The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-09
SHONTS ANSWERS
CRITICS OF CANAL
Continued From First Page.
ments were made over one section by
the railroad in one day. /
Work in Culebra Cut.

IL oAdPO LII CAC dPpAodSuIAS WCC oC1- !
son, as well as for the installation of
the largest possible number of steam
shovels on systematic plan, has been j
steadily carried forward. All the bar
riers across the cut left by the French
have been removed, and not only have
tracks been laid and ballasted on each
level, but for most of the way thru the
bottom of the canal prism well-bal-
lasted double-track line has been con-
dirt slide have been removed, leaving
a BERN $50 feet wide back from the
slope of, the canal prism, so that if this
slide continues to come down none Of
it will push over into the prism, as it
has done heretofore. II
Following this same rule, in two or three
years more the entire slide will have been
removed. Clay On the top of the cut on
the other side Of the prism, which can
not we'll be handled during the wet sea-
son, has also been removed wherever
there was danger of the side of the cut
going far enough back to permit this clay
to slide into the prism this season. This
work is so well along that ifsthe present I
good weather should continue two or
three weeks more Culebra cut will be in |
such shape as to permit of the removal |
Of the largest quantity Of material dur
ing the wet season, without danger from
any of the mishaps from slides, or de-
railment due to bad tracks,. which have
heretofore been attendant upon such eff
forts.
month of March, without making any
special effort, but following the. general
policy of work herein outlined, removed
100000 cubic yards of material, with an
average Of 1917 steam shovels working.
The reports up to the 18th Of this month
indicate still greater degree Of effici-
ency in excavation. He believes that by
July or August he will have forty shovels
installed, and will be in position to re-
move approximately 100000 cubic yards
per month The actual cost for material
handled during March, figuring In con-
tractors expenses, was 53k cents cup1c
yard.
Materials and Supplies.
The report highly commends the sys-
tenn which has been introduced in the
handling of material and supplies by
w. G.. Tubby, appointed six months ago
to be head of this department. Mr..
Tubby knows every day exactly what
materials and supplies he has on hand
and where they are located. The sys..
| tenn employed eliminates the danger OF
duplicating orders and materials and
supplies have been handled at greatly
reduced cost.
Chairman Shonts says "The i'm
provement in this department. during
the past few months has been phe-
nomenal.'
Working Force.
The working force Of the isthmian
canal commission as of date April 1,
was distributed broadly among the diff
ferent departments, as follows:
Government and sanitation. ............ 2S45
Materials ana d Supplies;
| Engineering and Construction-tt4t Il ..,
Administration (including. care ,5of quar- 400
tiers? - :: -. 40'
struction Of water supply, sewerage, ,o-
Master stas builder Gin charge Of houses and o,e
Motive olive 'e power, shops etc. 1521
Culebra division, canal ....... ...:... 3'1o oa
La Boca division. canal ......:...'. s ssa
Cristobal division, canal ...............'. ~
Chagres7 division, canal. ................ 134
Chairman .Shonts finds that following
instructions given by him in October for
the elimination Of the two bases Of pay
for common labor, the change has been
brought about without serious friction
or trouble. Under the two basis system,
the rates were 20 and 20 cents, silver,
an hour. At the time the change to the
single base began, over so per cent of
the common laborers were paid on the
basis Of 26 cents an hour. At the pres.
ent time only 1900 men are reported at
this maximum rate, out Of total OF
5000. In the engineering department. a
similar percentage Is said to obtain
The report says: -
"The morale of the force and its eff
cheney continue to improve. As the en-
ployees in all the departments get more
familiar with the work required of them
tho 1yrori tim hnpnTooS
settled corresponding increase in the
effectiveness of the force follows, as is
shown by increased work at a less cost
than before. -.
"This is even true, to a more or less
extent, of the common laborers from
the; West Indian islands. AS the Amer
lean foremen become more accustomed
to their ways and understand better
how to handle them, and as the common
laborers become more familiar with the
;; work that is expected of them, they
are taking more interest in the work
and becoming somewhat more, efficient
: However, it is not expected that any
high degree of labor efficiency will be
developed until a better class Of labor
, is introduced.
Law and Order.
FLAW and order continue to be main
| Gdlu0u W d NCSACC oAieAo ~
markable under any conditions, and
] especially so when the character or tn!
I population Of the zone is considered
I with it's vast army of $4,000 employee
. gathered from all parts Of the world
s Under the administration of Governo
: Magoon the police force is SO vigilan
: and so efficient that good order i
: steadily maintained, serious crime Is a.
: most unknown, and arrests are MANI
o for petty. offenses and violations OF tn
! sanitary laws = =.
! The report comments favorab!y o.
the social clubs formed by the skille'
0 employees, and shows how they are &c
: ing work which the government es
e pected eventually to promote. 49,
= In regard to the famous freight con
d gestion. Chairman Shonts says he inves
o tigated rail and shipping conditions /
h conjunction with able and disintereste
J. traffic experts. He reports that al
t differences have been settled and tina
l. with the progress Of new facilities nov
IS under construction the possibility OF
d blockade is growing less and less
: The Conclusions Reached.
! The following conclusions are drawn
The results already obtained Justify tn
Is policy decided upon during my first tri
e to the isthmus and briefly outlined i
n my report to the president under dat
!. Of August IL, 1905. In that. repol
4 called attention to the fact that tn
n serious mistake which had been mao
!. l.up to that time was in attempting IT