Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-25
HIS WORK is DONE
That is the Reason Shonts Re-
signed From Isthmian Canal
Commission.
TALKS AT KANSAS CITY
Guest of Honor at Annual Banquet Of
Knife and Fork Club-Says There
Was No Trouble.

Kansas City, Mo, Jan. 25.-TheodOrc
P. Shonts, who Wednesday resigned
the Craftsmanship of the isthmian canal
commission, addressed the Knife and
Fork club last night on the progress of
work on the Panama canal.
Before the dinner Mr. ShOnts. in a
brief interview, said he had never in
tended to remain with the commission
until the canal was completed. He
said:
Il had no trouble with Mr.. Stevens
| never contemplated the construction
of the canal. | organized the engineer
ing and executive features and brought
order out of confusion.
Work Mapped Ous.
The work is mapped out so; the de-
partment heads are al selected, ap-
pointed, and working in harmony; -
steam shOvels are now working; the
material is assembled and 10000 men
are employed. The canal ought to be
dug in eight years.
The theory that only one man can
run a railroad, conduct a business, rule
the government or dig a canal is all
the veriest fool rot. | have completed
the creative period in the work upon
the Panama canal My obligation is
discharged. Any good constructive en-
gineer can finish the work The pres
ident is satisfied concerning that He
and | are at a perfect understanding
The completion of the canal VIII not
be disturbed a particle by this change.
Stevens is a first class man, and he
will 90 right ahead with the work.
There will be absolutely no trouble
not particIe-if things are just let
alone, - i
Has Finished HIS TaSlI.
There are two parts TO any big I'M
dertaking, the creative and construc- !
tive. The creative work | have fin
ished. The constructive work will fol
low. as the night does the day. There |
are bigger problems now than the COM
pletion of the Panama canal | go 70 /,
one of them. 1t is to solve the prob |
lem of rapid transit on that narrow |
neck of an island
Mr. ShOnts would not discuss the |
question as to whether or not he fear
ed the same criticism that was meted |
the latter resigned. Mr. Shonts said
that the presidents letter should be
sufficient answer to that question He
did not mention Wallace's name or
make any comparison between the two
cases. Neither would he discuss his
plans in regard 10 his new duties. He
said the New York position had been
offered to him year ago by Paul Nor.
on, his personal friend and chum."
Progress ON the I~thmus.
In his address TO the Knife and Fork
hub, Mr. Shonts told simply and terse-
Y, what had been accomplished on the
sthmus. He said the preliminary work
lad been finished and that from this
ime on the dirt would fly"
I'm the preliminary work. he said,
we have spent down TO Jan. /. 1907,
bout $50, 900. 900. OF this amount about
a 100000 have been expended in gov (
rnment and sanitation; about $1,000 3
700 in construction of quarters and {
'ther buildings. docks, wharves, rail /
way enlargement. wateTworks, and sew. {
rs in the zone and in engineering s
york: about S12, 100000 in permanent {
liant, over 81 500, 900 in miscellaneous {
and supplies. and over 81 800 '
100 in the construction of sewers and
vaterworks and street paving and i'm
rovements in Panama and colon. The '
asst named will be refunded ultimately {
o the government"