The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-21
READY TO BEGIN
CONSTRUCTION
WORK ON CANAL

Washington, Dec. H.-The Isthmian
canal commission in its annual report says:
During the year the first stage OF canal
work, that of preparation. has virtually
been passed, and the commission finds IT.
self in position to enter upon the second
stage, that OF actual construction of a
lock canal. at an elevation Of 81 feet, au-
thorized by congress In June last.
"rhe work OF sanitation throughout the
canal zone has been continued with great
energy during the year. In his report Tor
October. 1896, the chief sanitary onIcer
said:
"'it is rather remarkable fact that
among the GOO Americans on the isthmus
a death from disease has not occurred in
the past three months. Take GOO people
I'm New York city selected at random,
and estimating their death rate on what
occurred in New York city last year.
they would have had about 30 deaths from
disease. OF course, this Is more or less
accidental, but / think IL pretty good
proof that the conditions are not so un-
favorable 10 Americans, when IL is pos
sible for a body Of 600 people including
some 1900 women and children, 70 spend
three months without single death from
disease
Great progress has been made during
the past year In providing for the well
fare and comfort OF the employees. The
commission now has sufficient buildings
to provide quarters for all Its bachelor
employees. These buildings are screened
and provided almost universally with
running water and with modern plumb
ing and are comfortably furnished. In
addition TO these buildings, 335 separate
houses and l3 larger buildings have boen
constructed for married quarters, pro-
viding accommodations for 875 families
There are still many married men, how
ever, for whom no quarters are avail
able, but upon the completion or the
houses now authorized these will be pro-
vided for There are now approximately
1900 American women and children on the
isthmus.
"In November, 1906 tho commissions
employees numbered approximately lIWO.
and in November 1906, the number was
practically the same OF these, 12.6l2 were
under the department of construction and
engineering, ll9 under the division or
material and supplies, 229l under the de-
partment of government and sanitation,
and lS7 in the auditing and disbursing OF
fees.
''Of the 1900 men. about 37co were on
the gold rolls, virtually all white Ameri-
cans. and l3 300 on the silver rolls. mainly
aliens. This number does not include
4oOo people employed on the Panama rail-
road.
Since the decision by congress. In June
last, decreeing the construction OF lock
canal at an elevation OF SIS feet, the COM
mission has fixed definitely the location,
on the Atlantic side, Of three sets of
locks and a great dam at Gatun, and, 'on
the Pacific side, of one set OF locks At
Pedro Miguel and two sets at La Boca
and two dams In the vicinity OF La Boca,
a large one between Sosa High and Cor
ozal. and n smaller one between Sosa
High and San Juan hill.
"On Aug. 20. 1906, the commission issued
invitations for proposals To furnish 25oo
Chinese laborers for work upon, the canal
for period Of not less than two years,
with the privilege Of increasing the num-
Der 10 1900. Four bids were presented,
of which the only two accepting the COM
missions terms were also the lowest.
These bids agreed 20 furnish the laborers
from 10 IL cents per hour dependent
upon the number actually employed. The
selection of the bidder has not yet been
made"