The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-09
(0RK
Panama
Canal.
OFFERS COME FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD TO FURNISH
MEN TO MAKE THE
BIG CUT.

Since the announcement that one OF
the most serious problems facing the
4 Panama Canal Commission is the
question of labor hundreds OF PROPOSE
lions have come to the commission
from individuals and contractors all
\ over the world Offering to furnish
suitable laborers in any quantity
desired to dig the canal
The commission has nearly com
pleted plans for Improving sanitary
conditions on the Isthmus, which was
considered matter of primary i'm
! portance, and attention has now been
turned toward the labor question.
4 fThirty-two propositions have been
received from companies employing
Chinese labor, Offering to furnish
the government coolies to be en-
ployed on the canal at a cost OF sixty
two cents day for each laborer.
The companies guarantee to feed
and clothe the 1aborers, their PROPOSE
lions contemplating the importation
to Panama of large quantities OF
clothes worn by the Chinese at home,
together with cargoes of rice and
such other articles of food rs they are
accustomed to. 1t is also proposed
to construct bamboo houses for the
Chinese laborers and the companies
agree to return the bodies of all Chi
namen who may die on the Isthmus
to their native country unless death
should be caused by contagious dis
eases.
Another proposition has been sub
mitted to the department by Lieuten-
ant Charles o. Thomas, Jr., of the
Quartermaster's Department.. U. S. A.,
who recently supervised the construc-
ton of the military post at Batangas,
Philippine Islands. and who is now
supervising the construction of the
new post at Los Banos Lieutenant
Thomas recently asked authority to
take 1000 Filipino 1aborers to Pana-
ma to work on the canal. He offered
to supply skilled carpenters at $1.50
day and rations, and stone masons
at 81 day and rations. and 1aborers
at seventy-five cents day and ra
lions. He reports that he has en-
pioyed Filipino labor almost entirely
in the construction of military posts
and roads in the Philippines, and that
it has proved exceptionally efficient.
The Secretary of War has forwarded
the proposition to Admiral Walker,
and should the commission decide to
accept the offer Lieutenant Thomas
will be given permission to bring
his 1000 Fi1ipinoS to Panama and put
them to work on the canal.
Similar propositions have been re-
ceived from Japan, the Japanese offer
ing to furnish skilled mechanics at
a stipend of 81 a day and laborers at
sixty-five cents day.
The Puerto Ricans are particularly
anxious to assist in the construction
of Uncle Sans ditch. Thousands of
applications have been received from
Puerto Rico requesting employment. |
1t has been urged as a reason why |
Puerto Rican labor should be empIoy-
ed, that the island is to-day impover-
ished. and that it would be a gracious
thing on the part OF Uncle Sam to
employ Puerto Ricans, thus furnish
ing the idle on the island employment, |
which in turn would furnish relief /
to thousands OF families that are now
Dra ctically destitute. 1t is also urs-
ed that the Puerto Ricans are accti-
mated. and would thus prove much I
more efficient and valuable to the gov
ernment than laborcrs brought from
the States.
1t is understood that a majority of
the commission are opposed to en-
ploying foreign labor on the canal.
They believe that as far as possible
American workmen should be en-
ployed.
Admiral Walker believes that as
the canal is to be an American enter
prise American labor, as far as prac-
ticable, should be employed and that
this labor should be properly com
pensated.
At present there is force of about
TWO thousand men working on the I
canal. The majority of them are en-
ployed on the great cut on the Pa i
,ific side, which requires an excava-
ion of one hundred and sixty feet of
he earth. Others are employed on
other portions of the ditch merely
or the purpose of keeping the work !
llready done intact. !,
Camp Meeting.
A great camp meeting will be held !