The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-27
HOW TO BUILD the CANAL.
Gen. Hains Outlines a Policy Of
Construction on the Isthmus,

are almost ldent1cal with those hereto
fore submitted IN these columns. He
holds that instead of 10000
or $4,000 laborers as estimated
by some calculators, the project
will really not require more than
10, o0G or Is, 600 all of whom should be
drawn from the United States if posi-
BILE. The employment of Chinese cool
les on the canal which has been sug-
gested in some quarters does NOT seem
desirable to Gen. Hains. He does not
believe that it would be approved here
in the United States and besides that
the experience here Of the old French
canal company with coolie labor vas
not such as to recommend it's use by
the American government. Ger.
Hams also points out as we have fre-
quently done that Jamaica which has
been regarded as an ample source of
laborers for canal work can not be
counted on for more than ten or fifteen
per cent. of the required number or
say fifteen hundred to two thousand.
He concludes, therefore, that the canal
authorities should draw the needful
labor from the negro population of
our Southern States, but here he
brings up a situation which is by 10
means promising. The supply of negro
labor of good quality in the South is
more limited than is generally sup
posed and it is seriously declared that
if any considerable number of colnred
men should accept employment on the
canal the result would be serious
loss to Southern agriculture and other
industries in which they are now en-
gagged. The Southern States contain
enormous numbers of ignorant shift
less negroes, but they would be Of
little Or no account on the canal pro-
ject unless they were first put through
vigorous course of practical training
then the results would be uncertain.
One proposal made by Gen. Hains
is specially important and that is that
the labor employed in diggings the ca
nal shall be organized and directed as
closely as possible Oh the military sys-
tenn. That arrangement he contends
is desirable not only to protect the
health, comfort and general welfare of
the workmen themselves but also to
prevent labor dissensions, and thus
insure the completion of the enter
prise as speedily as possible. In order
to establish and maintain a system of
control in which military standards
of discipline and efficiency shall pre-
vail Gen. Hains holds that the entire
work of construction should be per
formed by the United States govern
ment and not by contractors and sub
contractors, his belief being that the
more simply the project is. organized
the more expeditions its execution.
Gen. Hams in his article points out
that thirty-fve of the fortyseven miles
of the canal will be excayated chiefly
with dredges requiring but few labor
ers, noting that on the Chicago drain
age canal, thirty four miles long, not
more than 5000 employees were ever
engaged at any one time; and tha5
with the increased working capacity
of modern machinery 2, 600 men working
on the Great Cut at Culebra, excayat-
ing at the rate Of 6, 10000 cubic yards
per year. should complete the task in
seven years. The lowest estimate Of
the time required to complete tie
canal is about eight years, but as
Gen. Hams says, bad management, a
war between the United States and
some naval power, an epidemic of yell
low fever, a temporary change in the
sentiment of the people of the United
States toward the project, would
cause delay that might postpone co1n-
pletion for years. Under such circum-
stances, a contractor might have q
valid claim against the government,
the amount of which can noc be estl-
mated. Ii the work be done by tie
government, some loss and delay
might ensue, but the loss would be CT
such nature that only government
interests would suffer and the delay
would cause no special embarrassment.
Gen. Hams holds that the authority
of the chief engineer of the ca-ai
should be supreme in all matters re-
lating to construction. If he des.Te
counsel and advice on any matters with
in the scope of his duties, ne should
be enabled to refer such matters to
a board of experts, who could give more
study to the question than he. Except
in an advisory capacity, it is believed
that boards are undesirable. 1t is 1c-
Tor. Gus IU8I GUSJ arc 1uCAiSAOho Ava S-a
ecutive work. The secretary or chair
man or some other member becomes
the moving power. and the board be-
comes screen. Responsibility must
be concentrated to be effective. TIE
larger the board, the greater its IL
competence in executive business; II
an advisory capacity boards may be o.
great value, but their functions teI' nTss TTs
views If Gen. Hams with respect to
the canal enterprise are timely and IL.
portant. He is an engineer officer OF
rare attainments and extensive expert
ence in constructive projects uncer
government control. Moreover he is
thoroughly familiar with the canal
project, has been associated with it IN
a professional way and is as we'll qua l.
fed to speak as to it's needs an d'ti-
culties as any other living man
Army and Navy Journal.