The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-18

vesrbuled train thus immensely eoo-,o-
MIXING labor. in tho rainy season the
steam shoveis can do but little in dirt
but they work steadily in rock and in tho
harder ground. There We're some twenty
FIVE at work during the time I was On
the isthnus. and their tremendous power
and eiliciency We're most impressive.
Takes Shot at Critics.
The President takes the following shot
ar doubling Thonases and critics
Il Is not only natural. but fneyita hle
mat a work as gigantic as this which
mas been undertaken on the isthnlrs
snould arouse every species OF hostility
and criticism. The conditions are So r,oy,-
ana so trying. and the work so vast thar
u would be absolutely out OF the question
that mistakes should NOT be made. Checks
viii occur. I nforeseen difficulties wiz
arise From time TO time seemingly we'll
settled plans Will have 10 be changed. Al
present $4,000 men are engaged on the
task. After q while the number Will be
doubled In such multitude 10 is i'm
eVltable that there should be here and
there a scOuuGrrl. Very many OF the
poorer class of Iab0rers lack the mental
development % protect themselves against
either the rascaity 81 others or their
own folly and it Is not poss. BILE for
human wisdom 20 devise plan by which
they can invariably be protected In q
place which has been for ages by
word for unhealthfu.uess and with so
large congregation Of strangers sud-
denly put down and set to hard work
there Will now and then be outbreaks OF
disease. There Will now and then ha
Shortcomings in administration there will
be unlooked-for accidents to DELAY the
excavation Of the cut or the building Of
the dams and locks Each such incident
viii be entirely natural and. even though
serious, no one OF them Will mean more
than a little extra delay or trouble. Vet
each, when discovered bv sensation
mOngers and retailed TO timfd folk OF lit
tie faith. VIII serve as an excuse for the
BELIEF that the whole work is being badly
managed Experiments viii continually
be tried IN housing. In hygiene IN street
repairing iu dredging. ana IN digging
earth and rock Now and then an eX-
pertinent will be e failure. and among
those who hear of il. a certain proportion
Of doubling Thomases VIII al once be
iieve that the whole work IS a failure.
Doubtless here and there some minor
rascality VIII De uncovered. but ae 10
this. ] have 20 say that after the most
painsta king inquiry 7 have been unable
to find a single reputable person who
had SO much as heard OF any serious
accusations affecting the honesty OF tho
commission or Of any responsible officer
under IL. l append letter dealing with
the most serious charge. that Of the
ownership Of lots in Colon. tho charge
was not advanced by a reputable man.
and Is utterly baseless. Il IS not too
much to say that the whole atmosphere
Of the commission tNeatheR honesty as 80
brcathes efficiency and energy. Above
an. tho work has been kept absolutely
clear OF politics have never heard
even a suggestion of spells politics IN
connection with it
have Investigated every complaint
brought to me for which there seemed
TO be any shadow Of foundation. In
two or three cases, all Of which {
have Indicated IN the course Of this