New-York tribune., 1905-07-15
AND THE CANAL.
TOPICS At OYSTER BAY.
Ta1caEirG Sees President - Shomts
Speaks on Isthmian affairs.
IB1 TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.I

IBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.l
Oyster Bay July 14.-Peace plans and the
Isthmian problems claimed President Roose-
veIt's attention this afternoon. Mr.. Takahira,
the Japanese Minister. talked with him about
the settlement Of the war in the East. and
Chairman T. p Shonts, and Chief Engineer ]. F.
Stevens Of the Panama Canal Commission dis
cussed with him matters pertaining to the great
task on the isthInus. All three men came in on
the 1920 p. m. train from New-York Mr..
Takahira returned on the 2:18 train. and the
canal officials left Oyster Bay at 4:20. ]. T.
Hines, Auditor of Porto Rico, was also a guest
at Sycamore Hill during the afternoon. partak-
ing Of luncheon with the President and the other
guests. and leaving with Messrs. Shonts and
Stevens.
Il am very glad indeed" said Mr.. Takahira,
that the Car has appointed Count Witte to
act as chief Peace Plenipotentiary. He is an
able man. none abIer, believe, in the Russian
Empire. and his wide experience and great tall
ents ht him admirably for the work. The Presi-
dent and I merely had general talk over mat
ters of mutual interest No. I do not know tho
exact date of our meeting at Oyster Bay. That
will have to be determined when we learn the
exact time of arrival of all the commissioners.
Mr.. Komura, will. I believe, reach NewYork
about July sO Count Witte may get there
couple Of days earlier. Everything seems to bs
progressing favorably The President seems to
be in excellent health and spirits" Mr. Taxa
hira lit another cigarette. bowed, and went on
board his train
When Chairman Shonts and Engineer Stevens
reached the station it was some ten minutes
before train time and the chairman talked In
terestingly Of the canal work to the newspaper
correspondents who surrounded him.
Mr.. Stevens took seat q stone post within
few feet of the little group. and occasionally
nodded his head in appreciation Of the chair
mans remarks. but did not add any suggestions
of his own. Mr. Shonts said:
The President had not met Mr. Stevens, and
as he is to sail with me on July 90 wished to
get acquainted with him, and have talk about
number OF matters before that date. We have
some twelve thousand men actually employed
on the work now, and that number will be In
creased rapidly we can get the laborers
and the scope of the work will allow. Until
we know exactly what sort Of canal is to be
built however, we will not be able to take all
our big contracts. The consulting engineers will
have meeting In the fall and when they come
together the commission will submit to them
the various plans and figures bearing on the
different styles Of cuts.
Under the law which authorizes the work we
are required to build lock canal, but If the
meeting of engineers should decide that sea
level canal is preferable, and the commission in
turn should indorse that view and the Presi-
dent should see things in the same light, have
no doubt that Congress would amend the statute
so that the alteration could be made. Congress
Will undoubtedly carry out the Presidents
wishes in this regard. he is the real builder
Of the canal.
STEVENS TO HAVE FREE HAND.
While there is any question as to the kind
Of canal to be built we cannot, of course, go
ahead with that surefootedness IN making big
contracts that we will be able to show when
we know Just what amount Of dirt is to be taken
out There Is good deal Of difference between
q sixty-foot level and sea level ditch. In the
mean time huge amount Of work remains to
be done. Mr.. Stevens must organize his engt-
neering department. 1t is practically morgan
ICED at present. He has we'll defined ideas Of
his own, and will be given an absolutely free
hand. He will have no one but himself to blame
If the work is not done right, for he will be SUI
preme In the engineering department.
The construction of buildings for the men to
live in. the erection OF hospitals, of power plants
and waterworks. and the planning and building
Of recreation houses will be pushed forward as
rapidly as possible. The last mentioned item,
recreation, is, I believe, Of the most i'm
pOrtant considerations to be looked after
out for the amusement Of the employees Of the
canal. do not care to give his name, for he is
that he will not be able to relinquish his pres
ent place to come to US. But If he does accept
the place he will be given ample scope along
that particular line. He is man who has had
large experience with labor organizations,
knows the needs and wants Of the working
classes, and will be able to provide them with
lust what they most require in the way of
amusements and recreation.
DISEASE STORIES EXAGGERATED.
AS the President said the other day In his
address to the physicians here in Oyster Bay,
the stories Of the unsanitary condition of the
isthmus that have been spread by returning la
borers and others largely exaggerations.
Suppose that during May and June we had an
average of 10000 men employed down there.
out of that number during May had twenty
cases Of yellow fever, with two deaths. In
June we had thirty cases, with four deaths; not
a very bad showing, think you will admit OF
course, we must secure the men who can stand
the work and the climate II we would escape a
heavy mortality. The problem Of getting these
Ia borers in sufficient numbers will be solved I
am quite sure satisfactorily and in good time.
Chinese the proper kind Of Chinese would Of
course make very good canal laborers. For in
stance coolies from the south OF China who
are used to working In the rice fields, would
make Just the class OF canal diggers that we
conffuuaA On thfrH nara