The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-16
CANAL A HARD NUT
Government Can't Build
at Reasonable Cost.
An Able Engineer Points Out Lack OF
Organization and Harmony and
Other Troubles on the Dead
Nv lsihmus.
ly lsthmus.

Especial 10 News and Observer
Baltimore. Nd July lin this
weeks issue Of the Manufacturers
Record. Mr. c. F. 4. Caracristi, wlo
has had several years engineering eX-
perience in South America and Cen
trial America, and VINO is we'll ac-
QuainJed with conditions III Panama,
whence lie has recently returned 10
this country discusses a number Of
phases Of the Panama canal problem
and deals frankly with the situation.
He says.
TO be perfectly plain. the work
should either be irreVoca bly, placed III
the hands OF our able army engineers
Ito satisfy the administration hank-
eTing after interference or totally
transferred 10 civilians. Experience
has long since taught. and the les
son is Of great intrinsic value IN the
present crisis that the government
cannot and never has successfully ex-
ecuted great engineering work OF
public utility without civilian con-
tractors and other outside aid Even
in small engineering undertakings
| government work has cost far in ex-
cess OF current prices
While the rules OF strict subordi-
nation imposed by the government on
| its executive employees is lau1able
and may be enforced. al least ap-
parenrly, in its local clerical forces
and the army and navy, this cannot
apply 10 civilians OF nigh professional
attainment who have no political as
pirations nor even TO the independent
| \ meTican artisan and la0orer. This
conditions is particularly true in 4
| period of popular prosperity, when
| our domestic demands upon this class
| OF our citizens labor is greater than
the available supply. With ample
4 -
need not leave its own hr-side and
undergo the necessity OF being separ-
2Jed fro mfamilies and the expense
| OF living in q foreign country. IL Is
doubtful if il viii undertake the ter
| rible hardships of a tTOpic climate. 10
say nothing of the risks incidental 70
| Z life on the pestifer0us Isthmus OF
Panama / found that at present the
housing OF vast army OF employees
on the Isrhmus. even though good
labor al reasonable prices should Ce
0btainable, is entirely ont OF the Ques-
ton. as no provisions have been made
upon a sanitary basis. Such labor as
Is now al work on the IsthHlus would
not stand muster in the States. even
at one-half Of the prices paid With
rare exceptions. outside Of the high
officials the l.59o Americans working
on the canal zone are there as mat
ter OF last resort or out OF spirit OF
foolhardy curiosity and adventure
When the crucial time arrives and la
Dor will be needed ii corresponding
abundance 10 the magnitude Of the
undertaking. prices for good men viii
probably be 100 per cent. higher Than
| al present
'The princiu1I reason for delay on
| the canal work is the absolute want
Of organization and harmony on the
Isthuus- There is one exception 10
| this statement. and that exists in the
health officers department The cur
able condition Of Reorganization can
be remedied by letting the work by
contract in small sections. II this
is not done no organization viii ever
last beyond its experimental stage
The absolute impTactIbility OF success
fully building the canal directly by
the government at anything like
| reasonable cost mas already been dem
onstrated. and as more difficult prob
lens are presented stronger and more
/ convincing evidence OF this statement
must pass the willful censorship OF
the representatives Of the American
press on the Isthmus and reach this
country with alarming details. and
may reform forbid, probably accom-
panied by scandal
There is nothing impractical about
the canal undertaking from an engi-
neering standpoint. and the accOmp-
| Iishment OF this vast work rests simp
IL on the Isthmian Canal Commission
settling upon q definite plan OF Oper-
alton TO be executed by contract under
the untTammeled supervision OF the
chief engineer in charge
Under the existing system the work
of construction will never be COM
pieIed. but il IS natural 10 suppose
that the American people and the
canal commission viii not tolerate rhs
continuance of a policy OF apathy AMI
DISCRIMINATION. Ii this is not sup
pressed there is but little opportunity
for an inter-oceanic canal. The cru
cial and insurmOuntable past and
present conditions do not arise from
the lower officials that could b. easily
replaced, but have their origin in the
highest official quarters. and naturally
percolate downward 10 the smallest
foreman. until 4 chronic state OF -
volt is found In nearly every depart
meut of the operative force on the
canal zone. Il was this same sense OF
personal responsibility and o1icial
auarrelS and ieaIousies that maCs The
robberies and r1ismanagemen OF the
Old French company possible and ef-
fecIive.
with harmonious organization. /
headed by men acquainted with trOp- /
zeal and other conditions, the canal /
can be built within 20 years, or even /
sooner if let BY contract
After the canal plans have been I
settled upon definitely there is no +
argument for the further necessity OF /
the Isthmian Canal Commission. and /
the whole work should be- placed in j
the hands OF one officer. Then the "a .
sponsibility could be fixed and the /
great project controlled As matters /
stand now this responsibility is foot
balled from one TO another and Z IS /
needless 10 add that many cooks Il
have and viii continue 70 spoil the I
BROTH
Colorcd Teachers Examined.