The news & observer., 1905-12-06

%, 1904 The canal properties of
the French Canal Company were
transferred to the United States on
April %, 1904, on payment of $40,-
600, 600 to that company. On April
1, 1905, the commission was reorgan-
lied and it now consists of Theodore
p. ShOnts, chairman, Charles T.. Ma
goCn, Benjamin M. Harrod, Rear Ad-
miral Mordecai r. Endicott, Brigadier
General Peter c. Hams, and Col. Os
Wald Fl. Ernst. John f. Stevens was
appointed chief engineer on July l,
last. Active work in canal construc-
ton, mainly preparatory, has been in
progress for less than year and
half. During that period two points
about the canal have ceased to be
open to debate. First the question of
route; the canal will be built on the
Isthmus of Panama. Second, the
question of feasibility; there are no
physical obstacles on this route that
American engineering skill will not be
able to overcome without serious diff
| Guilty, or that will prevent the COM
pletion Of the canal within a reason
able time and at a reasonable cost.
This is virtually the unanimous testi-
mony of the engineers who have in
Vestigated the matter for the govern
ment.
The point which remains unsettled
is the question of typo, whether the
canal shall be one OF several locks
( above sea level, or at sea level with a
single tide lock. On this point hope
| TO lay before the Congress at an early
| day the finding of the Advisory Board
of American and European engineers.
| that at my invitation have been con-
| sidering the subject, together with the
= Jnn pf Of tIn cir
and such comments thereon or recon-
| mendatiOns in reference thereto as
| may seem necessary
The American people is pledged to
the speediest possible construction of
| a canal adequate to meet the demands
which the commerce of the world will
make upon it, and l appeal most earn
estly to the Congress to aid in the full
fillment of the pledge. Gratifying
| past year and especially during the
past year and especially during the
| past tour months. The greater part
| of the necessary preliminary work
has hce1 done. Actual work of ex-
! caVatiOn could be begun only on a
limited scale till the Canal Zone was
made a healthful place to live in and
| to work in. The Isthmus had to be
sanitated first. This task has been
so thoroughly accomplished that yell
| OW fever has been virtually eXtirpated
| from the Isthmus and general health
conditions vastly improved. The
same methods which converted the
Island of Cuba from pest hole, which
menaced the health of the world. into
a healthful place of abode, have been
applied on the Isthmus with satisfac-
| tory results. There is no reason to
doubt that when the plans for water
| supply, paving and sewerage of Pana-
ma and Colon and the large labor
camps have been fully carried out the
IsthmuS will be for the Trooics ar
unusually healthy place of abode. The
work is so far advanced now that the
health Of all those employed in canal
work is as well guarded as it is on
similar work in this country and eise-
where.
In addition to sanitating the 18TH
mus, satisfactory quarters are being
provided for employees and an ade-
quate system of supplying them with
wholesome food at reasonable prices
has been created. Hospitals have
been established and equipped that
are without suDeriors Of their kind
anywhere. The country has thus been
made fit to work in, and provision
has been made for the welfare and
comfort of those who are to do the
work. During the past year a large
portion of the plant with which the
work is to be done has been ordered,
1t is confidently believed that by the
middle of the approaching year a sufIi-
cient proportion of this plant will
have beer installed to enable us to
resume the work of excavation on
large scale.
What is needed now and without
delay is an appropriation by the Con-
gress to meet the current and ac-
cruing expenses of the Commission
The first appropriation of 100000