The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-01-17
Oliver Will Take 5OOOfrOm
the Southern States to
Panama.
WORK TO BEGIN SOON
Negroes will be Bossed by White
Men from the South who Under
stand them-Contractor not De-
barred from Employing Chinese
Labor IL he Sees Fit.

Washington, Jan l7.-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 action on the proposition they
presented to construct the canal for
e75 per cent. of the total cost
There seems to be no doubt that the
canal commission will within a few
days make the award. The proposal
Of the Oliver-Bangs combination is
now being carefully scrutinized by T.
p. Shonts, chairman OF the commits
sion. and Richard r. Rodgers, gen.
eral counsel. When a conslusion is
reached and the contract formally
executed Mr.. oliver and Mr. Bangs
with which they will build the canal.
Mr. Oliver will go to the Isthmus at
once and there personally superin-
tend this work. the largest and
most important ever given con-
tractor. The contractors will take
over the whole plant owned by the
Government in Panama and will at
once begin shipping additional ma
terials to the Isthmus. They must.
In accordance with the terms OF the
contract, begin actual work within
sixty days from the execution of the
contract.
Southern negroes will be used ex-
tensively for labor by Mr.. Oliver.
The conditions in Panama are some
what 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
black-that is, the force actually be-
hind the picks and shovels-Mr.
Oliver is perhaps better equipped
than many other contractors would
be.
Admittedly one of the greatest
problems in Panama is the labor
question. Down on the Isthmus the
fact that the white foremen now
employed by the commission are un-
able to get the proper amont 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, fore
men. sub-bosses and the like. These
will come from the employees OF the
Oliver interests in the United States.
They, like Mr.. Oliver, will come
from the South, where they have
been working with negro labor, and
1t is declared that they will not find
trouble in pushing the black man
forward at rapid pace in making
the dirt fly.
Mr.. Oliver will 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 laborers.
but no action has been taken on
them. II Mr.. oliver SO desires he
could doubtless take over these bids
and make a contract with the bid
ders. There is no political reason to
keep Mr.. Oliver from using Chinese
labor. He is not restricted In any
way. and. entirely within the law
and his rights. he may import all the
Chinese laborers he may care to
have,