Morris tribune., 1906-10-27
e x &c u TIV e
Roots Impressions of Panama.

Roots Impressions Of Panama.
In letter to President Roosevelt Sec
rotary of State Root gave his impress
sions of the condition of the Panama
canal work He said that the various
heads of departments We're active and
competent Americans, who seemed Ill
tensely interested in their work. and
that there were 10000 people on the
isthmuS, of whom an average of $4,000
worked daily. The actual excavation
which had been done near Celubra cut
had gratified and surprised him. He
saw thirty steam shOyels eating into
the earth and rock with a capacity
which made the old French machines
seem like toys. During August 1885,
900 cubic yards We're taken out and
$4,000 in September Most of the
work of sanitation-houses, wharfs,
shops, railroads, etc.-was now done,
so that all the forces would be con-
centrated On the excavation of the
canal construction The excavation
which has been done and is being done
will form the basis Of specifications
for future contractors. Mr. Root thinks
that the greatest danger now is to keep
good and competent men in the service
under indiscriminate misrepresenta-
ton and abuse"
Area of the United States.
A geographical survey bulletin pre-
pared by Henry Gennett has just been
issued representing the combined work
Of the land office, census bureau and
survey in determining what consti-
tutes the ''area Of the United States"
The result is 3O26,7S9 square miles.
The area of Alaska is given as 500, 1874,
the Philippines 115,026, Hawaii GAO.
Porto Rico 3,435, Guam 21O, Samoa
II and the Panama canal strip 474
square miles. All the detached terri
tory is subject to change as the limits
become more closely defined.
Law Recognizes Joint Rate.
The Interstate commerce commits
sion has made several rulings under
the new rate law, one Of which in
wolves the recognition of the Joint rate
between common carriers on interstate
business. Copies of such rates must be
hereafter filed with the commission.
Wherever the joint rate between two
points is higher than the sum of the
local rates between them the joint rate
must be reduced to the sum of the
locals on one days notice. The con-
mission does not construe the law as
preventing the carrier from giving free
transportation to persons travelling
over it's line solely for the purpose of
attending to it's business, nor from Civ
ing free passage to the household eff
fects Of an employee who is required
to move from one place to another
nor from giving passes to contractors.
The reduced rate to clergymen is not
to apply to members of their families, |
and free carriage is not to be given
to government, army or navy officers.
To Investigate Peonage.
Acting upon the information of Eva |
the Florida agent of the HUI
name society, the2president and Attor-
ney General Moody have commissioned |
Charles E. Russell, assistant attorney |
general, to go into the south and make /
personal investigation Of those alleged |
practices. Mr.. Moody says that he |
has selected Russell because he is a
southern man, a Democrat and famil-
lar with the existing conditions in the
south.
No Chinese For Canal Work.
Chairman Shonts Of the Panama ca
nal commission while in Chicago de-
n4 he reDort that Chinese lahorers !