New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-21
Mr.. SHONrS'S PLANS.
Track Idea Dropped-Ar
rangement for Engineers Visit.

Chairman shonts Of the Isthman Canal Commits
sion talked yesterday concerning the health eondi
tons in the canal He said:
The report for the first two weeks OF September:
yellow fever. only Of which was canal en- en-.
ploye. The sanitary conditions are being steagl-y
abated
Being asked when the work Of double tracking
the road across the isthmus would be accomplished.
Mr. shonts replied that the project approved
several months ago. before the reorganization Of
the commission. had been put aside as unnecessary
and involving outlay :hat could be avoided
The plan in question involved the building Of TWEEN
ty-nne miles: of road. emitting only the central
portion of the route. from which depression viii
ultimately be made when the canal IS built and the
road permanently este blished- The estimated cost
of the material and labor was $s090oO-
Mr.. Shonts in explaining the change OF policy.
said:
The commercial demands upon the road are not
1t is possible increase greatly the efnctency or
present. TAu anasement this IS being accompiishsc
The gain in efficiency may be as much as = Per
cent. Larger cars, greater power and good facilities
will contribute to this result One improvement
at Coion that win not only greatly expedite the
handling of our fuel supply, but will reduce the
as confannIated we shall yrobablv build a parallel
track for about eight miles from the Culebra cut
toward Panama, solely for the purpose OF increas-
Pacific, La Boca, where we can dispose q
probably 100000 cubic yards. This may DO
without waiting know what kind OF q canal We
are to dig OF course If # is to be sea level es5a
may be a hundred million yards
Concerning the visit OF the advisory board Of
engineers to the sthmus. Mr.. ShOnts said;
The members OF the board. together with officers
and members OF the commission. with secretaries.
Will make a party of about twenty-five. They VIII
sail the steamer Havana next Thursday. and
will remain the Isthmus long necessary.
The members Of the party will make their home.
on the Havana while conducting their tnvesuga-
tons on the isthmus. There should be nothing IN
the arrangement to excite unfavorable comment
The commission has devoted its energies TO the
betterment Of the accommodations for the canal
laborerS, and there are satisfactory facilities
on the land for entertaining the engineers. Quite
q number OF them foreigners and
guests. It Is certainly duty make them IS
essartly detained to discharge cargo and the
party will have been established for the trip Il viii
be most convenient for them to remain aboard
I have been the recipient Of an open letter IN
in favor of the officers and against the laborers tn
the matter of quarters. I may only say that when
I went to the canal strip recently other members
of the commission well myself were quar-
hospital, and from Wednesday until Monday it
was exactly In the state OF unreadnesS for use
that had found It in. We hope TO treat the
visiting engineers little better.
It was learned yesterday tSat Jacob e Markell, OF
Omaha, the successful compAtitor for the commits
sary concession on the istii mus. will send two
squads OF men the Alltaj nca. which sails for
Colon Saturday. They Isll take charge OF the
two hotels that sre alrssdy completed for the sc-
commodation Of emploFes the canal