The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-15
ShOnts and Stevens Also Guests
 at Oyster Bay
CANAL MATTERS THRESHED
Chairman shonts Says the Health Re- ports From the Canal Zone Have Been Greatly Exag-
 gerated.

Oyster Bay, l.. l., July 14.-Important details concerning the forthcoming peace conference between plenipotentiaries rep resenting Russia and Japan and matters relating to the construction of the Pan anna canal were under consideration to- day by President Roosevelt. He and Mrs. Roosevelt had as their guests at luncheon at their Sagamore Hir home Minister Kogoro Takahira of Japan, Theodore F. Shonts chairman, and John F. Stevens, chief engineer of the sthmian canal com mission, and Thomas W. Hynes. auditor of Porto Rico
 The Japanese minister arrived here at 1920 o'clock from New York. Assurance was given that the minister's visit was not of notable significance. He discussed with Mir. Roosevelt some points about the approaching conference, but 1t is announced that no date was agreed upoE for the reception of the Russian and Japanese envoys by the President
 Baron Komura, the Japanese minister of foreign affairs. who Is the principal envoy of Japan to the conference, Is err route now from Japan and is expected to reach New York about the 30th inst. If NJ. Witte. the chief plenipotentlary of Russia shall have arrived by that time, the reception to the enyoys by the Presi- dent probably will take place at Saga more Hill on August 1.
 Takahira Is Pleased.
 Minister Takahira expressed his person. al qualification at the designation of M. Witte as the leading penipotentiary of Russia. He said that M. Witte was one of Russia's most eminent statemen, and his appointment would lend confidence and weight to the conclusion of the confer ence.
 He said arrangements for the confer ence were moving along smoothly, and expressed the hope that satisfactory agreement would be reached. Minister Takahira after taking luncheon with the President left oyster Bay for New York on the 2:18 train.
 Discuss Cana Matters.
 Chairman shonts and Chief Engineer Stevens remained with the President some time after the departure of Minister Taka- hira. This was the first opportunity the President has had to discuss canal mat ters with MT. Stevens and they went over the subject pretty thoroughly. As both MT. Shonts and MT. Stevens expect to sail for Panama on the 20th inst, the President desired to consult with them before their departure.
 It is not likely that MT. Stevens will be made in the near future member Of the executive committee Of the Panama canal commission, a position occupied by his predecessor. MT. Wallace. It can be said that MT. Stevens has been given par ticularly a free hand to do construction work on the isthmus. He has his own Ideas about the methods to be pursued, and will not be jnterferred with in the work of his department His desire is to dig the canal, and to that great undertaking he will devote all his energy and ability. leaving the executive ano administrative details to be worked out by Chairman Shonts, Governor Magoon and the com mission. After the conference with the President Chairman shonts talked frank ly about the work of the commission and about canal conditions
 Chairman Shonts Talks.
 "Our talk with the President today" he said was of general character of canal matters The President desired to see MT. Stevens before we left for the
 
 the progress of the work. Just now we have about 12000 men at work on the canal That Is about as many as we could employ under existing conditions. We have our executive staff thoroughly organ lzed now, but the organization has not been completed on the isthmus. That Is a part of the work MT. Stevens will have to do. His engineering staff must be organ ized, and its work mapped up. We must .lr tt. Ing and general care of our employees in Itself great task, and we must complete the sanitary arrangements in the Amer- can zone. All this will require time and energy and hard work, but 1t will be ac- complished successfully. have just con cluded arrangements with a man who Is to go to the isthmus to arrange for ths recreation of the canal employees. We will have reading rooms. amusement halls and all that sort of thing, by means of which the men may pass their idle hours pleas antly and profitaby."
 Conditions Not So Bad.
 No" continued Chairman Shonts in response to an inquiry, "the sanitary condition of the isthmus are not so bad as they have been reported 10 be. A lot of people have become frightened by the yellow fever, but it Is not so bad as
 
 from the isthmus regarding health con ditions have been grossly exaggerated. Judge Magoon has sent reports that pre- sent the exact conditions. and they have been made public precisely as he sent them. He and I agreed before we went to Panama that the exact conditions should be made public. and that agree ment has been kept both by him and myself Out of twenty cases of yellow fever in May, we lost only two, and in June out of more than that number we lost only four. The sanitary conditions are being bettered all the time, and as soon as we complete arrangements for ga adequate supply of pure water. we shall have little or no difflculty.'
 My belief is," continued Chairman that the actual digging of the canal will have to be done by the labor CTS inured to the tropical climate. That Ia bor we shall be able to get. I believe, without any serious trouble
 Will Use Some Chinese.
 Asked whether 1t was his idea to use Chinese labor on the canal to any extent he replied that some Chinese from the rice fields of southern China probably would meet the labor requirements on the isthmus. but he doubted whether the northern Chinese would live and work well in the tropical climate of Panama.