The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-27

whether Uncle Sam's big ditch will be built on the level. or whether boats will be lifted through it.
 The engineering work of the past year has been mainly confined to dig ging away at Culebra Hill. on just little more extensive scale than when the French was handling the job: in conducting boring operations at dlr- ferent points along the canal to ascer- tain the different stratas of rock and dirt to be met with. and of rejuvenat- ing old French apparatus and making them fit modern conditions. l might also add that the railroad facilities have been somewhat improved. this line ot communication coming under the head of engineering.
 It was demonstrated that more dirt could be excavated at Culebra within a given time. and at less expense. than was done when the French had the work In charge. But the value of this has been somewhat undermined by un- looked-for delays. which has brought the average of cost about up to normal again.
 It is difficult for a layman in the States to realize why there should be anything stupendous or even difficult in digging through a hill. But there are factors constantly at work that make the task all that has been said about it.
 Let me illustrates: To get the dirt out of the cut. tramways are built. These tramways are laid along the tops of entertainments or roadways construct ed of the excavated dirt. This dirt is oftentimes very treacherous. and during the rainy season, 1t quite frequently happens that a whole train of dump cars, Decauville engine, track and all, will take sudden shoot to the low ground. The same fate frequently hap pens to the big steam shovels, which are also operated on tracks. These and many more incidents cause vexatious delays. Then, too, there are often whole days when 1t is impossible to work because of the rain which turns the whole cut into a quagmire.
 The yellow fever situation at the present time Is somewhat improved. |. There has been forty cases on the 1sth- mus since July 1, and twelve deaths from the disease This is the time of the year, however, when the fever Is the least violent. Last year from July 1 to September i, there were only five cases, but of course, the number of Americans on the 1sthmus was much less than now. s-+. ~4
 Tn The Advertiser of July 20 there was an eQlIOrldI T6ply lO d HuHlDeT OA questions concerning the former French Company propounded by an in quirer at Hurtsboro. As a matter of general information, and to complete the answer to these inquiries, l will take up the matter a little more in de- tail
 There were two French companies in connection with the undertaking. One Is known as the Old, and the other as
 
 company went into liquidation in 1888. Its affairs were then managed by a re- ceiver for the ensuing six years The new company was formed In October, 1894, and conducted operations until the transfer to the United States. The canal enterprise was strictly private one, the French Government never hav- ing become involved in Its affairs in the slightest degree.
 The correspondent desired to know what was paid for the concession to the Colombian Government. There were three contracts made with the Colom- bian Government altogether, one while the old company was in existence, and two while the old company was in re- ceivership. For the grant and privi- leges the canal company paid into the Colombian Treasury each time. the sum of 1,0o0.0 900 francs, equivalent to about $200, 900, or a total of about $600.000.
 With the organization of the new company. a lottery company was also formed in Paris to furnish the "sinews of war" This and the earnings of the Panama Railroad kept things going in a small way up to the time of the transfer.
 With reference to the integrity of the elder deLesseps. It Is universally conceded by those who are now on the Istbmus, and were close to him, that he was a perfectly honest man, both in intention and deed. He was man easily come over." however. and what he wouldn't do himself he permitted in others. Outside of deLesseps, 1t Is doubtful If there was single man in authority. or having the semblance of authority who did not nave hls hand in the bag Even deLesseps' son was no exemplar in this respect, and made con-