Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-04-09
Big Profits From Canal.

A Washington dispatch to the New
York World says:
"The reaping Of profits through the
construction of the Panama canal by
the United States is now engrossing
the attention of those who may become
benefciaries. Manufacturers in al
most every line Of industry are ar
ranging with all others in the same
line to maintain system Of prices that
will prevent ruinous competition.
There will be sufficient work for all
without undertaking.
Members of the recent Canal Com
mission believe it will be Is months
before the machinery of construction
can be placed in motion. Nothing
whatever can be done at present ex-
cept the perfection of legal details nee
essary for transferring the Panama
property to the United States after
Colombia shall have ratified the treaty.
When this has been accomplished the
President will name seven men who
will compose commission to super
wise the building OF the canal. The
President does not expect to name
these men until after he returns from
his Western trip early in June.
"The next step will be for this COM
mission to visit the Isthmus of Pana-
ma and inspect every foot OF the ca
nal route. Then the work Of the COM
mission will be apportioned. Such
changes as are necessary in the French
company's plans will be made. The
commission will employ additional en-
gineers to supervise the work of con-
struction.
THE first work will be that Of san-
itation. The cities of Colon and Pan
ANA will be cleaned and made health
full. Every precaution known to mod
ern science will be taken to prevent
disease from obtaining a foothold.
at i. desired to organize working
company in the form of great syndi-
cate to contract with the Government
to build the entire canal This work
ing company would sublet various
features Of the work, such as the ex,
cavatlng, the Bohio dam, the locks
and other specialties The subcon-
tractors would be responsible to the
working company, and the syndicate
to the Government.
"Thisis regarded as the most satis-
factory method of pursuing the un-
dertaking, If this plan cannot be
made operative the Government will
make contracts direct with companies
desiring to construct certain kinds Of
work.
THE sum of $1O,OOO,OOO is availa-
bic for use by the commission when
ever work begins.
at is estimated that two-ffths Of
the excavating has already been com
pleted. The machinery already in po-
sition is valued at over 81 100000.
This will be increased largely.
Contractors naturally figure that
the cost of construction will far ex-
ceed the present estimate of $l30OO0,-
900. Those engaged in manufsctur-
ing enterprises believe that anywhere
from $2OO,OOO,OOO to $3OO,OOO,OOO
will be distributed among them.
1.-The dredging interests will all
hang together. The transportation
lines, both rail and water, will surely
agree on basis for bidding. Those
who furnish cement, granite, machine
ry and lumber will probably agree on
some plan that will prevent too strong
competition.
According to the estimate more
than $l5,OOO,OOO will be expended
for machinery. Modern American
e1cavators and dredges will be sub
stituted for those now in use. About
q miles of the canal will be sea level.
This distance must be eIcavated by
dredging to a depth OF 35 feet. The
and setting up Of dredg-
ing plant to perform this enormous
work is a mammoth undertaking in
itself.
Temporary docks must be con-
structed at Colon to handle supplies
for the canal. The Southern States
will send hundreds Of cargoes of lum-
Der for this purpose. Many vessels
will be employed in that work. The
transportation of granite alone will
require hundreds of ships.
+One of the first contracts must be
for an enormous electric-hghtiDg plant.
This is necessary in order that work
may be pushed day aad night. Amer