Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

usual magnitude for an executive VINO
professed to have no technical engi-
neering knowledge. Yet President
Roosevelt made the momentous deci-
sion without hesitation, sending a
strong message recommending the mi
nority report
Congress debated the issue until June
81, when the senate by the close vote
Of SO to 81 decided for lock type, and
on June 2S the house concurred, the
bill becoming law on June 20, 1906.
Two years and two months had pass
ed from the time the Americans came
to Panama in May. 1904, to July l.
1906, before this decision was made,
and at last the commission knew what
plan Of canal was to be followed. In
September, 1905, Mr.. Stevens started
the excavations in the sites for the
Gatun locks, the Pedro Miguel lock
and the Gatun dam spillway. Surveys
were begun for relocating the Panama
railroad, which for considerable dis
tance would be swallowed up by the
completed canal. The fifteen months
preparatory work was beginning to
tell in the Increased excavations In the
Culebra cut, as the organization was
getting its stride Commissaries, which
sold everything the canal employee
needed, were In operation In the prin-
cipal towns, the hotels for the bache-
lors were well organized, quarters had
been erected until all were housed,
though at times rather crowded. ma
chinery, supplies and equipment were
on hand or ordered to the extent Of so
per cent of what would be needed to
complete the canal, health conditions
were admiral BILE, and the whole situa-
ton was shaping for the real work Of
building the canal.
President Roosevelt paid the canal
zone q visit In November, 1906. 1t was
a trip Of exploration for him, and the
way he ignored the formal plans for
his entertainment delighted the EN-
ployees. Subordinate officials were
rather anxious that he should inspect
just the things they had spick and
span for him to inspect, but from the
time he landed at Colon he ate and
nosed In and out Of every part Of the
canal and led them n merry chase
The enthusiasm for the daddy" OF
the project was boundless. and the
shortcomings he noted resulted In bet
ter conditions Of employment for the
men.
One evidence Of the Eowing luxury
of living conditions In the canal zone
was the installation on Jan. ]. 1907, OF
electric lights in the quarters OF the
married and bachelor employees at
Empire and Culebra. Other towns
soon were furnished with electricity.
The first public school had been open
ed a year before this event, or on Jan.
2, 1906. The summer and fall Of 1906
and the winter Of 1907 saw another
great controversy raging around the
canal. which. like the battle Of the
levels, was to be decided arbitrarily by
President Roosevelt.
Chairman Shonts long had entertain
ed the opinion that the canal should
be constructed by private contractors.
He pressed the plan so vigorously and
the popular opinion Of the inefficency
pf the government was so strong that
the president authorized Secretary
Taft to ask for bids on Oct. 8. 1905
Bids for constructing the canal by
private contract were opened at Wash
ington on Jan. IL. 1907. and rejected
on the ground that they failed to meet
the requirements Of the government
The real reason for rejecting the bids
was that both the country and the ad
ministration had undergone change
of heart as to the wisdom Of the con-
tract plan.
Another epoch in the life Of the ca
nal project was marked by the presi-
dents action In definitely committing
the enterprise to direct government su'
peryision. Chairman Shonts resigned.
effective March 4, 1907. An executive
order then consolidated the offices OF
chairman and chief engineer In Mr..
Stevens. On March 16 the remainder
of the commission, except Colonel
Gorgas, resigned, to be followed on
April by the resignation Of Chief
Engineer Stevens. His resignation
came like a sickening accident to the
canal employees. 1.-The chief as he
was called familiarly, had established
himself firmly In their minds and
hearts rs thoroughly competent en-.
gineer and just administrator.