Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-30
PANAMA CONDITIONS
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER
GREENE's OBSERVATIONS.
Climate Warm, but Not Unpleasant
Projected Improvements.

Commissioner Greene of the civil service
commission returned to his desk after an
absence of more than three weeks, part of
which time was spent on the isthmus of
Panama. organizing a local examining
board. Mr.. Greene went to Panama De-
cember IA for the purpose of making
personal examination of the conditions on
the isthnus as relates to the civil service
matters and to introduce the rules of the
civil service commission in the employment
If the help in connection with the canal
project He was accompanied by Exam
iner Snyder of the commissions force, and
they remained on the isthmus about ten
days. visiting both Colon and Panama, and
Intervening the heads of the various de-
partments of the constructive work. Mr..
Greene was much pleased with everything
he saw. He said the canal commission is
doing what it can for its employees. The
situation as to board and lodging is not
of the best. he said but the commission
Contemplates the erection of a large build
ing which will contain eighty suites of
rooms. with baths, etc. and when this is
done the employees will have better quar-
ters and they will be better employees for
il.
The Temperature.
We arrived at Colon on the 14th of De-
cember, went from there to Panama, and
returning. left for New York on the Odd"
Mr. Green told a Star reporter today. I'VE
were thus a little over a week on the 18TH
mus. We found the climate warm, but not
unpleasant There is a breeze on both
sides of the isthmus from the ocean, which
is stronger at Colon than at Panama. but
is strong enough at each place to so tenn
per the heat as TO make the nights agree
able and prevent any great amount of Suf-
fering from the weather during the day. L
have often seen much hotter days in Wash
ingtop than any we saw in Panama, Of
course. l would not want TO live in such
climate permanently. because of the con-
stancy of this high temperature. There is
no cool season on the isthmus and the
thermometer is probably above 50 every
day in the year. The Americans on the 18TH
mus who have gone there within the last
year are enjoy ing a pretty fair degree of
health. There is not much sickness of any
Kind among them as far as l learned. and
| was told that there had been no deaths
among the 1900 Americans who have gone
there during the last year and who have re-
sided there for an average of eight months.
There is 4 great deal that is picturesque
and interesting about the isthmus and it
impresses us as a country of great future
possibilities. Mr.. Wallace the chief en-
gineer of the canal, has a very difficult
task on his hands. but no one who has met
him will entertain any doubts that he is
the proper person for his position. He has
already effected great economies in the
work of the canal compared with the
estimates made of the cost of the work,
and seems entirely confident of his own
ability to carry the enterprise TO a speedy
and comparatively speaking economical
conclusion and 1 believe that any one who
meets him is very likely 10 share his opin-
ion.
Deficient in Board and Lodgings.
Panama is not a place which affords a
great deal of opportunity for amusement
or entertainment to it's American popula-
ton. 1t is very deficient also at present
in the matter of lodgings and board There
fy +l,a
has been system of sewerage establish
ed. a water supply has been planned and
a reservoir constructed, and the water will
he in the town in the course of the next
six months. L believe that system of
sewerage is also under consideration. One
very necessary improvement is contem-.
plated by the canal commission. and its
completion will be very desirable, namely,
the construction of lodgings for the Ameri-
can employees. Such lodgings are badly
needed. and We're informed that they
would be furnished within a short time.
With the construction of proper lodgings
and the furnishing OF an adequate supply
of water and the establishment of a
erage system. do not any reason why
The iSthmus should not be healthful and
pleasant place of residence for men who
are connected with the work of the govern
ment, either on the construction force
in the offices of the canal zone govern
ment. We saw great many of the en-
ployes while there. and found many of
them highly pleased with their work and
pioSPSttS. IHtEt were VI COuTSc,
who not suited with the arrange
ments in Panama, but the most 'objec-
tiOnable features which We heard men
toned could be obviated by the improve
ments that I have indica ted.
With the increase which will take place
in the force employed at Panama in the
near future and the thorough establish
ment OF the organization of the routine of
the offices there, there will probably be
less need for hard work than there IS at
present. The established hours are from
IA in 1Ra -
IN the afternoon, being seven hours work
with a two-hour intermission in the mid
die of the day"