The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-02-14

marked, Il nave JUST begun TO nglL.
His enemies saw him appointed to q
post in which he would have the ex-.
penditure of SOL 100000 for the en-
largement Of the Erie canal, next to
the Panama canal the greatest engi-.
neering project in the world. And Gov
ernor Hughes appointed him without
consulting any politicians. 1t was like
a bombshell bursting in the camp Of
the machine statesmen. Governor
Hughes, elected on his record, regarded
Mr.. Stevens as a fit man to have
charge Of the vast canal fund-Erie ca
nal, remember-and made him superin-
tendent Of public works.
| Now Mr.. Stevens comes forward as
financial hacker to Contractor Oliver,
whose bid on the Panama canal job
was the lowest submitted. Mr.. Oliver
proposes to take the responsibility of
seeing that the canal is dug and con-
creted, it's entrances dredged, it's locks
built and everything put in proper ship
shape for the passage of ships from
ocean to ocean, his compensation to be
6.15 per cent Of the cost Of construc-
ton. This means that if the canal shall
cost $200,O00,00O the contractor will
get $l3,5OO,OOO for his services. Some
hgurer estimates that it will cost only
about $14O,0O0,OO0. 1t may We finished
In six years and maybe not for twelve
years. The contract will set definite
term, the contractor to get bonus for
each month under that term or pay
forfeit for each month over the limit.
| MIR. Stevens says that his work will
be merely the financing Of the contract
or in the event Of the Oliver bid be-
ing finally accepted and the contract
1rrevocably clinched. Only $5,000,OOO
capitalization is required. II already
have the promise Of eleven times that
amount if needed" says Mr.. Stevens.
1t is Of present interest to note that
the father of Mr.. Stevens was a rail-
road contractor. He built the Missouri
Kansas and Texas railway, just to
mention one monumental work. The
son went to Washington about fifteen
years ago and engaged in the broker.
age business. Later he got into the
banking line and was prominent in
Washington financial circles, but he
always retained his residence in the
town of Attica, N. Y, where he was
born fifty years ago.
Would Use Negro Labor.
| Mr.. Oliver states that if he builds
the canal he will do it chiefly with ne
gro labor. He has suggested hereto
fore that the government should use
negroes from the United States rather
than those from the West Indies or the
Chinese coolies. Mr.. Oliver says that
the very best hands for railroad con-
struction work are the southern ne
groes. He has worked them extensive
~. According to reports, he has ad-
vanced rather novel notion. This is
to have the southern states or cities
pass vagrancy laws, compelling idle
men to move on. The. object would be
to make it uncomfortable for idle ne
groes to remain i'm the southern states.
Mr.. Oliver thus hopes to "corral' them
and hire them on the construction
work in Panama, where he thinks they
could stand the climate as we'll as the
work, perhaps better.
Recently a younger brother of Mr..
Oliver, associated with him in railroad
contract work, was indicted by the
federal grand jury at Knoxville, with
several others, On charges of peonage.
1t was alleged that these men had held
about hundred negroes against their
will in a railroad camp in the Chilho-
wee mountains, compelling them to
work and not permitting them to have
personal liberty. The trial resulting
from the indictments lasted five DAYS,
during which w. J. Oliver sat in court
and assisted the defendants. He
strongly asserted their innocence of
the charge Of peonage. One defendant
was convicted, but the jury divided as
to the others, so the case will be retired.
In case Mr.. Oliver should try his
proposed experiment of employing the
surplus negroes of the south on the ca
| nal work ut would he interesting socio-
logically at any rate, though the aver
age mind may be unable to grasp the
problem of inducing a negro or any
other man to work on the canal strin
when he will not work at home.
The original intention Of Uncle Sam
was to dig the big ditch himself. The
proposition of putting the whole prof.
ect INTO the hands of e. contractor, Just
as railroad company lets out a con-
structlon job, developed later after the
work had begun. Just how this plan
Will work out is up to the man who
gets the contract. He will be building
Tor posterity. His name will pass into
history. The searchlights of all the
world VIII be turned upon him during
the years consumed in the work.
Therefore it behooves the canal digger
to look to his laurels.
Tree Planting by Canadian Railway.
Do