Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-19
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Difficulties in the Way of Its speedy
COmpletiOn-TrAffc in Flesh and
Blood.
From the NesO York Herald.

a series OF Danquets and pleasure parties,
| hurried back here to-day with two OBJ
jects in view necessary to complete my
report on the canal, My first was to see
M. Duncan Narilla, the engineer who has
been in charge of the works ever since
their commencement. He had left us at
Panama suffering from sickness, and his
sudden departure had given me no chance
OF questioning him. My second object
was to follow up some clews regarding
the lately imported New Orleans laborers.
NJ. Varilla iuhabits neat little wooden
cottage IN the Christopher Columbus dis
trict, within stones throw of the Presi-
Dental mansions.
TALK WITH NJ. VARILLA.
RushTessly awakening the chief and
trusted engineer of NJ. de Lesseps from a
half matured siesta, proceeded TO put to
him the following practical questions:
Taking the whole canal, bow many
dredgers and excavators have you IN
actual work ?"
We have at present" said NJ. Varilla,
''seven American dredgers, three ma
rine dredgers and five French dred-
gers. There are also fourteen French
dredgers being prepared at the companY's
works on the isthmus. The number of
CAbaN dbulb 10 dbOub otNGhl1s WulAC Vic
number en- route for the isthmus or in
course of equipment is forty more"
"At how many cubic metres do you es-
innate the total output necessary to COM
plete the canal, and, second, how much
work has been already cOmpletedW
''Fhe total number Of cubic metres to
be extracted reckon at 100000, 000-that
is, counting all the cuttings at an angle
of 40 degrees, which, in rocky spots, may
bediminished The amount already done
by contract is estimated at 100000"
''Can you give me your decided opinion
as to whether the canal will be completed
in 1SS9r
"You are asking me a very delicate
question, and one 10 which l could not
positively reply, but will say that if dill
ticulties occur there would be delays at
the culebra and thereabOuts."
"Now, l want you as nearly as posi-
BILE to give me, first, the number Of work
men at present employed upon the works,
and, next, the increase of hands you pro-
pose making under the new regimen
1--WE have" replied NJ. Varilla, sat
present in our employ from $1,000 to 15,-
600 men. The number which will be nee
essary under our new access of activity,
l estimate at from 10000 to $4,000"
Nj. Vanilla gives me the highest COM
pleted output of any one / have yet met.
The largest amount had hitherto heard
OF had been II 000,0 600 cubic metres COM
pleted out of total of 126, 100000. This
latter calculation would tally with the
reports of Mr.. Kimble, of the United
States army. and counting the amount of
work since done | canuOt help at least
placing them upon an equal level with
Nj. Varilla's figures. which are obtained
from engineers on the works whom have
found apt in quoting millions with won
drOus facility,
THE QUESTION OF LABOR.
The prospective access Of mechanical
strength will doubtless be carried out, but
the question of labor. as represented by
NJ. Varilla's figures, raises the gTavest
doubts in my mind and confirms me more
than ever in my assertion Of few days
ago that this labor question would be the
eventual stumbling block OF the canal.
Since my return here have discussed
the question at length with several of the
labor employers. L mentioned to them
that the canal required some 10000 extra
hands. They one and all scoffed at the
idea of the possibility of gaining such
extra aid. ] have myself drawn atten-
ton to the lack of hands on the various
works along the line. OF Jamaica |
have already spoken as being an ex-
hausted recruiting ground, owing to the
shyness lately developed among the ne
grOes, owing 10 the unsatisfactory reports
brought back by their friends concerning
the treatment of labOrers by the canal
contractors, both in matters OF pay and
sickness. | have since learned that con-
tractors have to pay for every man be-
longing to them going into the hospital.
Hence they refused to supply tickets Of
entrance.
Failing in Jamaica, fresh recruiting
ground has been sought in New Orleans,
and this, unless matters alter, | foretell
will end in failure. This subject must
necessarily be of the utmost interest to
citizens OF the United States, owing to
these people being under the protection
OF the Republic. Great Britain may. if
she chooses, allow her subjects to be
drawn away by seductive financial
offers into a country where they may be
maltreated, robbed. and ultimately left
to die and be buried or dumped any
where" as the poor negro at Gamboa
said. But with the United States the
period at which a system of even semi
slave trade might flourish has long since
passed by and her citizens may not wit
tingly suffer. Hence it is that / would
call the special attention OF the United
States authorities TO the shipment of col
OTed laborers to the isthmus of Panama
and the circumstances attendant on it.
TREATED LIKE CATTLE.
At present only one cargo has arrived,
but the details OF the voyage are revolving
enough to remind one of the bygone slave
trade times. These unfortunate men.
numbering about six hundred, after being
drawn together by promise of large
wages, were shipped by the contractor on
a cattle boat at New Orleans. They were
crowded in together and treated Just like
cattle. During the passage they were
half starved and lying in filth, while dis
ease prevailed. On arrival at Colon their
plight was terrible and they were bundled
out on to the dock, where they were met
by some one whose duty IL was TO refuse
or accept them, as their physical appear
ance warranted. Many were well nigh
dead, and therefore refused, and even the
healthy had bad no preparations made
for their comfort. A prominent member
OF the railroad on whose wharf these sad
scenes occurred said to me, Several OF
these unfortunate creatures died on the
dock, and the company were compelled
10 bury two OF them"
Later on these men we're sent 10 the
works, where like the rest they will find
themselves under foreign masters with
whom they can. have no understanding,
where their health Will be in all proba-
bility neglected. and their hard earned
wages filched by set OF Ubiquitous pay
masters who assure themselves large in
comes by deiraudlng the poor colOred
workingman.
A WARNING TO LABoRERs.
1 do not on any account wish 10 prevent
men from accepting labor where IL can be
gRN IA 4 Ia hot Hru Ia Ffak -.