The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-13
Experts Make Startling
Statement as to Work
on the ISthmuS.
JOBS ARE NOT WANTED
Despite Increased Salary
Workers in Zone Are
Leaving.

That it will take twenty years and
81 600. 100000 to construct the Panama
canal is the belief that prevails in the
canal zone. according to men who have
been in the service OF the Canal Com
mission for the past year And 10 this
the canal zone consensus of opinion
adds that the canal work will in the end
have to be turned over to the army en-
glneers
Labor is going to cost about twice
as much as in the United States. This
statement, made in a communication
with n canal employe, is based on an
interesting process of reasoning. he
says:
Positions Distasteful.
Il am holding a 5000 position, and
would gladly take transfer 20 another
at 81 .000 in the States The men who
are getting $500 here would be pleasea
to secure transfers to home posts at
half as much pay. Many of them are
going home without the assurance of
transfers; still more are taking steps TO
secure transfers on any terms possible
Therefore. i think 1t is fair to say that
in the long run 1t will cost about twice
as much TO keep people here as they
would work for at home"
The author of this statement is still
in he employ OF the commission. His
Views on the canal situation are based
on excellent opportunity for observation
throughout the last year He declares
that the new chief engineer, John r
Stevens, made an excellent impression
wnen he first appeared on the zone. but
that his disposition to undo all that his
predecessor had done has caused feel
ing of insecurity that is doing much
harm. He mas been sending home men
who were doing good work, and no man
who enjoyed anything like close reia-
tions in clerical or executive capacity
tc the Wallace regime apparently has
any chance of permanent tenure
Exodus From Isthmus.
Sine June / more people both salaried
employees and laborers, have left the
zone than have landed there The visit
of the board Of consulting engineers is
looked forward to with the utmost an
ticipation, because there is deep anxiety
TO know what It will conclude and
recommend.
Between Washington and the zone
there Is wide difference of opinion as
TO what sort of canal will be recon-
mended by the commission. Engineers
and others in the canal country are said
TO be generally in favor of a sea leve
ditch. and are confident that the com
mission will recommend it; while II
Washington, where INC commission conn 3 pn.,a na'
~ {ts views the belief is decidedly tina
lock canal will be preferred
In this connection, the canal employ
referred to. says:
which the papers in the States have s.
much 10 say are not so serious as Is De
lieved for the reason that most ot then
have been solved already by the French
men. The French engineers did excel
lent work and made II thorough. one o
the subordinate engineers mere; Boy
Ehie discovered a shorter route Tor on
of the spillways from the Gamooa lax
than had been planned by the French
men. Ehle proposed 10 tunnel tnrou2
a mountain and his scheme will saw
about So 900 900 of the expense. This
the only substantial contribution tha
the Americans have made TO the eng
necrIng problem. The rest is being don
according 10 the French plans
Hard to Get Machinery.
The same authority says that no eng
neer on the isthTnus. after getting reall
in touch with the problem and the cor
ditions. has dreamed of finishing II
canal in less than twelve years tt
problem OF getting machinery is one
the serious ones. In this connection, :
says:
at will be possible to keep 1eS b
steam shovels at work In the Culebr
cut. when they can be had That
about 40 will be at work. and the -
in process OF repair, rebuilding, etc. ]
keep shlrgs running there at the linn
of capacity. about 165 TO lis of the b
machines are needed. At one time Il
of them were at work. The daily NOV
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