The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-08

Charles de Lesseps. the iIiustrious en-
gineer's 81 dess son, went out 10 the 18th
mus 10 exercise kind Of general superin-
tendency over the work. Great prepara-
tions we're made for the comfort of the
Frenchmen. magnificent villa was
erected 81 Colon for Charles de Lesseps.
and houses were provided for the other
chief officers at cost of i60, 600 TO 500.e 900
francs apiece. The Frenchmen must have
not only the necessaries but the Injuries
Of life as well. And they had them. The
treasury was overlooking and the names
of new subscribers were entered on the
books as fast as the clerks could write
them. What need TO be miserly1 Work
is sometimes hindered because the execu-
tive staff IS not lare enough. The French
saw that nothing of that kind occurred at
Panama They must have efficiency. Ac-
cordingiy every officer had his first assist
ant and has second assistant, and his
third assistant, aud sometimes his fourth
assistant, while the assistants had their
sub-assistants. For instance. in digging q
canal great quantities of dynamite must
be used. Consequently there was 'sdyna-
mite designator." He went along and
marked the places for storing the dyna-
mite. Then another man. with his staff of
assistants, came and placed the dynamite.
Then another. with his assistants aud sub
assistants. came and touched the dynamite
oft. Then another body of officials ar
rived and reported on the effects of the
explosion, and when these reports were
duly made and entered on the books the
workmen invaded the spot and began to re-
move the debris. Meanwhile the first OIL
eials were resting in their tents, shaded
from the hot sun. and were rejecting on
the results of their labors. The system
was great. There was no danger of work
being done too hastily. Everything was
weighed well and maturely considered
Besides il prevented the Frenchmen from
overexerting themselves and saved them
from the effects of the tropical climate.
The Frenchmea were also great believers
in the ail-work duli-boy theory. and they
saw that French frosics were not neglected
at the isthmus. As nearly as possible they
turned that bit of the United states OF Co
lombia into little France. Comic opera
was not neglected. and some of the brill
iantly costumed goddesses of the boule-
wards found 1t very pleasant to pay an oe-
casional visit 10 Panama. The French
omitted none of the scientific appliances
which are Of such great aid In mechanical
aud engineering enterprises. they didn't
believe ia saving a nickel and losing dol
lar. They bought the costliest machinery
they could find. They had quantities of
il made ia the United States, and they
imported more from France. They had
enormous dredges and cranes, and
Other kinds of machinery. NJ. Bona
parte WISE. the skilled engineer who
had obtained the concession from
Colombia, was crowded out. He was not
brilliant enough. He was not enthusiast
tic enough. lie saw difficulties when no
Frenchman had a right TO see them. Able
theorists sapplanted him. But the French
conceded enough 20 other nations 10 take
some Yankee brains IN with them. They
let $50 00o. COO worth of work 10 Henry II.
Sayen and the American Contracting and
Dredging Company. And the work was
done. 81. Eifiel, who built the celebrated
tower got contracts TO erect locks At a cost
of SIS, 0O0. coo TO So. 600. 900. The men to
do the manual labor were imported blacks
from the West Indies, chiefly Jamaica
and San Domingo. blacks from the north
coast of South America and kroomen
from the west coast of Africa. Europeans
and men from the United States could not
rush much with their hands in such a eli
mate rs that Of Panama, but these blacks
were from the tropics or the semi-tropics.
They were staiwart, muscular fellows.
They could work and work hard And IL
did not matter much II they took
the Chagres fever and died. the
Panama people argued. There were
plenty more where they came from.
The canal scheme went merrily on. De