The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-02
WORK MAPPED OUT
ADMIRAL WALKER GIVES IN-
 FORMATION ON CANAL.
Sanitary Matters Will First Occupy Canal Commission-Isthmus May Be Made as Healthy as
 Any Country.

washington Special to New Orleans
 Times-Democrat.
 Rear Admiral J. c. Walker, chairman of the commission for the construction of the Panama Canal, was asked to ex- plain what he deemed to be the early steps necessary to beginning the great work mapped out for the United States on tho isthmus. It being understood that he was speaking for himself and giving informati ton rather than outin- ing a plan, the distinguished canal expert talked in a very interesting manner.
 What will be the first step taken by the commission?" Admiral Walker was asked.
 "I presume that the commissioners VIII go to the isthmus immediately after or ganizing and look over the ground. Some of them have never been on the isthmus and few of them have personal knowledge of the situation there When they are on the ground they can act more intelli- gently in deciding how they are to pro ceed in getting ready to push the work energetically. with view to getting the greatest amount of work done in the best and most economical manner. and in the least possible time"
 ''It is said much preparatory work will he necessary"
 ''Yes. to one who has been there it looks as though we would have to take hold of the sanitary and other matters with considerable energy. One important thing will be to improve the harbor at Colon so that ships can lie there at all seasons. We will have to completely overhaul the City of Panama. putting in a sewerage system and supplying 1t with an abundance of good water. We will have td raise Colon out of the marsh and provide 1t with sewers and a water sup ply It will also be necessary to take care of the towns and villages along the route of the canal in much the same way.
 NO time will be lost in putting the buildings of which we will own about 400 in repair. We will have to repair and equip anew the hospitals. Much can be done to reduce the dangers of the climate to the minimum
 Do you anticipate a very great loss of life from the climate?'
 There is no reason why, with the facilities which the commission will have at it's disposal and with the assistance 1t will have from medical science and en- gineering, that section should not be made as healthy as any tropical country. We have done 1t elsewhere, and we can do it at Panama. The only thing to fear is an outbreak of the plague or other bad epidemic"
 How soon, judging from what you know of the condition of the operations. can this government have the work in full swing?'
 "ePrhaps in a year or a year and half"
 How soon. in your opinion, will 1t be possible to open the canal for com mercer"
 T should say in about eight years, if matters go smoothlyY
 When all the contracts haveN been let and the work is proceeding under full headway. how many men woll probably be employed?"
 Perhaps thirty to forty thousand They will be recruited first from the West Indies. men practically immune to the climate. Perhaps many of the laborers may go from the Southern States. The question of getting good laborers Is very important one. It may be that Chinese coolies and aJpanese may be em- ployed. They make very good hands on such a work if kept together in their own camps and properly handled.