The Washington herald., 1907-01-14
CONTRACTORS READY
Canal Bidders Say They Can
Start Work in 60 Days.
WOULD TAKE 5000 NEGROES

/ SatisfactoriIy-Have Not Decided as
to Use of CbiRamen-COntractO
Present Strong Endorsements from
Leading Bankers-LoOking Into Bid.
William J. oliver and Anson NJ Bangs.
/ the contractors who will probably build
/ the Panama Canal are waiting for the
/ Isthmian Canal Commission TO take ac-
tiOn upon the proposition they presented
Saturday to construct the canal for 6.75
per cent of the total cost There seems
TO be no doubt that the Canal Commission
wiIl within a few days Rpake the award
The proposal of the oliver Bangs COM
binatiou is now being carefully scratinized
by T. p. Shonts. chairman of the COM
mission, and Richard r. Rogers. general
counsel When conclusion is reached
and the contract formally executed Mr.
Oliver and Mr.. Bangs viii set in motion
the great machine with which they will
build the canal.
Mr.. oliver viii go to the isthmus at
once, and there personally superintend
this work. the largest and most important
ever given a contractor. The contractors
viii take over the whole plant owned by
the government in Panama. and will at
once begin shipping additional materials
To the isthmus. They must, in accordance
with the terms of the contract. begin
actual work within sixty days from the
execution Of the Instrument
VIII Use Southern Negroes.
Southern negroes viii be used exten-
sively for labor by Mr.. Oliver. The con
ditions in Panama are somewhat similar
to those in some OF the Southern States
where Mr. Oliver has done much work.
and he Is doubtless more familiar with
the methods of handling negro labor than
any other contractor in the United States.
As practically the whole working force
in Panama is bIack-that is. the force
actually behind the picks and shovels-
AIr. Oliver is perhaps better equipped than
many other contractors would be.
Admittedly, one Of the greatest prob
lens in Panama is the labor question
Down on the isthmUs the fact that the
white fOremeu now employed by the
commission are unable 10 get the proper
amount OF work out Of the West Indian
blacks, Of whom there are thousands, is
not concealed. Mr.. Oliver will take with
him a great force Of white steam-shovel
men. superintendents. foremen. sub
bosses. and the like. These Will come
from the employees Of the Oliver interests
in the United States. They. ike Mr.
Oliver. viii come from the South, where
they have been working with negro
labor. and it Is declared that they will
not find trouble in pushing the black
men forward al a rapid pace in making
the dirt fly"
Mr. oliver viii take 5000 negroes to
Panama with him. and maybe more
will be taken out of the South. He has
not reached a decision about the use of
Chinese labOrers. There are now two
responsible bids before the Isthmian
Canal Commission for furnishing 5000
Chinese workmen 10 the Canal Commits
sion. but no action has been taken upon
them. If Mr.. Oliver so desires he could
doubtless take over these bids and make
contract with the bidders.
To Take Good Care of labor.
Like every one who is familiar with the
situation in Panama. Mr.. Oliver realizes
the Importance of getting the right kind
Of labor In discussing the contract yes
terday he said.
''The men now employed on the 18TH
mus, who have been there for any length
of time, must be good men, or they
would not have stayed By their work.
From time TO time there viii be com
plants. but I have never had any diff
Guilty with my labor that I could not
handle If the men are well fed. COM
f0rtably housed. and get their money
promptly. We can stand the troubles
which viii come from bad weather a
man with his feet in the mud and rain
on his back is a bad man 10 argue with,
particularly if he does not know that
hot meal and dry place to sleep is
waiting for him when he stops working
As ] now do my work. the organiza-
ton Of each separate job is under the
direction of a managing partner. with
fun authority TO hire and discharge en-
ployeS. and who is held responsible for
results
The contractor who undertakes this
work should not go TO Panama with the
idea that he is going 10 upset every
thing. The men who are already there.
Of course, know more about local con-
ditions than those who have not been
there for any length of time 1t is the
business Of the contractor to work to-
gether with the government officials in
every way, and TO push the construction
as fast IS be can
Wanted to Bid Alone.
Mr.. Oliver has two-thirds. and Mr..
Bangs one-third control in the combina-