Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03

tnlS Cn1nSe Oh plan Will rem
der great part of the French excavation
useless, because the American scheme in
wolves different method of diSpoSing of
the surplus water in the artificial lake to
be filled by the discharge of the river Cha
gres. When the American government first
had dealings with the French company it
was commonly said that at least third of
the digging had been DONE and some of the
French agents went SO far to claim one
half. 1t now appears that not more than
one-ffth of the excavation that will be
needed under the American plan has been
done.
Even the French excavations that can be
used are not satisfactory or efficient. They
have been badly carried out, and in many
cases landslides and tropical rains have
played havoc with them. A great part of
this work will have to be done over again,
according to the reports of the numerous
engineers who have been busy surveying
every inch of the ground from coast to
coast for Mr.. Wallace.
THE only really efficient thing from an
engineering standpoint that we found on
the isthmus was the Panama railroad" said
the returned engineer who has already been
quoted. 1t is a fine piece of engineering
work, and has been kept in splendid condi-
tlon IT is now practically owned by the
United States government, as is also its sis
ter concern, the Panama Steamship COM
pany Both are proving of the greatest util-
ity in transporting material for the canal
work. Without the railroad the building of
the canal would be much more difficult and
expensive. Indeed, it would probably be
T.
ing On the canal"
The Sanitary Problem
The sanitary problem is not proving so
difficult or serious was at first expected
The epidemics that have so often deci-
mated the isthmus have arisen from filthy
conditions of living and an almost total
neglect or sanitary precautions. The
American doctors and engineers are carry
ing out water-supply and drainage schemes
for the towns of Panama and Colon and
particular attention is being given to the
task of preventing the pollution of the
water supply at all points along the canal
strip where laborers are likely to be massed
in considerable numbers. The .swamps are
also being drained and the rivers cleaned
out. 3s-i- b.
These rivers were found to be full of de-
composed vegetable matter, which made
them foci of malaria and other diseases
The burning of decomposing vegetation all
along the canal zone has been one of the
principal sanitary works.
Up to the present 1t has not been possible
TO Impose proper regard for the laws of
sanitation upon the ignorant populations of
Colon and Panama. They are reluctant to
abandon their immemoriaI privileges of
wallowing in the filth collected in their
houses by generations of ancestors. Some
of the conditions found in these houses by
American investigators would not be be-
heved, even If they were fit to print which
they certainly are not. But the people are
being brought to see reason, and in time
Panama and Colon will be made as healthy
as the average civilized tropical city. 1t is
not probable that they can ever be made as
healthy as Havana and other Cuban cities
have been.
Inadequate Labor Supply.
The most serious question at nresent
perplexing the constructors of the canal
is the labor supply. Indeed, it is not too
much to say that there is nowhere an ade-
quate supply of suitable labor in sight
The Island of Jamaica supplied the bulk of
the labor for the operation of the French
canal company. This island has always
been relied upon by contractors who have
great works to carry out anywhere in the
neighborhood of the Caribbean. But the
islands Legislature has at last come to the
conclusion that it is a serious mistake to
allow it's population to be depleted in this
manner, and it recently passed a law
which makes it practically impossible for
Jamaicans to leave the island as contract
laborerS.
The hiring agent is required to pay $500
to the government for each man he takes
and also to enter into penal bond that the
man shall be properly looked after in sick
ness and in health. and be sent back to the
island after his term is over. Further
more, the Jamaica government insists on
having it's own inspectors on the spot with
power to see that The men are properly
treated, and even requires the contractors
Under these circumstances, it is not
likely that any laborers will be taken from
Jamaica, although many engineers, survey
ors and foremen experienced in carrying
out engineering work in the tropics will
undoubtedly get jobs The railroads, irri-
CATION companies and public work depart
ments of the various West Indian islands
are already beginning to complain that
their best men are flocking to Colon to ask
Mr.. Wallace for a job You cannot open a
West Indian newspaper nowadays without
finding some complaint of that nature
A number of men have been sent round
the West Indies by the canal authorities to
investigate the question of available labor
but they have not found the outlook
promising one. The West Indians are shy
of the isthmus, for very many thousands
of their fellow countrymen have gone
there and died. The governments of Hayti,
Santo Domingo, Barbados, Trinidad and
other islands have passed laws restricting
labor immi grafton, similar to that of ia
paica. MT rasv ~ Solution
Ii is thought probable that, in the end,
il will be found necessary to draft large
number of laborers to the isthmus from
Porto Rico. The Porto Rican is not good
laborer for he cannot do half as much
work in n day as the average Jamaican
negro; but IL he is the best available, he
will have to be taken. 1t is hardly likely
that the canal will be- dug by negroes from
the southern states. They would require
too high wages, and would be just as sus-
ceptible to the unhealthy climate as white
men. The labor. even when obtained, will
cause the American engineers a good deal
of worry and probably upset their calcula-
tons as to the time required for carrying
out tire undertaking.
I'm the work on the Panama canal there
should not be expected days work such
as is exacted in New York, because the
lethargy of the south ID there" said Mr..