The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-14
DIRT WILL SOON
Be FLYING IN
T.HE BIG DITCH

Washington, Jan. H.-William j. Oliver
will probably build the Panama canal,
are waiting for the Isthmian canal com
mission 10 take action upon the propo-
sition they presented Saturday 20 con-
struct the canal for Go per cent of the
total cost.
canal commission will make the award
withing a few days. The proposal OF
the Ohver--Bangs combination Is now
being carefully scrutinized by r. p.
Shonts. chairman OF the commission, and
Richard r. Rogers, general counsel.
When a conclusion is reached and the
contract formally executed Mr.. Oliver ano
Mr.. Bangs will set In motion the great
machine with which they will build the
canal. Mr.. oliver will go to the isthmus
az. once and there personally superintend
this work. the largest and most impor-
tant ever given a contractor.
The contractors will take over the
whole plant owned by the government
I'm Panama and will at once begin ship
ping additional materials 10 the iSthmue.
In accordance with the terms or the con-
tract they must begin actual work within
% days from the execution OF the instruS
ment
Southern negroes will be used exten-
sively for labor by Mr.. Oliver. The
conditions In Panama are somewhat SINH
lar to those ia some OF the southern
states. where Mr.. oliver has done much
work. and he IL doubtless more familiar
with tho methods OF handling negro labor
than any other contractor In the United
States.
AS practically the whole working force
!n Panama is black, that is, the force
actually behind the picks and shovels,
Mr.. Oliver is perhaps better equipped
than many other contractors would be
Admittedly one of the greatest problems
I'm Panama is the labor question. Down
ON the isthmus the fact that the white
foremen now employed by the commits
sion are unable TO get the proper amount
of work out of the West Indian black,
OF whom there are thousands, Is not con-
cealed
Mr.. Oliver will take with him great
force of white steam shovelmen, super
intendents foremen, sub-bosses and the
like. These will come from tho employees
OF the oliver interests I'm the United
States. They, like Mr.. Oliver. will come
from the South. where they have been
working with negro labor, and IL is de-
clared that they will not find trouble in
pushing the black men forward at rapid
pace in making the dirt fly"
Mr.. oliver will take 5000 negroes 70
Panama with him and maybe more will
be taken out OF the South.
Like every one else who is familiar with
the situation in Panama. Mr.. oliver real
ICES the importance OF getting the right
kind Of labor In discussing the con-
tract yesterday he said
The men now employed on the isthmus
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 will be complaints. but I have
never had any difficulty with labor that
| could not handle.
AS I do my work, the organization OF
each separate job Is under the direction
OF a managing partner with full authority
TO hire and discharge employees and who
is held responsible for results"
Mr.. Oliver has two-thrds and Mr.
Bangs one-third control In the combina-
tion which made the lowest bid for the
job The fact that only two men are in
the project explains why their bid was
so low. These two will share the profits
The other bids were made by interests
which II is believed would have 10 divide
the profts among large number OF part
ners and, naturally, they are looking for
greater returns.
Government officials are pleased with
the proposition OF the Oliver Bangs con-
cern. Mr.. Oliver is known TO President
Roosevelt. and is said to have made n
very favorable impression on him.