Message to the Congress Transmitting Certified Copies of Franchises Granted by the Executive Council of Porto Rico

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

As required by section 32 of the act of Congress approved April 12, 1900, entitled “An act temporarily to provide revenues and a civil government for Porto Rico, and for other purposes,” I transmit herewith certified copies of franchises granted by the Executive Council of Porto Rico, which are described in the accompanying letter from the Secretary of War transmitting them to me. Such of these as relate to railroad, street railway, telegraph, and telephone franchises, privileges, or concessions have been approved by me, as required by the joint resolution of May 1, 1900 (31 Stat., 715).

WM. H. TAFT.

The White House, January 9, 1913.

Following is the substance of the letter from the Secretary of War:

To the President: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for transmission to Congress, two certified copies of franchises granted by the Executive Council of Porto Rico, as follows: Granting to Thomas D. Mott, Jr., authority to construct, maintain, and operate a system for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of gas; approved by the Governor, July 30, 1912, and amended Oct. 23. 1912. Granting to the municipality of Fajardo permission to take 30 liters of water per second from the Fajardo River; approved July 30. 1912. Granting a revocable permit to Pavenstedt Land Co. to take and use for irrigation purposes 286 liters of water per second from the Tanama River; approved Aug. 10, 1912. Granting to the Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co. the right to reconstruct and widen its bridge over the San Antonio Channel and to extend its double track to a point approximately 234 feet west of Stop Eleven: approved Aug. 27, 1912. Granting to the Fajardo Development Co., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Connecticut, the right to construct, maintain, and operate a railway between the towns of Mameyes, Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, and Naguabo in the Island of Porto Rico; approved Aug. 27, 1912. Repealing an ordinance granting to the Robbins-Ripley Co. authority to construct, maintain, and operate a pier on the harbor shore of San Juan; approved Sept 4, 1912. Granting a revocable permit to Francisco Antongiorgi to take and use for irrigation purposes 1 1/2 liters of water per second from the Brook Cristales, municipality of Yauco; approved Oct. 12, 1912. Granting a revocable permit to the Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co. to take and use for industrial purposes 1 liter of water per second from the Hondo River, Bayamon; approved Oct. 23, 1912. Granting to Sosthenes Behn the right to construct, maintain, and operate a system of long-distance telephone lines between the towns of Carolina and Hormigueros and other intervening towns and cities, together with local telephone systems in certain of said towns and local stations at other points, and authorizing the Porto Rico General Telephone Co. to construct, maintain, and operate telephone systems in San Juan, Mayaguez, and the eastern end of the Island; approved Dec. 12, 1912.

Very respectfully,

Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War.