Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-12-20

problem Is certain of solution along
the lines proposed although, of
course, 1t necessitates great toll,
energy, and intelligence, and there
will be some little risk in connection
with the work. Ine risk arises from
the fact that some Of the material
near the bottom is not so good as
could be desired. If the huge earth
dam now contemplated is thrown
across from one foothill to the other
we will have what Is practically a
low, broad, mountain ridge behind
which will rise the inland lake. This
| artificial fountain will probably show
less steepage, that Is, will have
| greater restraining capacity than the
average natural mountain range.
The exact locality Of the locks at this
dam--as at the other dams-is now
Secretary Taft, with three of the
ablest engineers of the country
Messrs Noble, Stearns and Ripley
will visit the isthnus and engineers
will make the final and conclusive
examinations as to the exact site for
each lock. Meanwhile the work is
going ahead without break
The Culebra cut does not offer such
great risks; that Is, the damage liable
TO occur from occasional land slips
will not represent what may be
called major disasters. The work
will merely call for intelligence,
perseverance, and executive capacity.
1t is, however, the work upon which
most labor will have to be spent The
/ dams will be composed of the earth
taken out of the cut and very pos
sibly the building of the locks and
dams will take even lon@er than the
cutting the Culebra itself.
BY Private Contract.
| The plan to do the work by con
tract is approved by the president, as
well as by the commissioners. 1t is
also maintained that a seven-headed
commission is a clumsy executive in
strument and that better results
would he accomplished by one com
missioner, with such heads of depart
mants and other officers under him as
we may find necessary We should
be expressly permitted to employ the
best engineers in the country as con
sultlng engineers.
Badges Of Honor.
In conclusion the president de
clares that the canal Is a stupendous
work upon which our fellow-country-
men are engaged and while we should
hold them to u strict accountability
for the way in which they perform
1t, 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 Doctor Gorgas this work
has started with every omen Of good
fortune They and their worthy
associates, from the highest to the
lowest, are entitled to te same credit
that we would give to the picked
men of a victorious army; for this
conquest of peace will in is great and
far-reachlng 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. badge is to be given to
every American citizen who for a
specified time has taken part in this
work; for participation in it will
hereafter be held to reflect honor
upon the man participating just as 1t
reflects honor upon soldier to have
belonged to a mighty army in a great
war for righteousness,
Addenda
Accompanying the message are
numerous statistical tables, of pop
ulation, mortality and wages The
table disclOses that ordinary fore
men and engineers receive from 800
to SITE per month; other skilled la.
| hpltiSt lhtNltlllCS, ihdtlhHlHtS, CIV,
get from i0c to 75c per hour.
The total of the population of
Panama, the canal zone and Colon,
in October, 1906. was $3.50.
Vital Statistics.
For the same month the total num-
2 Der of deaths is shown to be 302 and
the death rate per 1000 as 1910. A
table giving causes Of death from
Jan l. 1906. to Oct 81, 1906. shows
that malarial fever Is the most fruit
full cause of death the total being
500 while pneumonia follows next
with $50 The only other causes thai
reach a total of more than 100 are
tuberculosis. $50, and dysentary 1913
There were but suicides, 10 acct
: dental drownings and but one case O
sunstrolio the average number o
e}nI, 1ui1,- IN, hpSt,if1l NOR I Onn f,i