Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-10
SHONTS TALKS OF CANAL
Head Of Isthmisb Commission Addresses
Hardware Mems onvsntiOn.
GIGANTIC OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME
First Great Task is 90 Make
the Zone Fit Place
for Americans to

WASHINGTON. Nov o.-Thcodore p.
Shonts, the chief Of the Isthmian Canal
commission, was the principal speaker at
a joint meeting OF the American Hardware
Manufacturers association and the Ma
tional Hardware association at the New
Willard tonight. There was a large at
tendance Of members of both associations,
by. whom Mr.. shonts was given a hearty
reception as he entered the hall. President
julius Birge of st. Louis. called the
assemblage to order and Vice President
Henry p. Lupton OF Pittsburg, introduced
Mr.. shonts
Preliminary work Under way.
Mr.. shonts devoted his Introductory re-
marks to a detailed account of what the
commission has done towards rendering
conditions at the isthmus that Ameri-
cans can live there. The great task Of
cleaning up Panama and Colon, removing
the accumulated filth of ages and providing
a water supply, sanitary sewerage system
and otherwise making these cities fit to live
In The construction of wharves and docks
for the unloading Of material, the prepare
lions for housing the thousands Of men
who will be employed on the work, the
commssary arrangements and all the null
tifarious details Of getting ready for the
stupendous task. we're outlined. Mr.. Shonts
went on:
While all this necessary work was in
progress the task of purchasing forward
ing and distributing the enormous quantity
of materials and supplies of all kinds was
receiving our constant and most careful
attention. The purchases included not only
the items entering into the permanent plant,
but also those required for the preliminary
work. To give you ain idea of the maBni-
tude of these purchases ] will read for
sixty-ore steam shovels. 1900 Hatcars, 70
rapid unloaders, % unloading plows, 10 earth
spreaders. S24 dumpcars. IL hosting engines,
40 locomotives, 5000 tons of steel rails,
$4,000 crossties 1900 pieces of piling, IA air
COMPRISING machines, cranes, 152 rock
drills 100000 feet lumber approximately,
clipper dredges, 646,00O pounds blasting
powder. 1880 pounds dynamite, IOOOOO0
paving brick, 100000 building brick $4,000
square feet roofing tile, 5000 barrels cement
approximately, 3 steel water tanks and
towers. IL standplpes, ocean steamships.
chases was about 100000 1t should be
borne in mind that at the time when orders
for most of these Items were placed the
Industries of the United States were
crowded with domestic business and were
unable, consequently, to make prompt deliv-
cries. II should be borne in mind, also,
featured here and set up 1t had to be taken
apart, shipped 1000 miles over steamship
lines already taxed TO their full capacity
and on arrival on the isthmus had TO be
again set UP before ready for use. Then
too, on account of many reports as to the
prevalence of yellow fever on the isthmus
II was very difficult at critical time for
concerns furnishing material to get steam.
ers TO take II there, because of fear that
their crews might become infected and
their vessels might be quarantined wher
they wished to return to the United States
Finally, the steamers of the United Fruit
line from New Orleans which had beer
carrying a considerable amount of the
freight going to the isthmus. were put out
of service on account of yellow fever ir
that city.
Red Tape in Way.
To the various causes of delay mentioned
a Of 10
that all bids for materials used in govern.
ment work shall be advertised for. This
compels a delay In all cases OF from ter
to thirty days.
Furthermore. in addition to the purchases
for the canal, the following have been or,
dered for the Panama railroad: Five hun.
dred box cars of forty tons each. twelve
caboose cars, ten refrigerator cars six
passenger coaches twenty-four locomotives
two wrecking cranes. one locomotive crane
one pile driver, three track scales of 10,
tons each, one modern coal hosting plant