The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-05-07
A SHREVEPORT MAN
TRIPS TO PANAMA FROM NEW
ORLEANS AND RETURNS.
CIV. SIGNOR INTERVIEWED
An Interesting Report in the States.
Excellent Work by the Delegation
from the Crescent City-Talks About
the Progress of Work on the Canal.

Iloil1 tilC StCSACHt NilS-I dlhS LlDou
the Progress of Work on the Canal
New Orleans States May 6: G. w
Signor, president and general manager
of the Shreveport Creosoting Company
arrived in the city last night from Cen.
tral America, coming from Costa Rica
by the Ellis, the ship that brought the
delegation of business men who have
been at Panama seeing to it that this
city and port got a square deal' IN
the selling of supplies to the govern
ment, and while Mr. Signor was in nc
manner connected with the delegation
visiting Panama on strictly private but
mess matters, his testimony is interest
ing, as it is perfect corroboration of
the reported success that attended the
efforts of the men who went in the in
terestS of this city.
Mr. Signor said to the States reporter,
who met the gentleman in the Office of
General Agent Braggins of the Texas
and Pacific:
The delegation from New Orleans
did excellent work and | am glad to tes-
tify to that fact While | was not at
tached to the committee of investigation,
| was permitted to attend all of the con-
ferences that took place, and the gen
tlemen from New Orleans and others
made magnificent presentation of their
case. In fact, it was conclusive and
there was absolutely no refutation pos
sibe
From what | was told by men quail
fed to know, | am led to thing that not
only is Burnett out, but that Assisting
Purchasing Agent Anderson will also
soon be removed from duty There is
no doubt on earth but that there were
efforts being made to do the New
Orleans men. The game, however, was
exposed before much harm was done,
and hereafter this market will get fair
show. The secretary of the Progress
i've Union, Mr.. Trezevant, made a very
brilliant presentation of the case for
New Orleans and was listened to atten-
lively by the members of the commits
sion.
CANAL WILL BE BUILT IN EIGHT
YEARS
Mr.. Signor being a practical railroad
builder and contractor, was asked what
he thought of the prospects of the canal
being built inside of ten years. He said:
THE canal will, in my opinion, be
built in less than eight years. Under the
control of the United States engineer
force there is an end of the demoraliza-
ton that prevailed and absolutely work
is progressing with clock-like regular
ity and dispatch. Now the laborers
work one shift of eight hours. | lit
tie time, when they get the remainder
Of the locomotives and cars for hauling
the dirt and stone, two watches will be
work and may be three. Electricity will
be used for night work illumination.
Eaborers from the ncrth of Spain are
coming to the itshmus in large num-
bers and also Norwegians-fve hun
dred of the latter arrived the day | left
the itshmus Of course, a good many
negro laborers from Jamaica are still
employed, but not in the numbers imag-
ined
The rainy season sets in next month
but it will not interfere very much with
the work being done. At the great cut
[ noticed that the excavations now call
for blasting work more than handling
dirt, and if this continues as it no doubt
will, the rains will offer less obstruction
to the work, as the shovels handle rock
easier and with more effect that they
do carloads of dirt The shovels do
what we contractors call clear them
selves with rapidity of rock, something
that is impossible with excavation mat
ter that clings to the machines
"The time that is to be consumed in
the work of excavation can be computed
easily by layman. There is about
hfty-one million yards of dirt or stone
to be axcavated, and when the force is
working double shifts of men, easily one
million yards a month can be worked
and will take therefore less than five
years to do My estimates are con-
servative. Yes, indeed might say that
the canal will be open for traffic in less
than eight years.
Mr. Signor is also vice president oi
the Creosose Oil Company of New Or
leans, who are building two immense
tanks down at Chalmette with a total
capacity of 100000 gallons. A pipe
line has been built from the water front
to the tanks and ships will pipe the oil
from ship to tank through it This oi
1t IS understood is brought from Eng