The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-12-23
there could DO SERVED bacon, nam, hash,

thert5could DO SERVED bacon, ham. hash.
stew or n1ackerel. ~ "
The luncheon, or midday meal, az
served to the writer, consisted of a
soup, two kinds Of meat. three vege.s
tables, bread and butter, fruit, tea,
coffee and chocolate. The dinner or
evening meal was practically the Same
as tho luncheon. with fsh and q salad
and dessert added. No extras Of any
kind are allowed, either for eating or
drinking, except in cases Of sickness,
when toast or any delicacy that ca, be
obtained, is furnished. The food was
excellent. bountiful and cleanly served.
Tables in the dining room are ar
ranged for four, and there is always
bottle Of quinine on each table with
instructions to take one tablet Of three
grains at dinner every day. A lemon
or lime is beside the plate at every
meal, and there is an abundance Of
iced tea and lemonade.
The cost to the employee on tho gold
basis for board and lodging amounts
to only $27 per month. Employees are
required to use hotel coupon books is
sued from the auditors office. Each
book contains 80 So-cent coupons, ana
is good for fifty meals at any Of tho
Commissions hotels on the Isthrzrus.
Any employe, may therefore, set y
meal anywhere he may chance to be
In the Zone at the same price he pays
ut his regular hotel. The price OF the
book, SIS, 1s' charged on the payroll
to the account Of the employe.
Working Hours.
All employees go to work at seven
in the morning, knock off at eleven;
begin again at one and quit at i've. In
the cities Of Panama and Colon the
clerks begin work at eight, continue
till twelve; on again at two and stop
at five.
Medical Attendance,
Each camp has an American doctor.
Thine larger camps have hospitals
where mild cases Of sickness are treated
which, II necessary, are removed to
Ancon or Colon where the larger hos
Iitals are located. Hospital service is
free to employees. Every convenience
that science and experience can suggest
and none command Is supplied in these
hospitals, and an eff1cients corps Of
physicians and trained nurses make it
hospitals equal to that of any 1nstt-
tuition.
= Supply and Price Of Merchandise.
There is q commissary store in al
most every town, under the manage
mont of the Panama Railroad COM
pany. 1t is intended that the COM
Customers shall be able to furnish food
Of all kinds and general merchandise.
The prices are remarkably low. and
the goods are of excellent quality.
This Is especially true Of wearing ap-
parel. Mems Isle thread underwear
can be had for 800 a suit, cotton I'm
derwear at so cents, papamas at 30
cents, hose % to 80 cents, and shoes at
$3.76 to $3.50. A leading brand Of AM
erican suspenders which sells all over
teh states for 50 cents, is listed at 43
cents. The prices for groceries are a
little less than the retail prices in the
states. The best brand Of condensed
milk is Is cents, flour s cents, soap s
cents, tea 06 cents, and coffee 20 to 81
cents. These comnissartes, in addi-
ton to furnishing general supplies, and
expected to promote the establishment
of individual households on the 18TH
mus among the employees, by making it
possible for those employees who are |
to have their families there, it |
being permitted that married enploye
send for his family as soon as he is |
assigned quarters. The water supply |
for all quarters. as we'll as for the cities |
Of Panama and Colon, has also been |
perfected under the direction Of the |
of pure mountain spring water for |
everybody
General Health Conditions.
In speaking Of the general health !
conditions Mr.. Theodore P. Shonts, |
chairman Of the Isthmian Canal Com |
mission. in Washington, November 8,
1905, said: 80 effective has been the |
work Of the sanitation trat yellow fever |
has ben virtually exrirpated from tho |
Isthmus.. In June last there were 81 |
cases Of yellow fever there; In July, AZ: |
in August, 81; in September, s: and |
In October, the worst month Of the year |
for yellow fever, 3, no one Of the latter !
among the employees. and all originat-
Ing many miles from the line of the
line of the canal"
Clothing.
The Canal Commission gives ma ad-
vice to employees. about to go from the
United States as to the clothing they
should take, but suggests that such
employees bear in mind the fact that
Panama is a tropical country, where the
days are warm and the nights relatively
cool. It should be also understood
that warm weather is continuous, and
4 good supply Of lightweight summer
clothing is advisable.