The San Francisco call., 1904-06-15


is the minimum OF the time limit
placed by the commission upon the
completion OF the isthmus canal
ten years at least" IS what they say
The commissioners are hard at work In
their Offices in the Evening Star build
ing. They are formulating plans, pre-
pairing a system OF bookkeeping and IN
other ways comprising the prelimin-
aries 10 the great work upon which
they have entered. They viii make
another visit TO the isthmus In August
During their last visit they spent two
weeks passing from ocean 10 ocean
along the line Of the proposed canal
and INSPECTING every part Of IL
We have taken over the system as
Il was and the work IS going on in the
same way as under the old company.
said Commissioner Grunsky to-day.
our tour was one OF inspection, 10
discover the condition OF things along
the lire. 70 see what the property con-
sisted OF and IN general 10 take ac-
count Of stock. The old commissioners
reported upon a plan Of cutting
canal Il is for US 10 profit by their
Ia Dor and 70 improve upon their plan
If We can We have several definite
problems 70 solve incidental 70 the
main prOblem-that Of the canal itself
To be sure every one admits the canal
should be at sea level, ultimately
Whether il should be undertaken with
that end al the start and. II not, the
next best plan. are things 10 be de-
termined- To cut the isthmus 10 the
sea will OF course. mean many years
more than 70 build system OF locks
In any case the canal will always have
4 lock at sea level 10 meet the condi-
ton OF the tide. otherwise there would
be a millrace through IL all the time" 4"
DESCRIBES CONDITIONS.
Speaking Of conditions on the 18th
mus at present and OF the lesser prob
lens involved. Gruusky said:
We found evidences on the line OF
the canal OF 2 vast waste OF energy
OF course. much Of this was due lat
merse enterprise. that can only be
prosecuted economically and eXpedi-
tiously with capital practically unlim
ited. II must be undertaken in a large
way Here We found laborers throw
ing dirt from the shovel into cars,
which might be proper enough in the
grading OF a small railroad We found
machinery lying along the way that
had not been used for fifteen years.
As its contract did not allow it
70 quit work. or II could not afford
20 wear the appearance OF having
abandoned the project. the company
vas simply putting in the time until
something should turn up either 10
give il funds or take the job OF
its hands.
CLIMATE NOT BAD.
"One OF the things anticipated has
turned up One OF the things the COM
mission discovered was that the Cli-
mate was not so bad as it has been
painted. We worked there very much
as We would work in Washington-the
same hours and with about the same
energy. The humidity vas not much
more trying than Ee have found IL here
this spring OF course, We did not re-
main there long AS a regular thing
II might be different However. when
the country is drained and the mos
Cuitoes put 10 rOut I think there can
be little complaint made as 70
health conditions This IS the first
Tork 70 be undertaken, and that
it can be accomplished in a compare
lively short time I have no doubt. II
viii be the aim OF the commission 10
complete the big work with as small
sacrifice or life as may be possible
Now. as 10 the time to be consumed
and the method" continued Grunsky,
1T IS possible. Of course. that the
heroic nature OF the undertaking may
evolve new nneans-merhOds that are
not now anywhere employed This has
been suggested. and. as I say. IL is
possible that machinery more effective
than any we have seen may be intro
duced 10 speed the work and lessen the
time Some men have already visited
the ground with the view of studying
the work 10 be done. I an in favor.
too. OF granting contracts in such fig
ures as viii warrant the contractors
in eQuipping themselves properly. A
big contract Will offer an inspiration
10 the right men But I may say that
IL viii be a full year before we viii be
ready 70 let contracts. There is much
70 be done before that There is every
thing in knowing just what we are
going 10 co before we begin TO do IL
The first real work OF the commission
IS 70 make certain OF that In the
meantime. Of course, we can clean up
the canal zone and make the years OF
labor there as healthful and comfort
able as possible
ENGINEERS IN PANAMA.
Engineering parties have been sent
to the isthmus on several OF the late
vessels sailing there from New York.
Senor Don Luis F. Corea, Minister