Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-20
THE PANAMA CANAL
Steps to Be Taken After Rati-
fcation Of Treaty.
FIRST THE COMMISSION
NO DELAY IN COMMENCING WORK
EXPECTED.
Two Cities to Be Cleaned Up-No
Immense Engineering Feats.

All eyes will soon be turned toward CO.
lombia, watching developments in that
country in connection with the ratification
of the Panama canal treaty. The United
States government is ready with the cash,
the men, the plans and all that is needful
to commence work on the canal when the
diplomatic negotiations are concluded and
the title deeds passed
Assuming that Colombia win ratify the
treaty, that the French Canal Company
will pass title to the real property involved
and that the way will be made clear for
actual operations, 1t may be of interest to
look ahead to the next steps to be taken.
AS soon as it is certain that the treaty
is to be ratified by Colombia, the President
of the United States will appoint the canal
commissioners authorized by the Spooner act
That commission will supersede the pres
ent canal commission, but probably includ-
ing some of the members, who have famil-
iarized themselves with conditions on the
isthmus and in connection with the canal
work The commission will consist OF
seven members, who will be paid salaries
work.
All the work will be done under the
direction of the canal commission and the
President of the United States. The COM
mission undoubtedly will be permanent and
will continue as long as the canal continues
to administer it. Appointments on the
sought
No Delay in Beginning Work.
There will be no delay in commencing
actual work. The canal has been COM
menced and a portion CT the work material
ly progressed. Machinery to the value OF
several million dollars already Is Installed,
and 1t will simply be a question OF putting
new men in control.
But the very first thing that Uncle Sam
will do In the way Of actual work will be to
"clean up the isthmus, as one ofncial ex-
pressed it today. That will be an Important
task-to improve the sanitary conditions
and make the place fit for northern men to
live in and work In. The towns at either
end of the route will be Thoroughly cieaned'
severed and provided with waterworks.
Everything inhabited by human beings will
be disinfected and whitewashed. The hos
pitals will be restocked and renovated
Yankee doctors and Yankee methods will
be installed and the deadly climatic effects
reduced to minimum. There will be
"scrubbing day" such as that region and
those people have never known.
On the Isthmus of Panama, after Uncle
Sam takes hold, there will be two cardinal
rules, Cleanliness and godliness," and for
a little while the first mentioned will proba-
bly, take precedence, for upon it will hang
all the law and the profits.
Government ownership of railroads will be
realized on the isthmus. The United States
will operate and own the Panama railroad,
as well as some steamships connecting
herewith There will be large signs at ap-
propriate intervals along the railway warn
Ing the Central American revolutfon1sts to
look out for the cars. The playful habit of
the Colombian dctators of holding up trains
will be promptly discontinued. There will
be no monkeying with the switch in the
future.
Two Immense Engineering Feats.
Yankee ingenuity and determination will
be brought into full play in the construc-
tion Of the great work. Two immense en-
gineering fea.s are to be performed. The
most monstrous "cut" known to engineer
ing will be made on the isthmus. when the
canal will be dug through a hill 800 feet
high and half mile long.
Another great work will be the construc-
tion of the Bohlo dam. They will have to
go down 120 feet for foundation, and the
dam will be go feet from top to bottom
and half mile long. All of these i'm
chinery and material, world without end.
The men will have to be fed and clothed
and doctored. and all of that will make
business good for somebody.
The money for the project has been pro-
vided. The government of Colombia will
get $4,000, 900; the French Canal Com
pany will get $4,000, 900. The cost Of the
canals completion will be $135.O0O, ,O0O and
that sum will be provided by the issuance
Of bonds of the United States as the money
Is needed.
The canal commission will have $4,000,
GOO in cash at hand after ColonIbia. and
the canal company have been paid with
which to make start AS rapidly as
other sums are needed the bonds will be
sold and the coin supplied.
A great deal Of foreign labor will be used
in this work. There Is no prohibition
against engaging contract labor from
Europe, and the greater part of the heavy
work will be done by labor Of that class,
but all under the supervision of Yankee
engineers and officials.