Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-17

was being made 70 hurry on the cJnstruc-
ton, and l do not believe that the delays
had been greater than were inevitable IN
such work.
LIVES OF MARRIED MEN.
was struck by the superior comfort
and responsibility Of the lives Of the mar
Ted men. IL would, IN my opinion, be a
most admirable thing II a much larger
number OF men had their wives for with
their advent all complaints about tho food
and cooking are almost sure 70 cease
! had an interview with Mr.. Mallet, the
British consul TO find out if there was
any lust cause for complaint as 10 the
treatment Of the West India negroes. lie
informed me most emphatically that there
was nor and authorized me to give his
statement publicity. he said that not
only was the condition or the laborers far
better than had been the case under the
old French company but that year by
year the condition was improving under
our own regime.
RECREATION AND AMUSEMENT.
One OF the greatest needs at present is
TO provide amusoments both for the white
men and the black The Young Mems
Christion association Is trying to do good
work and should be In every way encour-
aged But the government should do the
main work. ] have specifically called the
attention Of the commission to this mat
ter, and something has been accomplished
already. Anything done for the welfare
OF the men adds to their efficiency and
money devoted 10 that pun 0se is there
fore properly TO be considered AZ spent In
building the canal II Is imperativcly nee
essaly 10 provide ample recreation and
amusement IL the men are 10 be kept well
and healthy. ! call the special attention
Of Congress TO this need
J nave now dealt with the hygcnic con
oitlons which make II possible to employ
great force Of lahorers, and with tho
task OF gathering, housing and feeding
these laborers. There remains TO consid
81 the actual work which has TO ba done,
the work because Of which these lahorcrs
are gathered togctherthe work OF con
struotlng the canal This is Under the d.
rect control Of the chief engineer Mr.
Stevens, who has already shown admir-
able results, and whom we can safely
trust to achieve similar results IN the
future.
Our people found on the lslhmus GER
tain amount OF old French material ana
equipment which could De used some OF
II, In addition, could he sold as scrap iron
Some could be used for furnishing the
foundation for nlling IN For much no
possible use could be devised that wouli
NOT cost more inan II would bring in
THREE BIG PROBLEMS.
The work Is now going on with q vigor
and efficiency pleasant 10 witness ia
three big problems Of the canal are thu
IA Boca dams, the Galun dam, and the
Culebra cut. The CuicVra cut must be-
made, anyhow, but Of course changes nR
10 tho dams, or at least as to the locks
adjacent to the dams. may stil Occur
The la Boca dams offer no particular
problem, the bottom material being so
good that there Is a practical certainty
not merely as 10 what can he achieved.
but as TO the time OF achievement. The
Gatun dam offers the most serious prob.
lem which we have 10 solve, and Yet tho
abest men on the isthmus believe that ths
problem Is certain az solution along the
lines proposed. although, Of course, II nee
essltates great toll. energy, and intell-
gence. and although equally, OF course,
there will be some little risk In connec.
ton with the work II the huge earth
dam now contemplated Ia thrown across
from one foothl 70 the other we viii
have what Is practically a low broad
mountain ridge behind which will rise the
iuland lake. This artificial mountain will
probably show less seopage that Is, will
nave greater restraint capacity than the
average natural mountain range The ex-
act locality Of the locks at this dam--aa
az the other dams-ls now being dete'-
mined. In April next Secy TAFT, with
three. Of the ablest engineers OF the coun-
try. Messrs Noble, Sstea.ns and Ripley
viii visit the lsthmus. aid the three en-
glneers will make the final and conclu-
sive examinations ~ TO the exact site for
each lock. Meanwhi,a the work Is going
ahead without n break,
Tho Cuebra cut does not offer such
great risks; that u.s. the damage liable
10 occur from occasional land slips will
rot represent what may be called major
disasters The work will merely call for
intalgence, perseverance, and executive
capacity
IN CULEBRA CUT.
The main work II now being done In tho
Culebra cut. II was striking and impress
slye 10 see the huge steam shovels in
full play, the dumping trains carrying
away the rock and they dslodged. Tho
implements Of French excavating mao
merry. which often stand little way from
the line Of work, though Of excellent con-
structlon. look Ike the verest toys when
compared with these new steam shovels,
lust as tho French dumping cars seem like
toy cars when compared with the long
trains OF huge cars, dumped BY ST nm
plows, which are now In use This rep
resents the enormous advance that has