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Show AMERICANS "MAKE DIRT FLY" IN DIGGING PANAMA CANAL Washington. Jan. 19 Americans J are truly "making the dirt fly" In tho work of dlggin? tho Panama canal. During 190S, more than three-fourths of the total amount of material taken cut since our government took hold of the work, was removed. The monthly average of excavation during the last year was substantially the same djir-In,.? djir-In,.? the rainy season as during the drv season, showing that the heavy; ruins no longer are a serious obstacle. Another feature was tho reduction of the average cost per cubic yard for oxcavatlon of 57 cents to 48 cents, or about 15 per cent. Since thls government took up the work from May 4, 1904, to the close of 1908. 69.773.179 cubic yards havo been excavated, of which 37,016,093 cubic yards were taken out during 1908. By the French companies, 81,-548,000 81,-548,000 cubic yards were excavated. ' From the appropriations for canal constructloh the expenditures from May -1, 1901. to Oct. 1, 1008, wero $S3.-275.000 $S3.-275.000 of this amount $51,512,000 was expended by the department of construction and engineering. |