Attorneys General, who have charge of the negotiations, gave out for publication a brief statement of what had been done. The official statement sayd: “The papers transferring the rights and property by the new Panama Canal Company-to the United States have already been executed and delivered. They will be ratified to-morrow afternoon by the stockholders' meeting. “The arrangement includes a general conveyance and provisions for deeds and resignation in the republic of Panama and in the canal zone now under the jurisdiction of the United States, in which zone the civil law continues in force by reason of the cession of the zone from a civil law sovereignty. All formalities of tiie local law on the isthmus have been arranged for aud secured to—the-United -States. “The property will sliortly be delivered on the isthmus, and upon being done the purchase piyce will be immediately paid. “The full text of the principal, documents will be made public to-morrow night. "The United States gets an unincumbered title." The main figures in the transfer have been Messrs. Bo aitd Richmond for the company, Messrs. Day and Russell for the Uni ted,-States, and Consuls General John K. Gowdy and Roberto Lewis for

the United States and Panama respectively, the two consular representatives joining in affixing tiie seals and attesting tiie signatures. Following are the leading features in the canal negotiations: Nov. 18, 1901—Hay-Pauncefote treaty permitting construction of canal across isthmus negotiated. Dee. 16, 1901—United States Senate "ratified Hay-Pauncefote treaty. Jan. 20, 1902—Great Britain ratified Hay-Pauncefote treaty. Jan, 9, 1902—Panama Canal Company offered its property to the United States for 1jH0.000.000. Jan. 9, 1902 —Bill authorizing tiie con-

struction of the canal adopted by House of Representatives. June 19, 1902 —Canal bill passed by Senate. June 28. 1902—Canal bill signed by President Roosevelt. Jan. 22, 1903—Treaty with Colombia’ for the construction of canal negotiated. March 17, 1903—Colombia canal treaty ratified by United States. Aug. 31, 1903--M.'<>lonibia treaty rejected by the government of Colombia. Nov. 3, 1903—Panama revolution occurred.

Nov. 18, 1903—Canal treaty with, Panama negotiated. Dec. 2. 1903 —Cana) treaty signed by Panama junta. This was ratification of it by the provisional government. Fel>. 23. 1904—Panama canal treaty ratified by United States Senate. April 22, 1904—Papers transferring title to cnnnl to United States formally signed in Paris. Edward “Monk” Eastman, lender of a band of thugs, to whom have been credited many deeds of lawlessness in New York and vicinity, was convicted of assault in the first degree for an attempt to shoot George F. Bryan, a private detective. Announcement was jnntie at Boston that former Secretary of the Navy John D. Long will serve ns president of the new $3,000,000 grade school made possible by the will of Arioch Wentworth, and which has been chartered as the Wentworth school.

HOW THE PANAMA CANAL WILLL CHANGE THE WORLD’S SEA ROUTES.

LOCATION OF THE CANAL.