Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05
THE PANAMA CANAL.
President Promises That Work of Exca.
walton Will Soon Be Resumed.


The treaty between the United States
and the republic of Panama. under
which the construction of the Panama
canal was made possible went into ef-
feet with its ratification by the United
States senate on Feb. %, 1901. The
canal properties of the French canal
company were transferred to the Unit
ed States on April %, 1904, on pay
ment of S40.O00,000 to that company.
On April 1, 1905. the commission was
reorganized, and. it now consists OF
Theodore P ShontS, chairman; Charles
L. Magoon, Benjamin NJ. Harrod. Rear
Admiral Nordecai T. Endicott. Briga-
der General Peter c. Hams and Colo
mel Oswald II. Ernst. John +. Stevens
was appointed chief engineer on July
l last. Active work in canal construc-
ton, mainly preparatory, has been in
progress for less than year and
half. During that period two points
about the canal have ceased to be open
to debate. First, the question of route:
the canal will be built on the isthmus
of Panama. Second. the question of
feasibility; there are no physical OBJ
stacles on this route that American en-
cheering skill will not be able to over
come without serious difficulty or that
will prevent the completion OF the canal
within a reasonable time and at rea-
sonable cost This is virtually the
unanimous testimony of the engineers
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 a single tide
lock. On this point l hope to lay be-
fore the congress at an early day the
findings of the advisory board of
American and European engineers that
at my invitation have been consider
ing the subject, together with the re-
port of the commission thereon, and
such comments thereon or recommen-
dations i'll reference thereto as may
seem necessary
The American people are pledged to
the speediest possible construction or
Il canal adequate TO meet the demands
which the commerce OF the world Will
make upon it, and l appeal most ear
nestly to the congress to aid in the tul-
fillment of the pledge. Gratifying prog
ress has been made during the past
year and especially during the past
four months. The greater part of the
necessary preliminary work has been
done. Actual work of excavation could
he begun only on limited scale till the
canal zone was made healthful place
to live in and to work in. The iSthmuS
had to be sanitated first. This task has
been so thoroughly accomplished that
yellow fever has been virtually ex-
tirpated from the isthmuS and gen
eral health conditions vastly improv-
ed The same methods which con-
verted the island of Cuba from pest
hole. which menaced the health of the
world, into a healthful place Of abode
have been applied on the isthmus with
satisfactory results. There is no rea-
son to doubt that when the plans for
water supply, paving and sewerage or
Panama and Colon and the large labor
camps have been fully carried out the
| isthmus will be. for the tropics, an I'M
| usually healthy place of abode. The
work is so far advanced now that the
health of all those employed in canal
| work is as well guarded as it is on sim
liar work in this country and else
where.
Quarters For Employees.
In addition to sanitating the isthmus,
| satisfactory quarters are being provid-
ed for employees and an adequate sys-
TEN of supplying them with wholesome
| food at reasonable prices has been Gre
ated. Hospitals have been established
and equipped that are without superi.
ors of their kind anywhere. The coun-
| try has thus been made fit TO work in,
and provision has been made for the
welfare and comfort of those who are
to do the work. During the past year
a large portion of the plant with which
| the work is to be done has been or
dered. 1t il confidently believed that
| by the middle of the approaching year
| a sufficient proportion of this plant will
have been installed TO enable US to re-
sumo the work of excavation on a
| large scale.
What is needed now and without de-
| lay is an appropriation by the congress
TO meet the current and accruing ex-
penses Of the commission. The first
appropriation of $10,000,O0O out of the
| S13J. 600, 900 authorized by the Spooner
act was made three years ago 1t is
| nearly exhausted There is barely
enough OF il remaining to carry the
commission TO the end of the year Tn
less the congress shall appropriate be
fore that time all work must cease. To
arrest progress for any length of time
now. when matters are advancing so
satisfactorily, would be depIorable.
There will be no money with which 10
meet payroll obligations and none with
| which to meet bills coming due for ma
| terials aud supplies, and there will he
decentralization of the forces here and
on the isthmus. now working so bar