The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-24

our government would be able to regulate them and at the same time receive the financial benefit accruing from the asssss- ment of licenses. Opposition will be made to this plan by the temperance orga 1ixa- tions because they hold to the principle that licensed wrong can never be right.
 Work of the Commission.
 The plan of inaugurating the big pro feet is already under way. We have m Panama at present a commission, head cd by Admiral Walker, among the mem bers of which are two army engin sers and two civil engineers. The nature cf their work Is entirely preliminary, the most important feature of 1t being. cf course, the formulation of the sanitary crusade. The work of the present company is be- ing watched and estimates of its value being prepared
 Although much has been published about the operations of the present French company, 1t Is not generally known that work on the canal is now In actual progress. When the De Lesseps company failed a second organization was formed, which took over the concessions of the first company and it has been op- srating on a small scale ever since-not with the idea of completing the work, but merely to hold the charter and save some thing from the wreck by selling out. When an agreement was reached between this company and the United States gov- srument it was mutually agreed that the former should so on with the work of construction until the formal ratification was accomplished between Colombia and the United States, when the latter was to pay for all work that had been done in the meantime. This sum will be in addi- ion, tnf fba uya a tn nau f0r the full rights and property of the French company.
 After the Colombian government has ratified and our commission has assessed the value of the work done for us by the French company the transfer will take place. The French people will go home hnd the President will appoint new com mission, but some of the present mem bers will undoubtedly be on the perma- nent commission. The most important part of the preparatory work will be the sewering ot Panama and Colon, which will probably consume not less than two years time. The officials state that fair sanitary conditions along the route cf the canal may be arrived at in six months. but this will only be such superficial work as clearing up old rubbish, renovating and repairing houses, attending to drinking water, etc. The most advanced sanitary science will be brought gradually into play all along the line. Emergency hos pitals will be erected at various stations, but the two main ones will be installed At Colon and Panama, where the United States has already bought finely equipped institutions on that order. In Colon the esta ablishment Is situated right on the wa ter's edge and the one in Panama on a very high hill. The situation of the hos pltaI in Colon secures the winds generally from the west and from ths water. This Is very desirable as the land breezes are very poisonous.
 Demands by Colombia.
 The influences that have been antagonis- tic to this great undertaking, and which have defeated 1t in the past. will make a last stand against 1t by attempting to hold it up in the Colombian Congress. It is generally understood that there Is no use for any other nation entertaining the hope of building a canal across Central America, on account of the United States policy against foreign powers acquiring territory there. No country would de- sire to make such A heavy expenditure of money as it's construction will require without absolute ownership of territory and the attitude of this country makes that impossible. The canal will be built by the United States or not at all: It Is merely a matter of money with Colom- bia. That country Is sadly in need of cash and the opposition to the enterprise could hardly afford to put up as much as our government will pay now and here after. The whole matter may be settled before this is printed, or 1t may run along for some time, but there Is little doubt