Walker, John Grimes, 1835-1907 to Thomas Gibbons

Thanks him for the enclosed piece of needlework for Mrs. Walker. Mentions preparations to sail from New York to the Isthmus, to be gone for some weeks. Discusses the beginning of the Panama Canal construction project: "We are getting an organization both here and on the Isthmus; are working about 2400 or 2500 men on the Isthmus, part of them in surveys and explorations and part on the Culebra Cut. The work is so immense and there are so many very important questions to be settled that we are not disposed to move very rapidly--and indeed it is impossible to do so. Everything has to be considered with care to avoid mistakes, and our desire is not to be forced to make a backward step at any time. You know, under the law this Commission has full power on the Isthmus--legislative, judicial, executive, military, etc. etc. I am taking down with me a majority of the Commission, our Treasurer, Auditor, and General Counsel, so that we shall be able to legislate as we find it necessary." Says that he and his family, as well as Captain Staunton and Paymaster Whitehouse, are all doing well, though it seems unlikely that Paymaster Whitehouse will ever return from Europe.