Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-19

mission for the purposes for which it was
bought.
"The gauge of the railroad Is five feea
while the standard gauge in the United
States and elsewhere is four feet eight and
a half inches. a fact which reduces much
the amount of equipment which could bs
bought ready made, and greatly increases
the cost and time of buying that which
is necessary. The telegraph system and
the telephone system along the road are
now being completely reconstructed. Tho
yards and wharves at each end OF the road
for the purpose of receiving freight from
steamers were utterly inadequate. and are
now being very much enlarged at La Boca
and at Cristohal. and must be repaired at
Colon.
The Labor Problem.
Nearly all the labor upon the 18th.
mus is now negro labor from the West In
dla Islands. 1t is very poor The question
remains to be decided whether we shall at
tempt to secure Chinese or japanese labor.
1t has been held by the Attorney General
that the federal eight-hour law applies to
those employed by the canal commission.
1 was at first disposed TO think its effect
would be good. because We could have three
shifts every twenty-four hours I am as
sured, however, by Mr.. Stevens and Gov.
Magoon that its enforcement only inter-
feres with good work.
Petitions are being filed by all foreign
ers and Americans asking that its operation
in the zone be amended There is practi-
cally no limit to the negro labor can
obtain from the West Indian and Caribbean
islands, but its efficiency is so low that we
may have to call in Asiatics. Another year
will show more facts upon which labor
policy may be based. The fact that no white
labor can be found to stand work in the
tropical sun ought TO remove the question
from the forum of ordinary trade union
labor discussion and lead to a solution free
from considerations which might properly
l,a.- frrl,4
climate and in conditions less resembling
a national emergency.
Teh Financial Side
And now shall speak of something
which will not take me long, but 1t Is a
most important matter at this juncture
Fifty millions of dollars were taken out or
the treasury of the United States, $40 .0oO,-
600 for the French Panama Canal Cons
pany and 100000 for the republic OF
Panama TO give us the canal as 1t is and
the right of way and the Panama railroad.
Ten millions We're voted to begin the pre-
limnary work on the canal. That Sl0,o0o0 90
is about exhausted. 1t has been expended
as follows:
General expenses:
General administration expenses at
Washington and other points 10 the
United states including salaries and
expenses of commissioners, special
commissioners, advisory board and Of
fee of administra tIon. .............. $5i1. 900
Department Of administration expenses,
isthnlus. ....,.,......,...... 67,ooo
ton. -. ................ $4,000
neering. ..-......-.'.. 84s 600
Expended for hospitals, sanitation.
struction of waterworks and sewers,
police and prisons ................... J. 3s3 900
Purchase OF Panama ra flroad stock $40. 1856. 900
Permanent plant. ......-............... 3.946 900
Purchase of supplies consumable in their
use, including cost OF inspection, han
ding and transportation. $1,000. $40 900
Canal construction. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ]. 800 600
Total ...................... SO. 1873 coo
'"The pay roll at present amounts TO some
thing like 100000 a month, and there IS
not enough money on hand after the pay
ment of the bills to meet the December pay
roll. There are bills unpaid for material
and supplies which should be paid at once.
''One of the great obstacles to success IN
building the canal is the opposition of pow
erful persons and interests to its construc-
ton. Some of this opposition comes from
those who are sincerely convinced that the
Panama route is not a practicable route,
and that there are other and easier routes
to be preferred. 1t is not to be expected
that owners ana managers of great trans
continental lines should become enthusiast
tic over enterprise which. II carried to
completion. must certainly affect the rates
of freight between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. Even now there is some question
as to whether low rates and equality or
service to all on the Panama railroad may
not reduce transcontinental rates"