Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-01-31
SAYS CHAIRMAN sHoNTs I'd
KANSAS CITY FOLK.
PREPARATORY WORK DONE
Tells of Great Problem of Sanitation
That Has Been SoIved-The Diff
ficulties of the situaticn-2, 900
Miles From Base Ct Supplies
Actual Construction Under Way.

the Knife-and-Fork club in this city
Yesterday Mr.. Theodore p. Shonts,
chairman of the Isthmian canal com
mission, delivered an address on the
subject of the Panama canal Pre-
facing his address with the declara-
tion that the preparatory work at the
zone, which included the creation of
a system of gigantic proportions, had
been beset with many perplexities
he gave a brief account of what had
been accomplished He asked his
hearers to bear in mind that the
work is 1000 miles from a base OF
supplies in country utterly desti-
tute Of everything needful in the
work. Every foot of lumber, every
bit of machinery, every tool. every
nail, every pound of paint, every
skilled mechanic, every railway tie
and rail, every locomotive, fat car,
dump car, every piece of furniture,
every bit of plumbing material, and
virtually every ounce OF food had to
be brought 1000 miles. Ii was neces.
sary to build towns and villages un-
der these conditions, and to recon
struct and enlarge decrepit single
track railway, fully a quarter of a
century behind the times, making II
a thoroughly equipped modern double
track system, with up to date locomo-
tives, cars of all varieties, terminal
and other yards, and with up to date
men for its operation; to build docks
adequate for the demands of an enor-
nous traffic, and fit them with mod
ern appliances for the prompt hand
ling of cargoes. Every piece of ma
chinery, every locomotive and car,
every crane for the docks had to be
set up in this country, taken apart
and transported 1000 miles by sea
and then set up again before they
could be put into use. To do this
work great modern machine shops
4, had to be erected and equipped with
appliances and men,
| In this preliminary work about
$32 100000 have been spent. or this
amount about s4,500,O00 have been
expended in government and santa
ton; nearly s7O00.000 in construc.
ton of quarters and other buildings.
docks wharves, railway enlargement,
waterworks and sewers In the zone,
and in engineering work; over $t2,-
100000 in permanent plant; over
$4,5 10000 In miscellaneous material
and supplies; and over 81 500 900 in
the construction of sewers and water
works and street paving and improve.
.nents in Panama and Colon. The
last named VIII be refunded ultimate.
ly to the government.
Reviewing the sanitary condition at
the zone Chairman Shonts said that
the results achieved are wonderful IN
their benificence and that the 18th.
mus today is as safe place to visit
as most other parts of the world. and
much safer than many parts of the
United States, SO far as danger from
disease Is concerned Observance OF
sanitary laws and regulations is
compulsory and is rigidly enforced.
A hospital system is maintained
which is surpassed by none in the
world. and the privileges of II are
not only, like the blessings Of saliva
ton, free TO all, but they are com
pulsory. Whenever an employee is
discovered with too high tenpera-
ture he is compelled To go to a hos
pital whether he wishes TO or not
Speaking OF the actual work of
construction Chairman Shonts said
that while the work had heretofore
been restricted to that Of prepa-
ration yet something had already been
done In the way Of making dirt fly.
During the fiscal year ending with
June last 100000 cubic yards were
taken from the canal prism. against
$4,000 yards removed during the
previous year Notwithstanding the
rainy season. which extends from the
end Of April to the end of December.
there was, during the month OF Au-
gust, 1906. total excavation in the
culebra cut Of 244,s44 cubic yards.
which was the largest amount taken
out up to that time during any month
since the canal has been under Amer.
lear control In September. 1906.
tire total excavation was POI ,450 cubic
yards, and in October. 1906, 1t was
800 600 cubic yards. Altogether. the
surface in the Cuiebra cut has been
brought down IS feet below the level
left ~ the Freezes. A large amount
Cf q. fxcayated material has been
used IN filing Tor railroad yards and
double tracking Of the Panama ram
road Much Of II has been taken to
old French dumps and to new dumps
recently pisced--two at Mirabores,
two al Pedro Miguel, one at Rio
Grande, one at Mamei. one at Bias
ooispo. one at Haut obispo. and a
very large one, miles long, at Ia
bCruff1a - fa.n. 81