The Colorado statesman., 1907-11-30
OVER FoRTY-EIGHT MILLION DOL.
LARS EXPENDED BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
REPORT OF com MISSION
WORK CAN BE BETTER DONE BY
UNCLE SAM THAN BY
CONTRACTORS

fiscal year 1907 with a showing of what
has been accomplished since the pro-
ject has been in American hands, are
disclosed in the annual report of the
isthmian canal commission just made
public.
1t is the first report made of opera
tions on the isthmus since construc-
tion work has been in charge of army
engineers. Aside from the S50,000,000
paid to the French company and to
Panama, an aggregate of $4S,2S5,110
has been expended by the government
on the project adopted by Congress,
and which it was estimated by the
board of consulting engineers would
ultimately cost $139, 705, 200. This es-
innate did not include sanitation and
expenses CT the zone government,
water works, sewers and paving in
Panama and Colon and the re-equip-
ment of the Panama railroad.
There is no reference in the report
to the proposition which has been
brought forward to extend the width OF
the locks to 110 feet so as to accom-
modate without difficulty the extreme
breath in the development of ship
]
subject of a special statement from
the commission. A strong position is
taken favorable to continuation of the
policy of doing the work by hired in
stead of by contract labor, a step at
one time seriously considered by the
administration and many arguments
are presented to justify the commits
sion in it's conclusion that the canal
can be built better, cheaper and more
quickly by the government. On this
the report says:
"Omitting profits derived from sub
sistence and general stores, and as
suming the hours of labor the same
in both cases, it stands to reason that
| the government, when warranted In
making the necessary outlay for plant,
can do work cheaper than contrac-
tor, for no question of profits enters
into consideration.
"The question of government work
versus contract in connection with the
Panama canal has been discussed, and
conclusion reached in favor of the
latter method because of certain
stated advantages that are claimed
| to result
at is claimed that contractors have
under their control and at their dis
posal trained labor forces, and that by
a combination of such forces, through
an association of contractors, team
work will result, thereby accomplish
ing the desired end more quickly. AS
matter of fact conditions seldom
enable contractor to maintain in
tact his entire organization on one
piece of work for transfer to another;
the completion O. job means the dis
banding of the force and though new
] ri 10
men, a new organization must in each
case be perfected.
"The Panama canal presents piece
of work unprecedented in magnitude.
which must be done under conditions
entirely different from similar classes
of work in the United States. The
work naturally divides itself into
dredging, dry excavation, the con-
struction of the locks and dams, and
the construction of the new Panama
railroad.
There is no contractor or syndi-
cate of contractors that by any COM
bination could bring to the isthmus
an organization ready for team work
on any of these units. While it is pos
sible for several contractors to COM
bine forces, assuming that sufficient
number of men can be gotten together
In that way, there still remains the
necessity for whipping this force into
shape in order to secure an organiza-
tion that will produce the team work
SO advantageous in the accomplish
ments of results.
"From the United States the supply
of labor is the same whether the work
be done by contract or by the govern
ment, and the character of the labor
must be the same. So long as work
is plentiful the dread of the tropics
will deter men from seeking work
here in preference, and this is equally
applicable to the contractor and the
government. An adequate supply of
labor from the United States is not
possible, and recourse must be had
to securing it abroad. The records
here show that no contractor can even
attempt to recruit labor in the West
Indies, and that great opposition will
develop to any recruiting by author
| lied agents of the commission if the
labor procured is turned over to con-
tractors. These island governments
cannot be blamed for their hostility
toward the latter, because of their ex
perience under the French, which
left an indelible impression through
out the West Indies.
"a representative of the Italian gov
ernment has recommended to the au-
thorities that Italian labor be per
mitted here for employment under the
commission, but he is not favorably
inclined to the control of such labor
being vested with contractor.
Experience has shown that con-
tinuity of construction is more apt to
result in cases where the government
undertakes the task than when 1t is
turned over to contractors"
Sanitation. upon which so much de-
pends for the comfort and health Of
the employees, is treated of in the re-
port, a statement is made of what has
| hean dnna and the declaratinn made