Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-24
PANAMA CANAL
 DIGGING SCHEME
Notable Features of Stupen-
 dous Contract.

Notable Features of a Stupen- dous Contract.
 WORLDS BEST TALENT DESIRED Several Combinations of Bidders, Probably Including Foreigners, Arc Expected to Put In Their Tenders For the Great Undertaking - Vast Equipment to Be Placed at Contrac-
 tors Disposal.
 "A long pull and strong pull and a pull together" represents most exactly the elaborate scheme by means of which the isthmian canal commission plans to construct the Panama canal under terms of one contract for the whole stupendous undertaking, writes a special Washington correspondent of the New York Post Inquiry into de- tails of the plan and perusal of the form of proposal prepared for the use of bidders disclose many items of inter est in republication of the general an nouncement already made of the com missions latest departure in canal building. The immensity of the task at hand is more readily appreciated and confidence in the abilities of the men who are struggling with the great problem is strengthened after consid- ering the fact that plan has been put Into print In the greatest detail for do- Ing $2O0,OO0.OOO job just as handily as engaging builder to construct home or office building.
 On Dec 12 the bids will be opened at Washington. It is expected that there will be at least several aggre- gations or combinations of bidders made up of experts in the special lines of work in which each has made its business reputation. It will not be sur prising to members of the commission if some of them are firms composed of men of nationalities other than Ameri- can. Baron Moncheur, the Belgian minister in Washington. for instance. has lost no time In making detailed in- quiries as to the commissions require ments. Although there Is diplomatic si- lence as to what future developments may be anticipated from commercial countrymen of his, by the time Dec. IF has arrived 1t will not cause excitement If some Belgian firm is found as one of the copartners in one group of bidders. Other nations whose pride has been aroused by noteworthy feats of their men of constructive genius and mas tery of scientific problems will doubt less be represented, SO that the pros pect is concourse of engineers of many races and tongues seeking par ticIpation In the development and com pletion of "the greatest task of modern times"
 This Is Chairman Shonts' designation of the physical construction of the ca nal. Tt is in the highest degree excep- tional in magnitude, complexity and cost" he says. In order to finish 1t most successfully, economically and quickly he seeks the best trained talent of the world in each. particular branch of the undertaking. He puts aside as impracticable the suggestion of having the commission build up such com plex organization. It cannot be done, he says, because of the unprecedented and greatly extended industrial activ- ity of the time and the consequent vio- lent competition for all classes of skill cd mechanics and even ordinary labor ers.' He hopes instead to find that firms engaged In the handling of the greatest problems of construction now in progress will link their interests with the working forces which they have brought to perfection only after years of effort and experience and will be attracted to the isthmlan project by the bonuses offered for expeditions and reasonably priced work.
 No human mind can estimate the cost of the canal within such close range as would enable a group of contractors to bid upon the work In the close figuring manner they employ in putting up e skyscraper or building bridge. They are not asked to do so. They have as the basis of the competition for the contract the amount of percentage on final cost at which they offer to under take the work. Under such agreement the commission may change the plans and specifications at any stage. require greater or less work or material or quality and still maintain the mutual understanding requisite as a working basis for progress. The successful con tractor will be paid the agreed per centage on the estimated reasonable cost on the actual construction work. will be allowed two representatives fo sit with the chief engineer and two oth- CTS chosen by the latter to estimate a reasonable time for the completion of the work and will then be subject to a system of premiums and penalties ac- cording as the work Is completed ahead of time or lags beyond the period fixed.
 An available. unincumbered capital of s5!eol0oo Is the first requisite for any association of contractors to show. Next they must accompany their bid with a certified cheek for s2oo.0oo as guarantee of good faith in entering the competition The successful bidder must furnish bond of s3,ocoooo. with approved security. for the faithful per