The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18

60 far toward soothing the prevalent dis
satisfaction. 1t is singular that they were
not long since provided. II ID doubtful
II they have ever been thought Of ny the
local authorities.
carriage ia that there has az yet been no
time to organize things. Everything is In
fut-, =. Yet Uncle Sam has been In
possession full year.
In the period OF year the sanitation
people have aohiev we'd magnificent success.
Col. Gorgas's machine runs like clockwork.
Every care Is taken to secure the mental
health and comfort of the sick as making
most strongly for their recovery.
Like attention to the men at the front
would lessen the sick list, and the growing
movement back to the States would be
checked at once. Proof is daily arriving
that 1t is already generally known at home
that a job on the Isthmus is no cinch.
In the first place, it requires an iron nerve
and constitution to face this enervating
climate, with the additional burden OF
work imposed. broiling sun alternates
with drenohing rains.
1t Is just sun and rain in about equal
or life here would be absolutely unbearable.
The men are moving in the sticky clay mud
consta ntly, sometimes boot top deep.
Under these repellant conditions several
hundred engineers, inspectors. super
visos. yardmasters, train conductors
foremen, traokmen. steam shovel men, &c,
are required to perform daily even more
strenuo Gus work than is required in the
ga brious North. At home mechanics
60 to work at A. NJ. here they are aroused
at $50. and take up their burden at $50.
A potent cause OF discomfort Ia the un-
satisfactory quality OF the board provided
although the price charged Is relatively
high. The men almost universally feel
that they are both nadequately and i'm
properly fed to meet properly the fore
going extra ordinary requirements.
Their breakfast invariably consists Of a
single fried egg. piece of bacon about the
size OF a trolley car ticket, coffee. bread
and butter. No call for second helping
Ia ever honored, no matter how imploring
the request.
The other meals are shade better
The cookery is not bad, though some dishes
are too often burned. As a whole, it is all
none too appetizing.
Nothing but bull beef is provided in
that line, killed and cooked the same day.
The pagodalike hotels built by the COM
mission are in the hands Of sordid boarding
house keepers. There must be a reform
here.
On this unsatisfactory fare the men
work without ceasing from $50 A. NJ. until
noon, and four and half hours in the
afternoon, in all ten hours. Under the
circumstances, the fixing OF such days
work demonstrates a lack Of judgment
somewhere. 1t was an error which added
largely to the 81 list.
The eight hour rule is now promised.
II it is adopted it will ameliorate one great
cause OF irritation Even this reform is
significant Of the reactionary methods in
vogue here.
The promised reduction in hours is not
from the initiative OF the local authorities.
but is compelled by action at Washington.
President Roosevelt must reach out the
strong arm in other directions If he ex-
poets to live to see this canal finished.
There Is one object lesson in the lack OF
official resourcefulness here worth citing
in partial explanation Of the general sulen-
ness among outdoor employees.
Culebra cut Is a wide and deep chasm.
No quarters and board are provided for
those engaged on the farther side, fully half
a mile away. Hence. every morning they
down and up its muddy, slippery
declivties as best they can; back and forth
again at noon, and home at night, four trips
each day in the sitting heat or rain.
l.. ,uti> fNa tprv
Of the regular labor. The French trolley
provided for carrying the men to and fro
Is dismantled, but 80 far as is known no
suggestion has thus far emanated from
any auth ritative quarter for a bridge
or staircases to replace it.
There Is administrative chaos in this di-
vision, the principal one. There is no head,
no organization, no system. Everything
goes helter- skelter, with a false ring Of
energy produced.
The scope OF excavating operations laid
out and in hand is far beyond the means
provided This smacks Of designing hum
bug, as also does the perpetual cry from
Headquarters for results and to keep the
dirt trains moving.
Primarily the black labor is inefficient.
The tremendous rains retard everything
and swamp the dump tracks, the key to all
the work. Insufficient laborers and track
.ools are provided
There is no regular established central
depot to supply them promptly on the
reauisition Of the foreman at the front.
and supervisors cannot
20 found in their offices. Application in
me ouarter results in reference to another,
and even to a third and fourth. Finally
he applicant is admonished to do the best
,e can-to pick up tools wherever found,
% hurry up to get results, DC.
Everybody is giving orders which clash
md result In babel OF confusion. All is
Uncertain, vague. hesitating. There is
ioubt about the scope Of authority of many
officials.
Naturally this heterodox condition has
t. influence on the subordinates, on whom
Ill the blame Of failure is shouldered,
whereas those higher up are really respon-
,ible for most Of the miscarrages. All
his reacts on the morale Of the men in
,very department, 1t Is discoura ging.
These are the things that are sending the
men back
THE COLLEGE GIRL.