The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-01
SCRUBBING DAY.
Isthmus of Panama VIII Have One
When q. s. Takes Charge.

Washington, D. c., April ALI eyes
Will soon be turned toward Colombia,
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 begin work on the canal
when the diplomatic negotiations are
concluded and the title deeds passed.
Assuming that Colombia will ratify
the treaty, that the French canal com
pany viii pass title to the real property
involved and that the way will be made
clear for actual operations, it may be
of interest to look ahead to the next
steps to be taken
As soon as it is certain that the trea-
" is to be ratified by Colombia, the
president of the United States viii APP
point the canal commissioners authoriz-
ed by the SpoOner act That commits
sion will supersede the present canal
commission, but probably including
some of the members who have famil-
iarized themselves with conditions on
the isthmus and in connection with the
canal work The commission VIII con-
sist Of seven members who viii be paid
salaries commensurate, with the lmpor-
tance of their work.
All the work viii be done under the
direction of the canal commission and
the president of the United States. The
commission undoubtedly will be per-
manent and will continue to administer
it as long as the canal exists. Appoint
ments on the commission, therefore,
will be eagerly sought.
There will be no delay in beginning
actual work The canal has been be-
gun and a portion of the work materi-
ally progressed. Machinery to the value
Of several million dollars already is in
stalled. and it will simply be ques-
ton of putting new men in control.
But the very first thing that Uncle
Sam win do in the way OF actual Work
fI1.. 1crff 4r00TT
one official expressed it. That will be
an important task-to improve the san
itary conditions and make the place tit
for northern men to live in and work in
The towns at either end of the route
viii be thoroughly cleaned, severed
and provided with waterwOrks. Every.
thing Inhabited by human beings Will
be disinfected and whitewashed. The
hospitals viii be restocked and reno
waited. Yankee doctors and Yankee
methods vii be installed and the deadly
climatic effects reduced to minimum
There will be a 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 godii-
ness''-and for a little while the first
mentioned win probably take prece-
dence. for upon it win hang all the law
and the profits.
Government ownership of railroads
viii be realized on the isthmus. The
United States viii operate and own the
4 Panama railroad. as well as some
steamships connected Herewith. There
4 viii be large signs at appropriate inter
walls along the railway warning the
Central American revOlutionists 10 LOOK
out for the cars. The playful habit Of
the Colombian dictator of holding up
trains will be promptly discontinued.
There will be no monkeying with the
switch in the future
Yankee ingenuity and determination
will be brought into full play in the
construction of the great work Two
formed. The most monstrous cut known
/ to engineering will be made on the
isthmus, when the canal viii be dug
through hill 500 feet high and half a
mile long.
Another great work will be the con-
structure of the Bohio dam. They viii
have to go down 120 feet for a foupda-
J ton, and the dam will be 200 feet from
, top to bottom, and half a mile long. All
of these immense projects will require
men and machinery and material, world
without end The men viii have to be
fed and clothed and doctored. and all Of
that viii make business good for some
body
The money for the project has been
provided. The government of Columbia.
will get $10.000,OG0: the French canal
of the canals completion will be s135,
100000. and that sum Will be provided
by the issuance of bonds of the Unite&
States as the money is needed.
The canal commission viii have S10,-
600 600 in cash al hand after Colombia
and the canal company have been paid.
with which TO make a start As rapidly
as sums are needed the bonds viii be
sold and the coin supplied.
A great deal OF foreign labor viii be
used in this work. There IS no pr0hibi-
ton against engaging contract Ia Dor
from Europe, and the great part of the
heavy work viii be done by labor OF
that class. but all under the supervision
Of Yankee engineers and officials
A wheelman's tool bag isn't complete
without bottle of DR.. Thomas Eclec-