Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-17

see that all legal difficulties were met.
He then submitted copies Of the plan to
both Secretary Taft and myself. Sec
rotary Taft submitted 1t to some OF
the best counsel at the New York bar,
and afterwards l went over 1t very
carefully with Mr. Taft and Mr..
Shonts. and we laid the plan in its
general features before Mr.. Root. My
conclusion is that it combines the
maximum of advantage with the min
imum Of disadvantage. Under 1t
premium will be put upon the speedy
and economical construction OF the
canal, and penalty imposed on delay
and waste. The plan as promulgated
Is tentative; doubtless 1t will have to
be changed in some respects before
we can come to a satisfactory agree
ment with responsible contractors
perhaps even after the bids have been
received; and of course 1t is possible
that we cannot come to an agreement.
in which the case the government Will
do the work itself Meanwhile the
work on the isthmus 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 commission
er, with such heads of departments
and other officers under him as we
may find necessary. We should be ex-
pressly permitted to employ the best
engineers in the country as consulting
engineers.
accompany this paper with map
showing substantially what the canal
will be like when 1t is finished. When
the Culebra cut has been made and
the dams built (M they are built as at
present proposed) there will then be
at both the Pacific and Atlantic ends
Of the canal, two great fresh-watsr
lakes, connected by . broad channel
running at the bottom Of rAtine.
across the backbone Of the western
hemisphere. Those best informed be-
lieve that the work will be completed
in about eight years: but Il IL never
safe to prophesy about such work 90
this. especially in the tropics.
am informed that representatives,
Of the commercial clubs Of four cities
Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati and st.
Louis-the membership Of which In
cludes most Of the leading business
men Of those cities, expect to visit the
isthmus for the purpose OF examining
the work Of construction Of the canal
am glad to hear It, and I shall direct
that every facility be given them to
see all that is to be seen In the work
which the government Is doing. Such
interest as visit like this would In
dicate will have . good effect upon
the men who are doing the work, on
one hand, while on the other hand 1t
will OFFER as witnesses Of the exact
conditions men whose experience az
business men and whose impardaNty
will make the result Of their obseYya-
lions OF value to the country % .
whole.
Confident Of Ultimate success.
OF the success Of the enterprise I
am as well convinced as one can be OF
any enterprise that Is human. It 10 .
stupendous work upon which our fel
low countrymen are engaged down
there on the isthmus, and while we
should hold them to strict accounts
bility for the way in which they per
form it. we should yet recognize, with
frank generosity, the epic nature Of
the task on which they are engaged
and its worldwide Importance. They
are doing something which will re.
dound UNNECESSARILY 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 DIR. Gorgas this work has
started with every omen Of good for
tune. They and their worthy asso-
ciates, from the highest to the lowest,
are entitled to the same credit that
we would give to the picked men Of q
victorious army; for this conquest OF
peace will, in its great and far-reach-
ing effect, stand as among the
very greatest conquests. whether Of
peace or Of war, which have ever
been won by any Of the peoples Of
mankind. A badge is to be given to
every American citizen who for
specified time has taken part in this
work; for participation in it will here
after be held to reflect honor upon the
man participating just as It rejects
honor upon q soldier to have belonged
to . mighty army in great war for
righteousness. Our fellow countrymen
on the isthmus are working for our
interest and for the national renown
in the same spirit and with the same
efficiency that the men Of the army
and navy work IN time Of war. It be-
hooves us in our turn to do all we can
to hold up their hands and to aid
them in every way to bring their great
work to q triumphant conclusion.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
BIBLE PREACHERS RIVAL.