Evening star., 1905-11-10
WORK ON THE CANAL
CONTINUED from Tenth Page)

Continued from Tenth Page)
First, we are putting the levels OF the cut
In proper condition for the installation OF
the largest number of machines which can
be effectively operated; and, second, we are
gathering data which will be useful In fu-
ture estimates of the cost of canal con-
struction. In the Cuebra work 200 men
are now employed. We are also building
railway tracks and yards and are dreds-
ing at both ends of the canal, so far as ad-
visabe until the question of type of canal
Is decided. and this should be determined
within the next ninety days. 1t should be
understood that all the work we have done
is applicable to any type of canal.
Labor Question Perplexing.
"The question of labor is a grave and per-
picking one We have advanced far
enough to know that we can secure suf-
hc.ent supply of labor from the tropics. so
far as numbers concerned. the ques-
ton of quality is a very different matter.
Unless a much greater efficiency can be de-
veloped than is secured at present We shall
have to lock elsewhere. Probably ] can
best convey you a just estimate of the
quality of this labor by relating an incident
which came under the observation of Seaa-
tor Millard during his visit on the isthmus.
Sitting on the deck of the steamer Havana,
he was watching the unloading Of heavy
piece OF machinery from the hold of the
vessel. The tackle got caught In the rig
ging the deck above; the foreman in
charge of the gang of laborcrs sent one of
them above to free the tackle. The laborer
went to the place to which he was sent.
and did what he was told to do The fore
man, paying no attention to him after he
started on his errand, missed him few
minutes later. and. looking around for him,
discovered him sitting peacefully at the
spot to which he had been sent. What arc
you doing there? yelled the foreman You
told me to come here, sah.' Well, why
didn't you come back? You didn tell me
to, sah.'
1T is to this class of labor that we are
paying from 50 to 90 cents per day in geld,
and out of which it is estimated we do not
get more than % per cent of the efficiency
of labor in the United States. tbs IS the
kind of labor to which we are compelled to
apply the eight hour law-that is, to aliens
who know nothing of the laws existence
until they arrive on the isthmus. Such ap-
plication will increase the labor cost of
canal construction at least % per cent and
will add many millions unnecessarily TO the
total expenditure
I'm my opinion ii is mistake to handi-
cap the construction of the Panama canal
by any laws save those of police and sani-
tatien. l want to go on record here that
the application of the eight-hour law OF
the contract labor law, of the Chinese eX-
clusion act or of any other law passed, or
to be passed. by Congress for the benefit OF
American labor at home, to labor on the
isthmus, is serious error. Over so per
cent of the employees of the canal will be
aliens. A majority of the other 20 per
cent employed will be in clerical or super
Visory capacity. The application of these
laws on the isthmus will benefit very
small number of American laborers, but
will enormously add to the cost of construc-
ton American labor at home will have
TO pay It's share of the consequent increase
in taxa ton. AS business men, you will un-
derstand the force of the statement.
Three Sets Of Plans.
THAT is the story gentlemen of what
we have been doing on the isthmus. In
line with this let add that Chief En-
greer Stevens. a man we'll equipped for the
great task he has undertaken is preparing
three complete sets of plans applicable to
as many types of canal, so that when de-
cision shall have been reached as to what
type will be used, no delay in beginning
work will ensue. 1t is our confident belief
that by the ist of July next the plant as
purchased will be installed and working to
it's fullest practical capacity. In other
words, by that time the dirt will begin to
fly in earnest.
that-and it will be built at Panama. Those
two phases of the problem have passed
irrevocably from the field of debate. There
is an industrious and voluble band or hired
Ananiases moving to and fro in the land
whose mission II Is to deny this. The bur
den of their song to the accompaniment or
their IVres is: The canal will never be built
at Panama, and everybody connected with
the enterprise, including the President and
commissioners and engineers, is convinced
of it You can hear the members of this
band chanting their song. singly and IN
chorus, wherever men congregate and
wherever a few reporters are gathered to-
gether They are rehearsing for their
grand burst of noise when Congress shall
have assembled. When they are not re-
hearsing they putting the words of their
song into bogus interviews and other writ
ten forms of newspaper publication, which
sIaFr 1tper fxa.f, I,-N IL,
their bureaus of publicity in this and other
cities AS one contemplates the output of
this singular industry, this factory of fic-
tion. he is moved to say of It's guiding
spirit, as Shakespeare says of Capt Dumain:
He will lie with such volubility. sir, that
you would think truth were fool.
Enemies of the Canal Routed.
WHO is capitalizing this industry? What
is the bountiful source of this spouting
spring OF mendacity? Is 1t to be found
among the friends of isthmian canal?
Are these supplying funds for the susie
nance of such a campaign of misinforma-
tion? What interests. except those fool
ishly dreading the competition of an 18TH
mian canal would put up money TO delay
and possibly defeat its construction? That
there are interests of that kind is not a
matter OF suspicion or speculation, but of
history. They have been fighting a canal
for more than half century and they
Fought 1t successfully TIL Theodore Roose-
Welt, armed with his big stick appeared
as It's champion. From that moment their
efforts have been powerless, but they have
not yet discovered the fact They are vast
Ing their energies and their cash, for be-
hind Theodore Roosevelt stand the Amerf-
can people IN solid mass and with deter
mined front, shouting as one man: Give
us canal that Will be adequate to meet
the demands of the commerce of the world
ana give II 10 us at the earliest possible
moment. That. gentlemen, is the command
which the commission, under the inspiring
lead OF the President, is obeying to the
letter. We are building the Roosevelt
canal "