The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
WORK ON PANAMA CANAL
MISTAKE TO THINK THAT MEN WILL
BE NEEDED THERE SOON.
After Deal with Colombia II Ended
Actual Work Will Not Begin for
Eighteen Months.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
For some reason most men would rather
'go somewhere to work than be satisfied
with Job at home. Suppose the following
notice should appear in the papers: Want
ed-30.0OO men to build the Panama canal.
Apply to Uncle Sam, Washington, d. c."
Within twenty-four hours, it is safe to say,
there would be scramble for jobs the like
Of which has never been known.
In this particular case the opinion seems
to prevail that there is no time to be lost;
that soon as the Colombian government
agrees to the transfer of the concession
from the French company to the American
authorities the dirt will begin to fly before
the ink gets dry on the treaty. AS matter
of fact, the real work on the canal will not
begin for from one and half to two years
after the final negotiations between the
United States government and the Colon
bian Congress are completed. Two years is
rather long wait for the average working
man. 1t is estimated that about 20 per cent.
of the total expenditure nearly SIS, 100000
will be used in getting ready. The most
thorough and comprehensive arrangements
will be made in engineering, policing. sani-
tation and general contingencies Without
this preliminary work three out of every
five men who go there would never come
back.
Panama is dirty and foul beyond descrip-
ton. The French lay their failure to
swindling. but the one great obstacle has
always been the dreadful fevers which at
tack the workmen and cause them to die
like flies. Pestilence must be overcome or
the big ditch will never be put through.
The American sanitary officers are the
most skilled disease fighters in the world
Wherever they have tried their hand they
have brought the death rate tumbling down
IN manner that was little short of mar
for they are planning the greatest cam
paign that science has ever inaugurated
They Will pave the way for our army of
possible for them to complete the task
that Will stand as one of the greatest ac-
compartments of man But until our san
ltary experts say come the average Amer
lean had better hold down his job at home.
$4,000 MEN NEEDED.
When the work of construction finally
gets under way, the least number of men
whose services will be required is estimated
| at $1,000. These will consist of unskilled
laborers by the thousands, as well as skilled
laborers of almost every kind. There will
| be places for electricians engineers. stone
masons, stone cutters, plumbers, brick
layers, wire workers, timers, pattern MAX
ers, carpenters painters, blacksmiths, steel
workers, iron workers, expert accountants,
doctors. nurses, druggists. clerks, overseers,
| railroad men, cooks, walters, telegraph
operators, photographers, stenographers,
| laundrymen, etc. 1t has not been deter
mined whether the government will do all
| the work of whether large amount of it
/ xn-tn h.. done hxr nrfafr II, h.
| case the government will employ the help
and furnish all supplies, providing trans
| portation for the people and sending all
| provisions on transports. In this event the
| arrangements will also include living quar-
| tiers. There are hundreds of houses that
| will be included in the transfer of the prop
erty, and an important part of the pre-
liminary work will consist of putting these
| in order. Additional accommodations will
be provided as they are needed.
In case contractors undertake the whole
| or part of the work. it is not known what
| arrangements will be made for food and
quarters for the men. 1t is very possible
however. that in securing employees these
very obvious reasons. Rates of compensa.
| ton in no line have been agreed upon or
computed. The commissioners state that
they will endeavor to secure the best
skilled labor in all lines, and pay accord
ingly; the same rule holds good in regard
| to the CLERICAL force. There is considerable
doubt and controversy over the selection OF
4
| that the Jamaica negro exceis IN
some kind Of labor that will bt
needed on the isthmus, and, next to him
| come the negroes from Barbados. Some
reference has been made to contracting fol-
| labor from Japan and China, and IL is pos
sible that the force may be Supplemental
| by representatives of these races Coolit
| labor is very cheap, but the rate or NOR
tality among this class is very great, and
everything must be taken into consideration
which will tend to preserve the health ant
the life of the community.
The Southern negro has been slightly
consdered-that Is, the one from the fal
South-but the one objection to his besnt
employed is the fact that the scale of prices
in vogue with him is higher than is likel,
to rule in the line of work that he is in
tended for.
CHANCES FOR WORK
Aside from the thousands of men VIII
will enter the employ of the government
there will be many chances for work ol
the outside. BARRIERS. taiors, doctors
dentists, shoemakers and others withou
number will find ready market for thei
services. The chances for independent en-
deavor, however, will depend in a larg
measure on whether the government doe
the work or lets it out by contract. If tn
whole work is done by the government.
will greatly reduce the chances for ind
vidual effort along many lines. With 5000
men drawing regular wages the gambler
and amusement caterers will do big busl
! ness. The exclusive gambling privilege 70
the city of Panama has been sold to privat
parties, but this concession will pfobabl
be annulled by the transfer. 1t is likel
that rigid restrictions will be placed on a
games of, chance within the canal zon,
While no forecast has been made on III
probable action of the commission in grant
, ing saloon licenses. IL Is thought these wi
be denied, as drinking in the tropics is dar
gerous TO the health of any person from
northern climate. The argument has bee
advanced, however, that the men will Gel
tainly indulge in drink and play that if II
resorts are allowed in the canal zone. the
will surely be established on neutral groun
just outside the district under our govern
ment's jurisdiction.
The plan of starting the big project is a
! ready under way. We have in Panam
: at present a commission. headed by Adniri
I Walker. among the members OF which al
two army engineers and two civil engineer
The nature of their work is entirely pre-
lminary, the most important feature of
being OF course, the formulation of III
sanitary crusade. The work of the preser
company is being watched and estimate
3 OF its value being prepared.
, Although much has been published abol
the operations of the present French con
| pany, Ii 10 not generally known that woF