The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-17
SIX YEARS MORE
 ID FINISH CANAL Secretary Taft Gives Informa-
 ton to the Senate
LOCKS MUST BE W.DENED
Total Cost of Canal Is Estimated At $300,0oo,o00, and Various Recom- mendations Are Made For
 Governing the Zone.

Washington, January 16.-Seeretary Taft appeared before the Senate committee on interoceanic canals today and gave that committee information concerning the project and to offer suggestions for legis lation. He gave a complete review of the conditions at the canal site and quot ed information he had received from va rious officials connected with the work He expressed the opinion that the canal should be completed within six years from next July and that it's ultimate cost would be approximately $500, ,00O, 900, including the purchase price. The pro posed widening of the locks was care fully explained by Secretary Taft. He asserted that with the locks widened to 11O feet a steamer of 10S feet beam could easily pass through. The largest ship this government is planning to build will have a beam of but 95 feet. The increased cost of the locks Mir Taft estimated, would be about $5000,0O0
 In his talk to the committee Secretary Taft at various points brought out the difficulties that beset the commission in it's administration. These range ell the way from trouble with the Pacific Mail Steamship line because of it's fail ure to furnish rough steamers, to labor difficulties He also spoke of the com plaints by the Panamaians that there Is a bad odor to the water that is served to them through the new works at Pan anna as one of the small, yet annoying features of the work. In the matter of steamship transportation facilities on the Pacific coast, the secretary said, owing to their inadequacy, the business of the railroad had fallen off one-half since the government took possession and It was a question in his mind whether the gov ernment should not engage in the steam ship business on the Pacific in order to maintain the Panama route now existing and keep the isthmian business from go- ing by way of Tehuantepec or some other route.
 Ut may be a question:" said the secre- tary, "of saving the income for our steamers on the east coast by running considerable risk on the vest
 Price of Labor.
 Secretary Taft gave out considerable information concerning prices paid for labor on the canal, and urged there be
 
 laborers in spite of the fact that, ac- cordng to his estimate, they were re- ceiving in pay and privileges from 50 to GO per cent higher income than they could earn in the United States. Secre- tary Taft gave it his opinion that any reduction at all would cause serious labor difficulties. Even with skilled labor wages at the present standard, he said. there was recently strike upon the refusal of the commission to increase the wages and force of men sufficient to run 65 steam shovels was depleted to a force sufficient to run only 13.
 Senator Flint put number of questions to the secretary as to land controversies on the isthmus, the cost of sanitation and the advisability of the government run ming the Tivoli hotel. In connection with the last named project the secretary thought it quite necessary for the gov ernment to operate the hotel He said with smile that it's. bar had been re- moved and there ought to be no fur ther complaint from the native business people at least in respect to that trade. The secretary said that the water rents
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