The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-12
WORK ON THE PANAMA CANAL.

The next few weeks viii constitute critical perlo
in the history Of the Panama canal. -Four member
Of the commission which has charge Of the enter
prise have lust gone to the isthmus again, where
they will confer with the fifth and the civil governo
Of the canal zone upon important questions OF polcy
BY September, it is believed, they will have deter
mined whether the new construction shall be effected
by laborers employed directly by the government
or shall be intrusted to contractors. decision hav
ing been reached upon that point, eight or II
months win remain in which other essential prepar
ations can be made. It is doubtful whether exca-
vation will be actively resumed before next July
In the interim the commission the contractors can
arrange for the Importation of labor and secure the
necessary mechanical equipment neither Of which
can be accomplished in day. Commissioner Hecker
has made an inventory of the machinery left by the
recent owners of the canal site and originally cost
ing $29OOOOOO Dredges cars and locomotives
whose value is nearly 100000 can probably be
utilized, but nearly everything else needed for the
work must be purchased anew. AT times as many as
Is or is thousand hands have been employed on the
canal and at present only one thousand (well sea-
soned jamaican negroes) are available. Whether the
new supply of labor comes from the West Indies
OF ASIA provision for it must be made on large
scale.
1t is reported that electrical machinery will be ex-
tensively employed ON the isthmus. We are not sure
ON what authority the statement is made, but the
s,,,yost ION Il; sonc;hla Poxor Ynust ha raouirad at
great many different points along the canal route
f this is generated at only few central stations and
distributed in the form Of electricity, great economy
will result Moreover, the motors which will apply
the power to such operations as drilling would be
portable and could be moved from place to place as
engineers and for driving ventatng fans electricity
Will be much the most convenient agent. The outfit
for these several forms of service would doubtless be
purchased in the United States because it could be
imported free Of duty, whereas similar merchandise
from other countries would be admitted only upon
the payment Of an advalorem tax of As per cent
When new construction begins next summer at
least year will have been devoted to the sanitary
regeneration of the canal zone. An ample water
supply for which many miles of iron pipe are re-
quired, will then be at the disposal of officials and
aborers. Hand in hand with that safeguard to
health will go another, an adequate sewerage system
IN Colon and Panama. At least three expedients
will be employed to check the breeding Of mosquitoes
Some of the swamps will be drained others are likely
to be treated with chemicals, and in still another
group of localities the water level will be raised by
the Boho DAM one of the great features Of the canal
In these and in other ways wonderful change will
be wrought in the situation. General Abbot, in the
August number Of the Engineering Magazine, shows
that between 1881 and 1888, under the management
Of the old French company, the average number Of
eases Of disease due to the climate every year was
42.72 per cent Of the total number of employees
Under the regime of the new company the percentage
fell from 1866 in 1898 TO 685 in 1901 A further
diminution may confidently be expected when work
ander American auspices is under way. Indeed, it
not improbable that within the next 10 years the
prediction of the late George s. Morison that the
isthmus would become health resort during certain
months of the year, will be fully verified