The Washington herald., 1907-04-14

John F. Stevens. former chief engineer
or the Panama Canal. arrived in Wash
ington last night from New York, where
ke landed yesterday on the steamship
Panama, just from Colon. He looked
bronzed and healthy. and went directly
from the depot 20 his home al the Con
necticuL
While Mr. Stevens did not object 10
talking about conditions on the isthmus.
he refused to be interviewe1 0ath refer
enee to the storS brought 20 ssashingf o7
By members Of the Cannon kinney
party 10 the effect that they mad been
treated rather snabbily during their visit
along the line Of the great canal
AIr. Stevens viii remain here some time.
when he viii 60 West 70 attend to GER
tain business interests. Later he will re-
turn 70 Washington for while. lie is
planning an extended trip through Europe
with his family.
When questioned yesterday as 10 lis
reasons for resigning as chief engineer Of
the tremendous undertaking that Uncle
Sam has on his hands, Mr.. Stevens said:
Il am tired out; thoroughly tired out
am glad ] am out OF IT, I have done
my share Of the work. and / am willing
that some one else should take a hand az
f. have been on the isthmUs almost
constantly for the last two years, during
which time 7 have not been sick a single
moment 7 am simply tired out.
QuIt on Good Terms.
II retired on the best Of terms with my
fellow workers, and / have nothing 10
add to what has already been published
concerning the work on the canal
I feel greatly hattered by the grand
ssnd-off given me at Colon. when more
than 5000 employees OF the canal gathered
to bid me farewell
/ From other sources il was learned that
/ the people of the Canal Zone gave Mr..
Stevens a great 'send-oh" on the day
/ before he left Colon. Three thousand per
/ sons. including all the canal officials, and
practically all the white inhabitants of
/ the zone. came 10 Colon to see him OF.
/ He was presented with an album contain
/ ing the autographs of all who had been
associated with him in the canal work,
and he received other testimonials of
/ esteem.
/ Mr.. Stevens expressed himself with some
warmth on the ridiculous reasons given
/ by some newspapers as 10 the causes of
his retirement. He said he was not asked
to resign. but. on the contrary. was urged
TO accept "the highest position. authority.
and consequent responsibility, next 10 that
Of the Secretary Of War" Mr.. Stevens
declared that he never had any clash with
any OF his superior officers. who always
supported him.
Advocated Contract Plan.
Il have never opposed doing work by
contract" he said; "in fact. year ago
last January. while in Washington at
Iether times since, advocated such policy.
The plan of contract under which bids
were received was formulated by myself
in July last. only one month after the
Congress had decided upon the type OF
canal I did oppose letting the contract
to the Oliver syndicate. for good reasons
but the statement that ever opposed the
letting of any contract is false.
| Il did not cable or write Washington
| that T would resign if the contract was
let The matter of the contract had in
| no way anything whatever to do with my
leaving the service OF the Canal Commits
sion. And the refined statement of dis
gruntled bidder that because j opposed
the letting Of the contract ] was fired.
is falsihcation. pure and simple.
II did not threaten to resign if was
ordered to Washington during the lsst
days of Congress or at any other time
While I should have preferred staying
Is as long as was con
le work. and while l might
mind have questioned ths
he order. ! would hav,
ed Il without any condi
ave the work TO play golf
nor for any such fantasti,
was the act prompted bs
one getting credit for m.
LuReh Served DaEly
rom u 70 8. ln2 n. \. ave
Boards. 81 per 100 feet.