Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-26


-hr. real work. The commissioners VII
. do erouyh work of this kind to establish
certain standards of cost, which VIII be
accurately computed by experts. When
,pc time for the real work begins, on
definite Specifications, the COMMISSION
will throw open it's books to intending
contractors. showing them what 1t Is
costing this Government per million
square yards to eXcaEate sraHel anu
rock, and for the other elements of the
undertaking. The commission VIII
practically say: These are our
figures. If you can do the work any
ch.aUer We want you TO 90 II, put IL
not, We shall keep right on ourselves
We will make no secret as to what II Is
costing us
The commission is able to make
very unusual showing III this regard Tor
an operation under Government
auspices. because of the pecuilarly
favorable terms Of the canal act by
which the commission is freed from
those restrictions that usually hamper
! Government operations There is no
eight hour day, no restriction as 10
nationality or type of laborers, no tarlH
on canal merchandise, no requirement
that It shall be purchased in American
markets, etc. For once the ultra-pro-
tcctionists and the labor unions seem TO
have been caught mapping, since no I'M
reasonable conditions in the interest or
sueCinl classes have been imposed.
In addition to this, President Roose-
welt named On the canal oclnmlsslon 4
body Of peculiarly high-Class men. The
| politicians Wtr. excluded. Democratic
senators, about to retire. who nal
voted for thu Panama Canal treaty,
were not put on the commission at a
handsome salary. as was steadily
charged At the time Wuuli be the case.
II il doubtful If SO important n body
was oyer constituted with less regard
70 political and personal considerations.
With such men and SlCi legislation,
for which credit IS due T. Roosevelt and
y Krruhlichn Congress, 1t is not
strang" that splendid results can be
shown when the work IS done under
Government auspices. These will also
hold the contractors down many MIL
lions IF dollars if the work IS done in
that way The saving to the public OF
this sort ~ management can hardly be
, ovcr-cstimated.
EVERYTHING that has henn done so far
has proved less expensive than was
anticipated. The construction work at
l Linen Bay. whore It was supposed
excavation If coral rock under water
would be- necessary. has proved much
l simpler: the foundation is not of rock
y after al. The excavation in the great
| cut Is going on at lower rate than
Z had been estimated. due to a more
y effective organization and to the use of
l. the most improved machinery. Some
II millions ~ dollars Of saving are already
r IN sight over the estimates Of the last
commission. A surprising amount 81
work VAS already been done in buildinr
: reservoirs NJ Panama and pipins
% water: in harbor construction and thu
II work on the great cut II Is also pro-
Il rosed to reduce the lift some what from
n the eirhtv-two feet low water mnrI
II which had been planned ny the frs
{ commission. and perhaps IN doing thi
: six locke-three on each side-will b,
/ utilized instead Of Ave.
V Little attention IS now given tn tn
e sen -level idea which was De Iessepi
!, original project. and II iS unlikely tina
{ the canal will ever he r,ndo 2 sea-leve
i one The locks will delay n ship. It I.
. estimated. only three hours IN passins
A through: there can no banded ut thes'
i points y MAXIMUM tratFi" seven time,
as great as that which passes through
the Suez Canal There would. there
fore. he little reason on the score o
q economy of time or in thn adequacy q
If tre canal for . change which would IN
~, ,pI, ,tgf tyc u
: cost Of construction It Is IN Interest
o ing fact that a ealt water canal is
4 equivalent 10 near'v m extra foot ir
! depth ove- one % the same dinorsior'
% IN r.osh water on account Of the
o surn-ior huovancv NJ tho sea.
h The reported t-ou'Acs totwen, or- rom
Il, mission and the Panama Govcrnmen
d have been exaggerated by political tur
e nloii on the Isthmus. The American com
8 mis<ioucrs. 1t may be safely predicted
II will 90 right ahead and do the work a.
! they want tn. establishing ports in tn,
. canal strip. hut not otherwise interfering
= with the Government or revenues OF III,
V tiny republic The Panamas received ST
. much money from the United Statcs-
g l$luw"o"i-that naturally their politician!
g of'the faction which is out look upon thi.
h Government as n gold mine. and eagcrl!
Il await an opportunity for "squccZc' o
SOM. sort. But there IS no diSposit ior
: manifest here in official circles TO do any
n thing more for them. aside from living VI
e to our contract Obligations.
8 Strictly speaking. Panama as republic
was not entitled 10 50 large a Cumps.Sa
Z ton for that strip as Colombia would hlN,
n been, because in dealing with Panama
the United States has naturally assumed
certain obligation to protect her aga!ns
being ovrrrun by the mother country
a Moreover. the canal will he of such tire
q ncndous advantage to Panama that hel
;. people ought to be very well content will
what the United states has already done
q Two members IF the present Commission
e at least have had a good deal OF expert
@ | enCe with l.atn-AmeriCan peoples anC
are not likely to he diverted from til Ill
0 course by tn Clamorlng of local agitatOrs
: bent on making an issue by which to &c
. into power
This consideration greatly emphasize:
the wisdom q choosing Panama, instead
J. Of Nicaragua With a canal only twenty
, feet in depth. The Nicaraguan route woull
have been fairly competitive. but fol
every additional foot the terms Of tht
q choice became more uneven. The prospect
a Of constructing long stretches OF sub
: merged channel in Lake Nicara qua. a:
;, would have been necessary at thirty
Il five or forty-foCt depth. was disQuieting
Z 1t would have been troublesome piece Of
e work. and In operation would have re