Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-01-23
Only Transferred His Literary Bu-
reau from Washington to
Panama Canal Zone.
NOW ISSUES CANAL RECORD
Col. 0oethaIs Estimates Cost Now Al
Nearly 10000, Ooo-condeWned
Contract Plan-EstImates
for This Year.

washington, Jan. l8.-The question
Of the propriety of the Isthmian canal
commission issuing an official newspa-
per for the dissemination of informa-
tion about the progress Of the work at
Panama caused a somewhat lively dis
cussion in the hearing before the SEN
ate committee on inter-oceanic canals
Friday There was an echo Of the de-
bate in the senate two years when
the literary bureau conducted by
James Bucklin Bishop, the present edi-
tor of the Canal Record, was roundly
scored as a government institution
that had no right to exist, and which
eventually resulted In promise to
cease publication in the face of an
amendment by Senator Culberson abol-
ishing the bureau. Senator Culberson
Friday intimated that the promise had
not been kept.
While Col. Goethals was being ques-
toned as to the canal work by various
members of the committee, Senator
Culberson asked to have the remarks
he had made in the senate In 1905,
concerning the literary bureau Of
bishop placed in the record Of the
hearings and he handed up copy of
his remarks for that purpose. After
reading them, Col. Goethals told why
the paper had been established and
said It was now being run to show
the men on all parts Of the line what
was being done at other points.
Senator Culberson Immediately re-
piled:
This proceeding in Panama is an
innovation and assurances were made
in the open senate that the publica'
ton would not be continued"
1.-THE senator Is assuming that the
Canal Record is Of the same character
as what he terms the literary bureau
that formerly existed interjected |
Senator Blackburn.
ut is far worse replied Senator
Culberson. 1T is many times worse
than the original institution that was
in the senate by the COM
nittee on appropriations. At that time
Bishop simply made weekly report
and gave information to the press for
which he was paid an annual salary
Of $4,000. Now he gives it. out by
a weekly paper"
"That Is where I dissent from the
yenator," said Mr.. Blackburn.
Senator Flint expressed himself as
icing in entire accord with the Canal
record proposition. Col. Goethals
promised to deliver to the committee
ONE fgurmes concerning its cost.
Senator Brandegee questioned Col.
soethals closely as to the price OF the
anal and 1t developed that In the
Of GoethaIs 1t may possibly be
uilt at a figure trffe less than
300 900 900. He simply said that he
,as in the habit of estimating the cost
projects at high enough figure to
lsure their being accomplished within {
he price. He said that the Gatun :
am and locks were being constructed |
NO or three times better than neces- :
ary. This was due to public opinion, '
hich demanded all proper pre-
autions In the building Of the canal.
Col. Goethals gave the estimates for
ecessary appropriation for the varf'
us branches Of the canal work for
lie ensuing year as follows: Engineer. T
IL department, including the Wash S
,gton Office, $2S,365, 1893; sanitation, d
D, 172,420; expenses Of canal zone b
overnment, $6S2,0O7; Panama rail. y
,ad, s1,1SS.S4O; making a total OF b
%, 4O3,S63. t
In discussing the item Of sanitation Z
OIL Goethals expressed his opinion .
lat should congress provide lump
I'm OF 100000 annually 1t would
. sufficient to maintain the health
! the isthmus, providing extra ex-
snse could be incurred In emergency.
An outbreak Of yellow fever" he
lid. would cause a stampede from
lie isthmus and delay the work very
,riously. However, I do not believe
carrying sanitation too far"
Col. Goethals expressed emphatic h
Of any plan to build /
lie canal under contract. He said he b
i'd never known of any contractor \
combination Of contractors that has
zen able to do work as well and b
leaply as the government could do
and asserted that the organiza-
on and equipment now In OPP :
ration at Culebra is better and Z
ore effective than any contractor
,uld possibly install. He said that b
contractor would have trouble In !
eeping his labor on the lsthmus, :
wing to the reputation for cruel and n
human treatment by worlmen left
: the French contractors.
According to the statements Of Col.
oethals, there will be practically
louEh ..eouiuuent on hard to com
etc he canal BY the time certain
,ntracts for steam dredges are com
eted, which It is supposed they viii
, BY the end Of the next fiscal year.
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