Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1239

 PANAMAS CANAL — REPRESENTATIVES 1117

belongs to the Panama Railroad Company (United States Government). Its construction cost was 7,500,000 dollars, in the Province of Bocas del Toro the United Fruit Company (American) owns about 140 miles of track with branches, which is used to transport bananas and passengers to the port of Almirante in the Chiriqui lagoon. At present the line extends into Costa Rica for a distance of about 30 miles. This line is being extended towards Port Limon (Costa Rica) and its terminal is now distant from that port 30 miles. A national line from Panama City to David, in the province of Chiriqui, 271 miles in length, has been surveyed and work will probably be commenced next year. There are telegraph cables from Panama to North American and South American ports, and from Colon to the United States and Europe. Roads are being constructed throughout the country. There are 96 post-offices and 37 telegraph offices.

The monetary unit is the gold JJcdboa weighing 1"672 gramme '900 fine, to which the United States gold dollar is legally equivalent. Silver coins are the peso (of 25 grammes '900 fine), and the half, fifth, tenth and twentieth peso pieces and nickel coins of 2-|- cents. There is no paper money. Two silver jjesos of Panama currency are taken as equivalent to one U.S. gold dollar. Altogether four millions of silver dollars of the new currency have been coined and placed in circulation.

Part of the 10,000,000 dollars (canal money) paid by the United States has been applied to the establishment of a real estate loan bank, part to public improvements in the several provinces, and 6,000,000 dollars have been invested in the United States.

Fanaiua Canal. — Progress is being made with the canal across the Isthmus under the treaty between the United States and Panama signed on November 18, 1903. This treaty is closely associated with the separate existence of the Panama Republic, and its general terms are given above under the head of " Government."

The (Hay-Pauncefote) treaty between Great Britain and the United States signed November 18, and ratified by the United States Senate December 16, 1901, provides for its use on equal terms by vessels of all nations. In the summer of 1912 the United States Congress passed the Panama Canal Act whereby privileges were given to certain classes of American shipping using the canal. The British Government lodged a protest against some of the provisions which it regarded as involving violation of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. The British Government asked that the controversy be referred to the Hague Tribunal ; but l>y March, 1913, no definite decision had been come to in the matter.

The number of employees of the Canal Commission and the Panama Railway Company in September, 1912, was 34,508. It has been officially announced that the canal will be opened in the autumn of 1913. The original date was January 1, 1915. In 191'2 Colonel Goethals was appointed Civil Governor of the Canal Zone, to hold office from April, 1913.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

1. Of Panama in Great Britain. Minister in London. — Vacant,

First Secretary. — Vacant.

Consul. — Carlos Zachrisson.

Consul- General at Liverpool. — Fabio Arosemena.

2. Of Great Britain in Panama.

British Minister Resident and Consul-General at Panama. — iSir Claude C. Mallet, C.M.G.

Vice-Consul. — Constantine Graham. There is a Consul at Colon.