Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-11
OPENING OF CANAL BIDS.
ATTRACTS CONTRACTORS
Detailed Description Of the Ditch That the
Government Is to Dig Across the
Isthnus of Panama

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Office
of the Isthmian Canal Commission in
this city will be the scene of history
making event tomorrow, when bids
will be opened at noon for the con-
tract for the completion of the Pana
ma canal.
Though it has been customary to
speak of the building of the canal
across the sthmus as the greatest un-
dertaking of the kind ever attempted
in history, few persons have any Gde
quate conception Of themagnitude of
the project.
The canal is to be 1000 feet wide
from deep water in the Caribbean Sea
and in the Bay Of Panama to certain
points within the isthmus, where 1t
will be narrowed to 500 feet in width,
and at the deep cut on the Culebra
section to 20 0feet in width.
The depth is to be AZ feet at mean
low tide the entire distance. This
means a total excavation of 131,63S,-
900 cubic yards Of earth.
| Cost About $1o0, 900 400.
| In addition to these figures it may
| be stated that the construction in
wolves 2, 99s,192 cubic yards of con-
crete masonry, 1900 cubic yards Of
cut stone and s5,91O,0O0 pounds of
steel.
| 1t is expected the bids for the COM
pletion of the canal will average in
neighborhood of $100,0OO,000. Foreign
contractors are barred from the COM
petition.
Owing to the magnitude Of the I'M
dertaking it is expested that no in
dividual firm will be awarded the con-
tract. No one firm in the world has
ever undertaken to do all of the kinds
of work involved in the construction
Of the canal.
The government has encouraged the
suggestion that contractors who have
had experience in excavating dry
earth should join with others who
construction and in heavy concrete
work.
Must Have $4,000, 900 Capital.
But if several firms or individuals
associate in the undertaking they must
be all organized into a single COR
poration to whom the contract can be
let as a whole
Bidders will not be considered who
have not available capital of at least
$5,0O0,000. certified check is re-
quired with each proposal and $2,-
100000 bond will be required of the
tsuccessful bidder.
Under the terms of the contract the
government agrees to furnish all sof
the permanent plants and most of the
material, while the contractor must
furnish the men, the loose tools and
the light machinery.
The government will furnish the
railway and all the locomotives. cars
steam shovels. dredges drills, tugs,
scows, all electric light and power
necessary. and fixed machinery of a
substantial character.
Furnish All Raw Material.
1t will furnish all raw materials.
such as cement. explosives and fuels
that have to be imported, but the con-
tractor will have to treat. shape and
finish them. The government will
. furnish the barracks, warehouses for
tools and supplies. hospitals and med
! ical treatment. Office buildings, mess
far as they now exist but if more are
needed they will have to be supplied
iby the contractors.
The government will transport on
the Panama railroad and steamship
lines all employees and their families
and all supplies at half fare; it will
furnish the telegraph and telephone
service; it win do all engineering
work. administer the government. this
police, the sanitary and hospital SER
: vice.
The commisary and mess houses
and the barracks for the women vii
be under government inspection. while