The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-12-17

ser the execution of the greatest work
Of the kind ever attempted and are
seeking to bring to naught the efforts
Of their countrymen to put to the
credit of America one of the giant
feats Of the ages. The outrageous
accusations Of these slanderers con-
stftute gross libel upon body of
public servants who, for trained in
telligence, expert ability, high charac-
ter and devotion to duty have never
been excelled anywhere. There is not
4 man among those directing the work
on the isthmus who has obtained his
position on any other basis than merit
alone and not one who has used his
position in any way for his own per-
tona1 or pecuniary advantage.
Plan to Build by Contract.
After most careful consideration we
have decided to let out most of the
work by contract if we can come to
satisfactory terms with the contrac-
tors. The whole work is of kind
suited to the peculiar genius of our
people; and our people have devel-
oped the type of contractor best fitted
to grapple with It, It is of course
much better to do the work in large
part by contract than to do it all by
the government, provided it is possible
on the one hand to secure to the con-
tractor a sufficient remuneration to
make 1t worth while for responsible
contractors Of the best kind to under
take the work; and provided on the
other hand it can be done on terms
which will not give an excessive profit
to the contractor at the expense Of
the government. After much consid-
GRAFTON the plan already promulgated
by the secretary Of war was adopted.
This plan in it's essential features was
drafted, after careful and thorough
study and consideration, by the chief
engineer, Mr.. Stevens, who, while in
the employment of Mr. Hill, the pres
ident of the Great Northern railroad,
had personal experience of this very
type Of contract. Mr.. Stevens then
submitted the plan to the chairman of
the commission, Mr. Shonts, who
went carefully over it with Mr.. Rog-
ers, the legal adviser of the commits
sion, to see that all legal difficulties
were met. He then submitted copies
of the plan to both Secretary Taft
and myself. Secretary Taft submit
ted 1t to some of the best counsel at
the New York bar and afterwards I
went over it very carefully with Mr..
Taft and Mr.. Shonts and we laid the
plan in it's general features before
Mr.. Root. My conclusion is that it
combines the maximum of advantage
with the minimum Of disadvantage
a Under it premium will be put upon
the speedy and economical construc-
ton of the canal and a penalty i'm
posed on delay and waste. The plan
as promulgated is tentative; doubt.
less it will have to be changed in some
respects before we can come to a sat-
fsfactory agreement with responsible
neutrality-suspicious. even after the
bids have been received; and of
course it is possible that we can not
come to an agreement, in which case
the government will do the work it.
self. Meanwhile the work on the
tsthmus is progressing steadily and
without any let up.
A Single Commissioner Desired.
A seven headed commission is of
course clumsy executive instrument.
We should have but one commissioner,
with such heads of departments and
other officers under him as we may
find necessary. We should be express
ly permitted to employ the best engi-
neers in the country as consulting
engineers.
accompany this paper with a map
showing substantially what the canal
will be like when it is finished. When
the Culebra cut has been made and
the dams built (if they are built. as at
present proposed) there will then be
at both the Pacific and Atlantic ends
of the canal two great fresh water
lakes, connected by broad channel
running at the bottom of a ravine,
across the backbone of the Western
Hemisphere. Those best Informed be-
lieve that the work will be completed
In about eight years; but it is never
safe to prophesy about such a work
as this, especially in the tropics.
Confident Of Ultimate Success.
OF the success of the enterprise I
am as we'll convinced as one can be
of any enterprise that is human. 1t
is a stupendous work upon which our
fellow countrymen are engaged down
there on the isthmus and while we
should hold them to strict accounta-
bility for the way in which they per-
form it we should yet recognize, with
frank generosity, the epic nature Of
the task or which they are engaged
and It's world wide Importance They
are doing something which will re-
dound immeasurably to the credit of
America, which will benefit all the
world and which will last for ages to
come. Under Mr.. Shonts and Mr..
Stevens and DR.. Gorgas this work has
started with every omen of good for
tune. They and their worthw asso-
ciates, from the highest to the lowest,
are entitled to the same credit that
We would give to the picked men of a
victorious army; for this conquest of
peace will, in its great and farreach-
ing effect, stand as among the very
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