Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-05
ISTHMIAN CANAL WORK
EMPLOYEES IN LOCAL OFFICE
VERY ACTIVE.
Actual CONSTRUCTION Matter OF
Future-Arranging Sanitary Mat
tiers on the Panama Strip.

The headquarters of the fsthmian canal
commission, in The Evening Star building
are the scene of busy activity. With the ex-
ception Ct the seven members of the COM
mission of whom Rear Admiral John IT,
Walker u. s. NJ, retired, is chairman, u. L.
Murphy, the newly elected secretary of the
commission, and Chief Clerk Redfern, there
are but about a dozen employees on duty at
commission headquarters.
1t will probably be some time before the
actual work Of constructing the canal Will
be pushed. The most important problem
now being considered by the commission Is
that of sanitation. When this Is satisfac-
tcriIy settled and the works are established
on a sanitary basis. the actual work OF dig.
cling the canal will proceed. Th.s lack OF
proper Sc nitary precautions is said TO nave
been one of the most important factors In
the failure of the French company, wnch
resulted not only in the death OF thousands
of men, but in a loss of hundreds OF thous-
ands Of dollars.
The force of sanitary experts which Is now
ON the isthmus working out the problem OF
sanitation numbers among It's members
some II the most eminent and celebrated
sanitarians In the world. This force Is I'M
der the command Of Col. w. c. Gorgas, u
8 A.. cnief sanitary officer OF the commas
sion, who has for his chief ASSISTANT Meoicai
Directo. John w. Ross OF the navy.
are hut comparatively few people now sta
toned on the isthmus in the employ OF the
commission Mr. John F. Wallace. VINO was
formerly general manager OF the lAiiois
Central Railroad Company. now .ne liz. M
engineer of the canal commission, ana VINO
10 considered one of the best engineers III
1.-THE country, is on the isthmus with q 1orce
of assistants engaged in the preliminary en-
eineer work.
Work on Culebra Cut.
The only force working on the carsli
proper Is composed Of about 9Oo JaHaica
negros who were In the employ Oh the
French company when the canal was
turned over to the isthmian COMMISSION
These men are working on what IS KNOWN
as Cuebra cut. one of the most oiiIlcu ..o
and tedious pieces of work along the rou'e
of the canal 1t being hecessary +i TO- W.
through an extremely rocky formation.
There has been some discussion by Varl-
Gus contractors as to whether OF not lle
commission would undertake the cons'ruc-
ton of the canal by employing It's own
labor, whether II Woulo give ''e
work out by contract.
Mr.. Murphy secretary of the commission,
in speaking of the progress OF the WORK
today. said that there Woula pro ,pa a,r NC
but little development until after the mem
hers of the commission had returned from
Panama in the early ran.
..The question of the employment OF con-
tract work IN the CouSliu'tioh u ny
canal" said Mr.. Murphy, has not yet
been determined. and will probably not
come up for consideration until the com,
mfssioners again visit the isthmus and
go over the ground thoroughly. 1t Will
then be determined whether the work VIII
be done by the commission Itself or given
.out by contract
.The report recently circulated that the
commission desired the services OF 800 ad-
ditionaI physicians for service on the 18TH
mus" said Secretary Murphy. lis entirely
without foundation. as the medical corps
now in the employ of the commission Is all
that will be needed for some time TO come;
In fact there is small probability Of any
amendments of moment being made Until
the work of the commission develops some
time in the future.