The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-16
ABOUT The CANAL
Secretary Taft Appears Before
the Senate Committee.
He Gives Complete Review of
the Conditions.
BUSINESS FALLS OFF.
Is Carrying so Per
Cent Less Traffic.
May Be Forced to Put in Pacific
Steamer Line.

Washington Jan. 16-Secretary Taft
appeared before the senate committee
On 1nteroceanic canals today and gave
that committee information concerning
the project and offered suggestions for
legislation. He gave a complete review
of the conditions at the canal site and
quoted information he had received
from various officials connected with
the work. He expressed the opinion
that the canal should be completed
within six years from next July and
that its ultimate cost would be approx
imately 300 million dollars, including
the purchase price.
The proposed widening of the locks
was carefully examined by Secretary
Taft. He asserted that with the locks
widened to ITO feet, steamer of 108
The largest ship this government is
planning to build will have beam of
but 95 feet. The increased cost of the
locks, Mr.. Taft estimated, would be
about five million dollars.
In his talk to the committee Secre-
tary Taft at various points brought out
the difficulties that beset the commits
sion in the administration. These
ranged all the way from trouble with
the Pacific Mail Steamship line, be-
cause VI us failure TO IurnlSn enough
steamers, to labor difficulties. He also
spoke of the complaints by the Pana-
mans that there is a bad OdOr to the
water that is served to them through
the new WaterworkS at Panama, as
one OF the small, annoying features of
the work. In the matter Of steamship
transportation facilities on the Pacific
coast, the secretary said that owing
to their inadequacy the business of the
railroad had fallen one-half since the
was question in his mind whether
the government should not engage in
the steamship business in the Pacific
in order to retain the Panama route
now existing and keep the isthmian
business from going by way of
Tehuantepec or some other route. 'It
may be question" said the secre-
tary, "of saving the income for our
steamers on the east coast by running
considerable risk on the west
Pay of Labor.
Secretary Taft gave out considerable
Information concerning prices paid for
labor on the canal and urged that there
be no reduction in the wages paid to
skilled 1aborers in spite of the fact that
according to his estimate they were re-
ceiving in pay and privileges from so TO
60 per cent higher income than they
could earn in the United States. Secre
tary Taft gave as his opinion that any
reduction at all would cause serious
labor difficulties. Even with skilled
labor at the present standard, he said,
there was recently. a strike upon the
refusal of the commission to increase
the wages and force sufficient to run
Go steam shovelS was depleted to force
sufficient to run only 13.
Senator Flint put a number of ques-
lions to the secretary as to land contro-
versies on the isthrnus, the cost of san
ftation and the advisability of the gov
ernment's running the Tivon hotel. In
connection with the last named project
the secretary thought 1t quite necessary
for the government to operate the hotel.
He said with a smile that its bar had
been removed and that there ought to
be no further complaint from the ma
tive business people, at least in respect
to that trade.
The secretary said that the water
rents charged Panama will in so years
pay al! cost Of providing the water
works. the Improvement of streets and
the construction Of the sewage system
At the end of that period the work will
become the property of Panama.
eff anyone doubt the conditions of
the streets of Panama" he said, ST will
refer him to my friend PoSltney Bise-
low"
Ankeny Asks Questions.
He was questioned by Senator An
keny concerning the lepers at Pan
anna and responded promptly that
Ieprosy is always greatly exaggerated,
citing his experience in the Philip
pines.
''When we went to the Philip
pines" he said, 1--WE were told that
there were from 10000 to 10000
lepers. We have uow, $500 lepers
that we know of there. During the
last wear the number has been re-
duced 600"
In Panama he said nine lepers were
known and they have been isolated
mr. fear
their account.
They had adopted the policy of act
ing on the advice of the doctors In all
cases of sanitation and, said he, DR..
Gorgas has proved SO uniformly sue
cessful that we have felt justified in
taking his advice in such matters"
He declared that it is not so un-
healthfuI to live in the tropics as it
was formerly.
Mr. Taft said the commission had
found that the price placed on land
needed for the canal is excessive and
has had no relation to it's value for
private purposes. That had not de-
layed construction work, however,
because the land is taken and paid
for afterward.
The government of Panama has Of
fered to give the United States a site
for a legation at Panama near the new
government building being erected by
the republic. He thought it would be
advisable to provide a legation build
ing that would bring the property
within the dignity of the United States
in the future when the canal has been
completed. Senator Flint wanted to
know if this government could not
with advantage sell all the land now
owned by the Panama Railway COM
pany in Panama and not actually used
for railroad purposes in order to re-
lieye the government of owning prop
erty there that is used for improper
purposes. Mr.. Taft thought some of
the land could be sold and added that
all the new leases provide that the
premises shall not be used for i'm
moral purposes, including the use as
saloons. Some Of this land would pe