Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-12-28

extra delay or troublea Yet each,
when discovered by sensation mOng-
ers and retailed 20 tiEsid folk o. little
faith, will serve as sR excuse for the
belief that the whole work Is being
badly managed. Experiments will
continually be tried in housing, in
hygiene, in street repairing, in dredg-
Ing and in digging earth and rock.
Now and then an experiment will be
failure; and among those who hear
OF 1t, certain proportion of doubling
Thomases will at once believe that
the whole work is failure. Doubt
less here and there some minor ras-
cality will be uncovered; but as to
this, have to say that after the most
painstalIing inquiry have been un-
| able to find a single reputable person
who had so much as heard Of any
| serious accusations affecting the hon
esty Of the commission or Of any re
sponsible officer under it. The most
serious charge, that OF the ownership
| OF lots in Colon, was not advanced by
a reputable man, and is utterly base
| less. 1t is not too much to say that
the whole atmosphere of the commits
sion breathes honesty as 1t breathes
| efficiency and energy Above all, the
work has been kept absolutely clear
Of politics. have never heard even
a suggestion of spoils politics in con-
nection with it.
Sanderers and Libelers.
So much for honest criticism. There
remains an immense amount OF as
reckless SANDER as has ever been
published Where the slanderers are
of foreign origin I have no concern
with them. Where they are Ameri-
cans, I feel for them the heartiest
contempt and Indignation; because,
in spirit of wanton dishonesty and
malice, they are trying to interfere
with, and hamper the execution there
of, the greatest work of the kind ever
attempted, and are seeking to bring
to naught the efforts of their country
men to put to the credit of America
one of the giant feats of the age. The
outrageous accusations of these SLAM
derers constitute a gross libel upon
body of public servants who, for
trained intelligence. expert ability,
high character and devotion to duty
have never been excelled anywhere.
There is not man among those di-
recting 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 personal or pecuniary ad-
vantage.
After most careful consideration we
: have decided to let out most Of the
work by contract, IL we can come to
satisfactory terms with the contrac-
tors. The whole work is of a kind
suited to the peculiar genius Of our
people; and our people have devel-
oped the type of contractor best fitted
: to grapple with it. 1t is of course
9 much better to do the work in large
I part by contract than to do 1t all by
: the government, provided it is possi-
!. BILE on the one hand to secure to the
g contractor a sufficient remuneration
g to make it worth while for RESPONSE
n BILE contractors of the best kind to un-
9 dertake the work; and provided on
d the other hand it can be done on
terms which will not give an exces-
|
L pense of the government. After much
n consideration the plan already pro.
Q mulgated by the secretary of war was
y adopted. Under it a premium will be
n put upon the speedy and economical
J. construction of the canal, and pen.
n atty imposed on delay and waste.
: The plan as promulgated is tentative
doubtless it will have to be changed
s in some respects before we can come
u to satisfactory agreement with re
g sponsible contractors perhaps even
81 and of course it is possible that we
a can not come to an agreement, in
IS which case the government will dc
n the work itself.
q A seven-headed commission is OF
g course clumsy executive instru
J; ment. We should have but one com
II missioner, with such heads of depart
e. ments and other officers under him
IL as we may find necessary. We should
be expressly permitted to employ ths
best engineers in the country as con
ot sulting engineers.
ID Those best informed believe thai
IN the work will be completed in abou
o. eight years; but 1t is never safe ts
IN prophesy about such work as this
"a especially in the tropics.
rs Confident of Success.
or the success of the enterprise
le am as well convinced as one can b.
N of any enterprise that is human. I
IS is a stupendous work upon which ouI
IL fellow-countrymen are engaged dowI
re there on the isthmus, and while W.
TX should hold them to strict account
ly ability for the way in which the,
IS perform it, We should yet recognize
C. with frank generosity, the epic natur'
e. Of the task on which they are ep
IL gagged and its worldwide importance
d. They are doing something which viii
m nraAi