The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-17
WHAT FOUND AT PANAMA
REPORTS GRATIFYING PROGRESS
~ DEGGING THE DITCH.


work 10 Snch shape Tha Contracts Can
ne Let VITA some Dernlteness Mis-
rep~reSentatiOA and Abuse % Capable
\ Men the Greatest Danger just Now.
w~AsBuN0roS. Oct ia different view
from that held by many persons as to con-
ditions in the Panama Canal Zone is given
in a letter which Elihu Root, Secretary OF
State. wrote TO President Roosevelt on
Oct y. In conversation with the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Root gave a very gratifying &C
count of the progress Of the canal work
and the conditions Of the employees as seen
by him when he visited the lsthInus on his
return from his South American tour.
The President was 50 much impressed
with what Nh. Root said that he asked the
Secretary Of State to put his observations
in writing. This is MIR. Roots letter to
the President:
you have asked me To write TO you what
I said orally about Panama Canal work upon
my return from the lsthmus last week.
I spent two days on the lsthmus, and, OF
course, took only a Cursory view OF the
work. but ! went over the canal terminals
at Panama and Cristohal, and practically
ever the entire construction work at the
anal including the Culebra Cut. which l
went through on the construction trains.
-Lsay also the work W hich had been done
ne difercut places so7 tic rosidences Of
officers and workmen. and for the repair
and construction shops. | had the advan-
tare OF very fun detailed explanations at
ali points by Mr., Stevens and ! talked with
the head Of each OF the departments. such
as excavation, transportation, construction
and supplies.
sThese men impressed mecery favorAhly as
being first rate specimens of clear headed
active and competent Americans of thee con-
ptnlctinE type. They all seem to he in
tensely Interested in their work. There
were about 10000 people on the lsthmus.
Of whom there was probably an average OF
about 25, 600 al work daily.
The amount Of actual excavation which
had been done. and WIS being done, in and
near the Culehra Cut both g%ratided and SUR
prised me saw. I should think, thirty
steam shovels NJ work eating into both
Earth and rock With a capacity and power
which made tho little old machines
left by the French company seem
like toys: g45, 900 cubic yards were taken
out in August, and 2S9,0O were taken out il
H0DIenlIFI y 'AitAil NN'b' 'lbN AblA nc
many more steam shovels we're set up ano
ready to be put into operation as fast "a the
opening up Of the work makes room for
them.
fudge that the bulk If the work which
does not show IN the excavation figures
has now been lone that IS, the sanitation.
construction Of quarters, hotels and mess
houses, terminal yards. wharves. docks,
piers, warehouses. machine shops and the
main system of railways for dlSposlng OF
material--so that a steady decrease of that
kind of work and a steady Increase of actual
excavation may he relied upon in the future
The quarters appear To be- clean and com,
Portable, and the sanitary arrangement
for them SEEM 20 be worked out with grea'
care. .
can employees and their families on the
evening of my sailing for Csrtagena. AT a
rough guess there were 900 to 800 il
attendance. I left them dancing on the
great rooted pier at Cristobal, as healthy
and happy looking "A lot Of young American
men and women As one could find in the
United States.
-Of course, the excavation which is nov
being made not only keeps the work moving
while the contracts are being got in shape
but il is furnishing the data upon which thu
notifications can be made, upon which
the bidders can make their calculations
and upon which thee Government can judge
W0eI0BT Ile DIGS are ItuTOAldDAts
Nothing i~nCreases the cost Of a public
work more than to compel contractors u
bid on uncertainties and nothing Is mort
important for the public protection thar
that Gov rIment engineers shall have som'
experience. under the same or similar con
ditions, to guide them in fixing the term
Of contracts and specifications. Thos,
terms and specifications have, Of course
70 be fixed with reference to the stipulation
which the persons whose bids are desireC
ARE willing to make.
IF this il not done, responsible contrac
tcrs will not bid. This can only be dom
for a great work like the canal by consulting
fairly representative number of people ii
the contracting business as to the reason
ableness and fairness, from their point o
view, OF the provisions which il is proposes
IN make the basis for competitive bids.
Il understand that the contracts whicI
ARE now ready nave been prepared afte
oonmlltation with the leading contractin
firms of the United States and many emf
pant outside engineers, 40 as to secure
form Of contract hat would ~adequatel
protect the Government and upon which
At the same time, responsible persons woul
Il do not think that the time occupie,
I'M this has been excessive or that. especial
IN view OF the fact that the work has beeI
vigorously prosecuted in the meanwhile
there is any ground for imputing any della
whatever TO the managers OF the cans
construction. Ii seems to me to hav
been an admirable combination Of vigorou
work in the present with careful prepare
kion for future work.
v The greatest danger in the way OF cam
reconstruction now seems to me to be lei
the really good and able men who are con
petent to handle it, and who can get prof
Sbe employment anywhere, should be vi
willing to continue in the service under il
sd~iscrtminate Misrepresentation and abuse.
-ELIHU RooT."