Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
Pretty Nearly the Whole Thing.

Seeking new worlds to conquer. he came
back into the railroad business, this time
as a president and has never slipped a cog
in long career of success and prosperity.
President Roosevelt concluded that ne
needed Mr.. Shonts in his business of canal
making, and nut him at the head of the
canal commission, and there he is, not only
the head but pretty nearly the whole thing
for the present
He is a worker among workers He does
not know anything about fatigue, hours,
mealtime the other non-essentials when
concern ordinary mortalS. Every one about
him works as he does, and somehow they
all seem to be Infected with the same spirit
of industry which permeates him. If any
one in his bailiwick lets down in endeavor
it is safe to say there is a funeral in that
block along about that time, for no other
excuse would go.
Up in the Mills building. the annex of the
War and Navy departments. Mr. Shonts
has established his hive OF industry. A Star
man who went to see him yesterday had
an object lesson of the magnitude of Mr..
Shonts' job and of the way Mr. Shonts han
dies it. He seems to be as busy as Pres
ident Roosevelt. But he sees every one
who has legitimate business-and he hard
ly does more than see them-although they
come in droveS.
Mr.. Shonts is a man of powerful ply
sique, with kindly gray eye and a deter
mined look When he swings around in his
chair and faces a caller it is evident lie
wants him to talk business and talk to the
point. He knows all about the weather
and does not want TO hear the story of
ones life One of his friends said that he
has what might be called a "prosp ective
mind; that is. that his intellect will travel
to the point you are aiming for, and prob
ably get there, and beyond, before you do
The Star man suggested that the public
would like to know something about this
new experiment in government ownership
of railroads which Mr.. Shonts is putting
into operation on the isthmus.
All Up to the Present.
Sure" said Mr.. Shonts; tell you all that
has been done up to the present But
the things we are still chewing over-until
they become-what do you call it, judge?"
he asked. turning to Judge Magoon, the
governor of the canal zone, who was pres
ent
''Fait accompli," suggested Judge Magoon
between cigar puffs.
Yes, a thing accomplished" interpreted
Mr.. Shonts.
(Just then the door swung open. and the
treasurer and a few other officials filed in
with papers for few millions in contracts,
vouchers and other small trifies Signed)
Yes, as l saying, we are going to
double track the railroad, which can be
done for about 81, 1,25O. 600, so as to expedite
work on the canal and transit across the
iSthmuS-'
to supply few hundred thousand Chinese
laborers for work on the canal. Attended
to)
"Of course continued Mr.. Shonts that
takes more rolling stock; so We have just
contracted for twenty -four locomotives
(small trife) They will be of the double
headed mogul type, SO that they can run
either way without using the turn-table
{Mr Shonts would think it a sinful waste
of time on such a short haul as the Isthmus
of Panama to have put an engine on a
turn-table)
Eighty Per Cent of the Work.
LAS a matter Of fact" he continued.
about eighty per cent Of the work will be
excavating and hauling, and these double
headed moguls will be just the thing
Uong- distance telephone rings, and Mr..
Shonts excuses himself while he cinches a
contract with a Chicago firm for a couple
of millions, after making the Chicago man
acknowledge he is trying to rob the govern
ment and knock Off 10 per cent?
Yes, and we have ordered 500 more
freight cars. There is bound to be an in
crease Of traffic on the isthmus. and we are
getting ready for it. We will have more
passenger cars in course of time
private secretary says that the president
Of the So and So Trust Company must