The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-09
$4,000, 900 IN IT.
Omaha Man Contracts to Feed Pam
anna Canal Workmen.

New York, Sept 9.-Chairman
Shonts. of the Panama canal commits
sion, has announced that he has
awarded a concession for feeding and
housing the greater part of the canal
employees TO J. E. Markell, of Omaha,
Neb. Following months visit to
Panama, Mr.. Markell has worked out
a comprehensive scheme, which in
cludes the early establishment of ten
hotels along the canal and railroad
each of them to accommodate from
$50 to ESQ dodgers, and twice as many
diners. These hotels, it is. declared.
will compare favorably with the better
class of commercial hotels in this
country and will be used chiefly by
the higher salaried employees. The
average rate for board and lodgings
will be about s36 a month.
For the laborers employed in the
canal or in any way identified with
that project the concessionaire will at
first establish twenty commissary
camps and later 100 additional ones,
each with kitchen and dining rooms.
La borerS will have the privilege of
buying their food cooked or uncooked
at these camps, and in either case will
be furnished with the necessary table
appointments. The average rate to
1aborers for cooked food will be about
$14 a month.
Part of the contract provides for
transportation at cost of all food sup
plies and materials used by the con-
cesSionaire.
1t is the intention of the concessions
aire- to run a train across the isthmus
every day from Colon, supplying the
proposed hotels and camps
with fresh meats. fruits. vegetables,
bread and laundry; also daily supplies
of ice.
The amount involved in the contract,
which covers a period of five years and
will become operative as soon as MI.
Markell concludes certain prelinlinaries,
is not disclosed. but runs into millions
of dollars.
H. Balfe & Co.. and Hudgins & Du-
mas, both firms of this city, who were
the only other bidders for the Panama
concession, sent kilograms and letters
to President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay
protesting against the award of the con-
tract to J. E. Markell. At the same time
the two firms addressed letters to
Chairman Shonts withdrawing their
bids in the belief that this action might
invalidate an award to Mr.. Markell by
leaving only one bidder in the field. In
statement given out today. the pro-
testing firms declare the Panama con-
tract involves no less than $4,000, 900.
Hudgins & Dumas assert that, after
presenting their bid, they received
letter from Mr.. Stonts in which he IN
timated that their figures were too low
and set forth a number of condItions
which were not mentioned in the drafts
of the proposed contract, on which the
bids were based. Hudgins & Dumas
| declared that they received this in
formation about $3.50 o'clock on We'd
nesday afternoon. and were told by
Mr.. Shonts' secretary that his principal
required an answer by o'clock.
Deducting the time consumed in
typewriting, they assert they had only
ten minutes to revise their bid.
In their telegram to President
Roosevelt. Hudgins & Dumas say:
circumstances connected with the
awarding of this privilege seem to in
dictate collision, one entire section of
our bid having, as we discovered by ex-
animation, been credited to Mr.. Mar
KEEL as an original production, while
the precipitancy with which bids were
called for. without public advertise
ment and with no regular time set for
receiving and opening said bids in The
presence of the bidders warrant us in
the assumption that there was a pre-
Mr.. Markell and that other considera-
| lions were sacrificed to this end"
Mr.. Markets Past.
Omaha, Sept. 81. E. Markell the
successful bidder for furnishing hotel
canal, has not returned from the east
but is expected here Sunday. Mr..
Markets partner declined to discuss
the concession, saying that he was not
familiar with the matter. Mr.. Markell
has been a caterer and hotel man for
many years. At one time he conduct
ed the entire dining car and eating
house service of the Union Pacific, and
was proprietor of the largest hotels in
this city and Lincoln.