Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-01
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Secretary Root Describes Gratifying
Progress In Digging the Ditch.

To the President:
You have asked me to write to you
what said orally about the Panama
canal work upon my return from the
isthmus last week. | spent two days on
the isthmus. and, of course, took only
cursory view of the work but | went
over the canal terminals at Panama and
Cristobal. and practically over tho entire
construction work OF the canal, including
the Culebra cut.
I saw also the work which has been
done at different places for the residences
of OFFICERS and workmen, and for the rc-
pair and construction Of shops. | had
| the advantage of very full detailed ex
plantations AT all points by Mr. Stevens
and l talked with the head of each of
the departments, such as excavation.
transportation. construction and supplies.
These men impressed me very favor
ably a. being frst rate specimens OF clear
headed active and competent Americans
| of the constructing type. They all seem
| TO be intensely interested in their work.
There were about 5000 people on the 18TH
| mus, of whom there was probably an
average of about $4,000 at work daily.
| The amount OF actual excavation which
had been done. and was being done, in
and near the Culebra cut, both gratliied
and surprised me. I saw. I should think,
| thirty steam shovels at work eating into
both earth and rock with "a capacity and
power which made the little old machines
left by the French company seem like
| toys; 245, 900 cubic yards were taken out
| in August, and $4,000 were taken out in
September. I understood that half as
| many more steam shovels were set UP
and ready to be put into operation as
fast as the opening Of the work makes
room for them.
I Judge that the bulk Of the work
which does not show in the excavation
| figures has now been done-that is, the
! sanitation. construction OF quarters, no
tells and mess houses, terminal yards.
wharves. docks, piers, warehouses. ma
chine shops and the main system of rail-
ways of disposing Of materialso that a
steady decrease of that kind OF work
| and steady increase of actual exca-
| walton may be relied upon in the future.
| The quarters appear to be clean and com
Portable, and the sanitary arrangements
for them seem to be worked out with
great cara
| OF course, the excavation which is now
! being made not only keeps the work
| moving Whlle fhe Contr acts are DelnB got
| In shape. but it is furnishing the data
upon which the specifications can he made
upon which the bidders can make their
calculations. and upon which the govern
ment can Judge whether the bids are rea-
sonable.
| / understand that the contracts which
are now ready have been prepared after
consultation with the leading contracting
firms OF the United States and many emf
nent outside engineers, SO as to secure a
form OF contract that would adequately
protect the government and upon which,
at the same time, respon sible persons
would bid.
| | do not think that the time occupied
pecially in view of the fact that the
work has been vigorously prosecuted in
the meanwhile. there is any ground for
imputing any delay whatever to managers
OF the canal construction. II seems to
me to have been an admira BILE combina-
ton of vigorous work in the present with
careful preparation for future work.
| The greatest danger in the way of canal
| construction now seems to me TO be lest
the really good and able men who are
competent to handle it. and who can get
profitable employment anywhere, should
be unwilling to continue in the service
under indiscrirninate misrepresentation
and abuse
ELIHC ROOT.