Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-07

1915, the commission was reorgantzed,
Benjamin N. Harrod. A n Hear Mdmnirai
Mordeoai T. Endicott, Brigadier General
letter Eeas, G. 1a Hams and Colonel Oswald H;
chief engineer on July ! last. Active
work IN canal construction. mainly pre-
paratory. has been in progress for less
period two, points about the canal have
First. the question Of route; the canal
will be built on the isthmus OF Panama.
are no physical obstacles on this route
that American engineering skill will not
be able to overcome without serious dif-
ton Of t the canal Within re reasonabIe
time and at a reasonable cost. This Is
virtually the unanimous testimony Of the
engineers who have investigated the
The point which remains unsttled Is
the question OF type, whether the canal
shall be one of several locks above sea
lock. On this point hope to lay before
the congress at an early day the findings
OF the advisory board of American and
European engineers. that at my invita-
together with the report of the COM
mission thereon; and such comments
thereon or recommendations in reference
thereto as may seem necessary.
oaIllCatlOn Oh S8llaI zone
The American people is pledged to the
adequate to meet the demands which the
commerce of the world will make upon
II, and appeal most earnestly to the
pledge. Gratifying progress l has . been cen
made during the past year and especially
during the past four months. The great
er part Of the. necessary. preliminary
cavation could be begun only on limit
ed scale till the canal zone was made a
healthful place to live. in and to work
This III task A has been IS SO ~ th s ae.
complished that yellow fever has been
Virtually extirpated from the isthmus
and general health conditions vastly Inns
proved. The same methods which con-
verted the island of Cuba from a pest
hole. which menaced the health of the
world. into healthful place Of abode,
as ssa On mo-
to doubt that when the plans for wa
ter supply, paving, and sewerage OF
Panama and Colon and the large labor
isthrnus will be for the tropics, an un-
usually healthy place of abode. The work
Is SO far advanced now that the health
as well guarded as 1t is on similar work
in this country and elsewhere.
Care For the Laborers
In addition to sanitating the isthmus.
satisfactory quarters are being provided
for employees and an adequate system of
supplying them with wholesome food at
reasonable prices has been created. Hos
pitfalls have been established and equipp-
ed that are without superiors Of their
kind anywhere. The country. has thus
/ far been made fit to work in, and pro-
vision has been made for the welfare
and comfort of those who are to do the
work. During the past year large por-
ton of the plant with which the work
Is to be done has been =
Of the Approaching year a sufficient
proportion OF this plant will have been
installed to enable us to resume the
work of excavation on a large scale.
Appropriation Must be Made
What is needed now and without de-
lay is an appropriation by the congress
to meet the current and ACQUIRING ex-
penses of the commission The first APP
preparation of $10,0000OO, out of the $685.
100000 authorized by the spooner act,
exhausted. There Is barely enough OF 1t
remaining to carry the commission to
the end Of the year. Unless the con-
gress shall appropriate before that time
all work must cease. To arrest progress
for any length Of time now, when mat
tiers are aayans,RE 1.rs sat x to "
money with which to meet. payroll OBJ
legations and none with which to meet
bills coming due for materials and sup
plies: and there will be generalization
of the forces here and on the isthmus,
now working so harmoniously and eff
an emergency appropriation. Estimates
of the amount necessary Will be found
In the accompanying reports OF the sec
rotary of war and the commission.