The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1906-12-21

they are trying to interfere with and
hamper the execution of, the greatest
are seeking to bring to naught the ef-
forts OF their countrymen to put to
the credit of America one of the giant
accusations OF these siandefers CON-
stitute a gross libel upon body OF
public servants who; for trained intel
tetr and devotion to duty, have never
been excelled anywhere There Is not
a 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-
sonal or pecuniary advantage.
Plan to Build by Contract.
After most careful consideration We
have decided to let out most OF the
satisfactory terms with the contract
ors. The whole work is OF a kind
suited to the peculiar. genius OF our
and ype our nnys ,sd
much better. to do the work in large
part by contract ho,ds, than to DC all by
sible on the one hand to secure TO the
contractor sufficient enumeration
sbe s2 make w9rn While bs sass ss To
undertake the work: and provided on
the other hand II can be done on terms
which will not give an excessive profit
to the contractor at the expense OF
the government. After much con-
sideration the plan already promul-
sstHio gated by the he, secretary Of war wa,
features was drafted after careful
and thorough study and consideration.
by by the a chief .s engineer, Mr. Stevens.
Hill. the president of the Great North
ern railroad had personal experiences
OF this very type OF contract; Mr..
the chairman of the commission. Mr..
Shonts. who went carefully over IL
with Mr.. Rogers. the legal adviser Of
difficulties were met. He then submit
ted copies OF the plan to both Secre-
tary Taft and myself. Secretary Taft
sci at the New York bar. and after
with Mr. Taft and Mr. shonts, and we
sS before the MP plan Root % its e
that Il combines the maximum Of ad-
vantage with the minimum Of disad-
nor Under ,bs snnedv Will be
atty Imposed on delay and waste. Tho
G1oustes. 1%1s Rro%psnsss % SaSa to- be eSans.d
in some respects before we can como
to a satisfactory agreement with re-
spp.onsibie sso'ntractors-,perhaps cont even
and OF course II Is possible that we
can not come to a agreement. in which
case the government will do the work
isthmus is progressing steadily and
without any let up.
Single Commissioner Desired.
A seven-headed commission is Of
course n clumsy executive instrument.
We should have but one commission
and other officers under him as we
may find necessary. We should be
expressly permitted to employ the
sulting engineers.
I accompany this paper with a map
showing substantially what the canal
will be like when 1t Is finished. When
the Culebra cut has been made and
the dams built az they are built as at
present proposedl there will then be
Of the canal two great fresh-water
lakes. connected by broad channel
running at the bottom OF :: rayine:
Hemisphere. Those best Informed be-
lieve that the work will be completed
In about eight years; but II Is never
as this. especially in the tropics.
Confident Of Ultimate Success.
am as well convinced as one can be
Of any enterprise that is human II
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-
bilty for the way in which they per-
form 1t, we should recognize, with
frank generosity the epic nature OF
the task upon which they are engaged
and it's worldwide Importance. They
are doing something which will re-
doud 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 worthy associates.
from the highest to the lowest, are
entitled to the same credit that we
victorions armv; for this conquest of
peace will, in its great and far-reach-
ing avact stand among the very