Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1905 — UNCLE SAM AS A DIGGER. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM AS A DIGGER.

In speaking of the progress be ing male on the Panama canal the Philadelphia Ledger says the best monthly reoord made by the French when the operations were at their height was the removal of 25,000 oubio yards of barth and rock from the Culebra cut. Last montn the Americans completed a total excavation of 128,000 oubio yards. 0.1 tie lad diy of March two modern 95 ton steam shovels, constructed in Milwaukee, and five 70 ton shovels were at work, and on that day 6,400 cubic yards of earth and rock were removed.

This is merely the beginning of the introduction cf modern effective machinery. The engineers purpose to use from 120 to 130 of these steam shovels, and as one is received every two weeks, five years will elapse, at the present rate of manufacture of the shovels, before the full equipment is installed.

In fact, one of the great problems is to get the machinery made, and the chief engineer deolares that not until the expiration of eight years, or two years before the end of the time allotted for the completion of the oanal. will the ultimate force be in operation. There is now employed along the oanal a force of 4.500 laborers, and additional men sre taken on as fast as they arrive and apply for work. Within a short time the men will be worked in night shifts by eleotrio light, as well as by day, and when the operation is well under way the construction work “will be driven day and night.” with as many,thousands of laborers as may be crowded along the canal without interfering one with another.