New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-26
WORK ON PANAMA CANAL
admiral Ualker Tells of Some of
the Com missions Plans.
TrRoM TUE rRIBuNE BUREAU

Washington. March 25-Admirai Walker. chair
man Of the Panama Canal Commission. had a
1o-r conference with President Roosevelt TINS
afternoon lie brought up with him q number Of
matters affecting the work to Re done. and said
g,oIbv for the present as he does not expect 10
have another consultation with the President until
after the commission returns from the isthmus
An preparations are made FOR sailing from New
York on the 2sth said the Admiral. after his con-
ference with the President. II expect 10 60 over
20 Navg-York on Sunday In order 20 wind up
number Of small matters there before we 90 VI
course q is just impossible 10 say exactly now
long We will be- in Panama. but I think that
month ON the sthnus ITSELF ought TO be long
enough when We return. Il IS quite probable that
General Davis will not be with US. for the plan Is
70 leave him IN charge 81 things on the strip
We will go over the ground very careiulIy IN oTueT
90 faruiIiarIze all the members with the work Inc
fact that the railroad is IN fine running condition
will greatly facilitate matters Few people realize
vh,f "a good railroad that H. or what big bust
ness IL is now doing Two passengers and four
freight trains each way are now being run there
dailv and ~ IS a good paying investment. Only
Wish Una, I owned 70 personally. As soon as We
get TO work the business Will. OF course De IN
creased wonderfully. More rolling stock Will have
ro be- bought. switches will have 20 be buit ana
more trains will DE put in service to handle the
increased trafHr IN an that goes 10 make up a
first class railroad the Panama line compares very
r.yorahly with almost any country road In the
States
The labor problem is likely 20 be one 81 the big
,,cs e,r ,rs 20 face soon after begin the work
r.. orc arc about eight hundred employed there
NOW hos the French company. They are mostly
Vest india blacks. and IL IS very probable that we
will have 90 employ the same labor when we IN
-~s-s. the force Some have suggested that We can
get plenty az c1Iorcd from southern States
. lint I am rather sccptical about this don't be
. lev. that We will ue able To- get many from that
section Of the country. At present the bacNs en-
uluy-d the wurN are getting ABOUT - cents q
day They paid ia Colombian silver. which Is
81 very high lu favor 81 the financial world
frt.t at present think the last time heard 10
quoted n was about s. IS Colombian 10 81 81 United
States Very luckily for ms and Tor Panama there
try columbian paper is worth Just about nothing
They make IL printing presses, and grind II out
by the bushe Having nothing behind H. u Is worth
"a Confederate money was after the
. t-ivu War Though this paper circulated very
freely IN an the other States ~ Colombia. the peO-
. pIe Of Panama always refused 90 handle H. and so
nothing but silver In circulation Bad as this IL.
Is "a good deal better than the paper money, and
viii ftIv things think that Of the FIRST things
. needed down there Is the passage or a law hNlng
a.. rstI, Of United States and Colombian silver 50
tt,r yya can iu a solid financial basis. We
. ,viU have 10 nix fair rate OF wages for our labor
That rate will depend naturally upon the
sfpplv Of labor but am confident that we will
manage 10 get ali the help need when the time
comes TO use H. Ways viii be found 10 induce a
class OF laboTinE men tO come. ana when
tbe an. i our employ they will find IL to their in
terests 10 remain there Conditions will be made
agreeable as possible for the men who work on the
. and the men will be paid fair wages for what they
I'm the mean time We are. Of course. anxious q
. ... tbe matter settled In the French courts. The
Utiraon over there r. not worrying az all. bur Il
,,iU he pleasauter for all concerned 10 have the
/ matter settled for all time az soon as possible"