The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-11-03
The Panama Canal,

the Republic OF Panama, under which the
construction Of the Panama canal was made
possible, went into effect with its ratification
by the United States Senate on Feb. 49, 1904.
The canal properties Of the French Canal Com
pany were transferred to the United States on
April %, 1904, on payment of $40,OO0,OOO to
that company. On April l, 1905 the Commits
sion reorganzed and 1t now consists OF
Theodore p shouts chairman Charles E. Ma
, COON, Benjamin NJ. Harrod Rear Admiral Nor
decai T. Endicott, Brig. Gen. Peter Z. Hams,
and Col. Oswald II. Ernst John F. Stevens
was appointed chief engineer on July | last.
Active work in canal construction. mainly pre-
paratory has been In progress for less than a
year and half. During that period two points
about the canal have ceased to be open to de-
bate. First the question of route; the canal
will be built on the lsthmus of Panama. Sec
! ond, the question Of feasibility; there are no
physical obstacles on this route that American
engineering skill will not be able to overcome
without serious difficulty, or that will prevent
the completion of the canal within reason
able time and at reasonable cost. This Is
virtually the unanimous testimony of the en-
gneers who have Investigated the matter for
the government.
The point which remains unsettled is the
question of type, whether the canal shall be
one of several locks above sea level, or at sea
level with single tide lock. On this point
hope to lay before the Congress at early day
the findings of the Advisory Board Of Ameri-
can and European Engineers, that at my invi-
tation have been considering the subject, to-
gether with the report Of the commission there
on; and such comments thereon or recommended
| tions In reference thereto may seem neces
sary.
The American people is pledged to the speed
| lest possible construction of canal adequate
| to meet the demands which the commerce of
| the world will make upon 1t, and appeal most
| earnestly to the Congress to aid In the fulfill
| ment of the pledge. Gratifying progress has
| been made during the past year and especially
during the past four months. The greater part
Of the necessary r preliminary work has :, been
| gun only on limited scale till the canal zone
was made healthful place to live in and to
work n. The isthmus had to be sanitated
| first. This task has been so thoroughly accom-
| plished that yellow fever has been virtually
| extirpated from the isthmus and general health
conditions vastly improved. The same methods
which converted the island of Cuba from pest
| hole, which menaced the health of the world
| into a healthfu place of abode, have been ap-
| piled on the isthmus with satisfactory results
| There is no reason to doubt that when the
| plans for water supply. paving, and sewerage
| of Panama and Colon and the large labor camns
have been fully carried out the isthmus will
| be, for the tropics, an unusually healthy place
| that the health Of all those employed in canal
work is we'll guarded as 1t is on similar
| work in this country and elsewhere.
In addition to sanitatlng the isthmus salts
| factory quarters being provided for en-
ployes and an adequate system Of supplying
| them with wholesome food at reasonable prices
| has been created. Hospitals have been estab-
| lished and equipped that are without superiors
| of their kind anywhere. The country has thus
been made fit to work in, and provision has
been made for the welfare and comfort of
| those who to do the work. During the
past year large portion of the plant with
which the work Is to be done has been Or
dered. 1t Is confidently believed that by the
middle Of the approaehiri year sufficient pro
portion Of this plant U,il have been installed
70 enable US to resume the work of excavation
on large scale.
What is needed now and without delay is
appropriation by the Congress to meet the cur
commission,
The first appropriation of $40, 900, 900, out Of
the $135, 900, 600 authorized by the Spooner act
was made three years ago. 1t Is nearly ex
hausted. There is barely enough Of it remain
ing to carry the commission to the end Of the
year. Unless the Congress shall appropriate
before that time all work must cease. To ar
rest progress for any length of time now, when
matters are advancing so satisfactorily, would
be deplorable. There will be no money with
which to meet payroll obligations and none
with which to meet bills coming due for ma
terlals and supplies; and there will be demoral-
iZation of the forces, here and on the sthmus,
now working so tremendously and effectively,
II there Is delay In granting an emergency ap-
preparation. Estimates of the amount neces-
sary will be found In the accompanying
ports of the Secretary of War and the com
mission.
Department of State.
recommend adequate provision than
has been MADE heretofore for the work of the
Department of State Within few years
there has been very great increase in the
amount and Importance of the work to be
done by that department, both In Washington
and abroad. This has been caused by the
great increase of foreign trade, the in.
crease of wealth among our people, which
enables them to travel more generally than
| heretofore. the increase of American capital
which is seeking Investment in foreign coun-
tries, and the growth of our power and weight
in the councils Of the civilized world There
has been no corresponding increase of facilities
for doing the work afforded to the department
having charge Of our foreign relations.
Neither at home nor abroad is there suf-
fcent working force to do the business properly,
In many respects the system which ade
quate to the work of twenty five, or even ten.
years ago, is inadequate now. and should be
changed. Our consular force should be classl'
fed and appointments should be made to the
several classes, with authority to the Execu.
tive to assign the members Of each class to
duty at such posts as the interests of the ser
vice require, instead Of the appointments be-
Ing made as at present to specified posts.
There should be adequate inspection
vice, so that the Department may be able to
inform itself how the business of each consul
late is being done, instead of depending upon
casual private information or rumor. The fee
system should be entirely abolished, and due
equivalent made in salary to the officers who
now exc out their subsistence by means of
fees. Sufficient provisions should be made for
n clerical force in every consulate. composed
entirely of Americans, instead OF the in
sufficient provision now made which compels
the employment of great numbers of citizens
of foreign countries whose services can be OBJ
tanned for less money. At large part OF our
consulates the Office quarters and the clerical
force inadequate to the performance of the
onerous duties imposed by the recent provisions
Of our immigration laws as well as by our in
creasing trade. In many parts Of the world the
lack OF suitable quarters for embassies
legations and cOnsulates dctracts from the
respect in which our officers ought to be held
and seriously impairs their weight and inAu
cnce
Suitable provision should be made for the ex-
pcnse Of keeping our diplomatic officers more
fully informed of what is being done from
day to day In the progress of our diplomatic
affairs with other countries. The lack Of such
information, caused by insufficient appropria-
lions available for cable tolls and for clerical
and messenger service frequently puts our
officers at great disadvantage and detracts |
from their usefulness. The salary list should be |
rcadjusted 1t does not correspond either |
to the Importance OF the service to be rendered |
and the degrees of ability and experience re-
Iured in the different positions, or to the |
differences In the cost of living In many eases |
the salaries are quite inadequate.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.