Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-01-11
PANAMA
CANAL
WORK is PROGRESSING WELL
AND is FAITHFULLY DONE
AND ExPEDITIoUsLY.
SOME SHARP RAPS ARE GIVEN
THE KNOCKERS" IN AND
OUT OF CONGRESS.
Tire Canal Work.


President Roosevelt transmitted to
congress Monday the annual report OF
the isthmian canal commission and the
Panama Railroad Co. with screening
letter in which he raps sensation
mongers and gives the highest praise
TO the work so far accomplished.
THE work on the isthmus is being
admirably done" he says, and great
progress has been made especially dur
ing the last nine months. The plant IS
being made ready and the organization
perfected. The first work to be done
was the work Of sanitation, the neces-
sary preliminary to the work OF ac-
tual construction. and this has been
pushed forward with the utmost en-
ergy and means. In short While
Shall lay before you the recommends
tions Of the commission and or the
board of consulting engineers as to
the proper plan to be adopted for the
canal itself together with my own
recommendations thereon.
"All the work so far has been done,
not only with the utmost expedition,
but in the most careful and thorough
manner; and what has been accom-
plished gives us good reason to be-
/ lieve that the canal will be dug in a
/ shorter time than had been anticipat-
/ ed. and at an expenditure within the
estimated amount.
"Al our citizens have a right to COLI
! graduate themselves upon the high
standard of efficiency and integrity
which has been hitherto maintained by
the representatives of the government
in doing this great work. II this high
standard of efficiency and integrity can
be maintained in the future at the
same level which ii has now reached,
the construction Of the Panama canal
will be one of the feats TO which the
people of this republic Will look back
with the highest pride.
From time 10 time various publica-
tons have been made, and from time
to time in the future various similar
publications doubtless will be made,
purporting 10 give en- account of jon
berry or immortality, or ineftic!ency, or
misery, as obtaining en- the isthmu5.
] have carefully examined into each OF
these accusations which seemed
worthy of attention. In every instance
the accusations have proved to be
without foundation in any shape or
form. They spring from several
sources. Sometimes they take the
shape of statements by irresponsible
investigators of sensational habit OF
mind, incapable Of observing or repeat
ing with accuracy what they see and
DESTROYS of obtaining notoriety by
widespread SANDER More often they
originate with, or are given currency
by, individuals with a personal griev.
alce.
The sensation mongers, both those
who stay at home and those who visit
the isthmus, may ground their accusa
tions on false statements by some
engineer who, having applied for ser
vice on the commission and been re
, fused sucn service, now endeavors &c
; discredit his successful competitors
or by some lessee or owner OF rea
estate who has sought action or in
, action by the commission TO increase
the value of his lots and is bitter be
! cause the commission cannot be uset
! for such purposes; or tales OF disap
; pointed bidders for contracts; or o.
officeholders who have proved incom
+: petent or who have been suspected o
! corruption and dismissed, or who have
: been overcome by panic and have fec
from the isthmus.
THE only discredit inhering in these
J. false accusations Is TO those who or
: iginate and give them currency, ant
who to the extent of their abilitie
> thereby hamper and obstruct the com
pletion of the great work in which
: both the honor and interest of Amer
o lea are so deeply involved
, ANY attempt TO cut down the sal
| aries Of the officials Of the isthmial
5 canal commission or Of their subor
d dinates, who are doing importan
); work, would be ruinous from tn
!; standpoint Of accomplishing the wor
effectively. To quote the words of on
of the best observers on the isthmus
Decentralization of the service is Gel
L tain If the reward for successful Ell
Il deavor is reduction of pay