Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-27

at work in the jungles. and no time when
l could not take bath. The government
has provided good quarters for its en-
poyes IN all of it's camps, and II they are
dissatisfied 1t is because they are accus-
toned to brownstones on 9Th avenue or
Madison Square. Another reason for TINS
grumbling is what is known on the isthmus
as "cold feet" All, or nearly all, of these
horrible descriptions that we see in the pa
pers are. as rule. written by those who
have been discharged for incompetency. or
who have resigned because they have had
a slight attack of malaria, disease no
worse than a light attack of the grip. and
of practically the same nature. This, how
ever, has led them into the belief that they
are not Only subject to malaria, but are
very apt to have the yellow fever, which,
by the way. is less prevalent than the
smallpox in the states.
AS to mans bones being taken from a
graveyard unless he be able to pay So a
year rent, that - rank nonsense. Every
American here, should he by some misfor-
tune die may be assured of a Christian
burial. and rest in peace, knowing that his
bones will remain undsturbed.
1t was remarked that the commission.
living on the isthmus for a few months.
would see reasons for all of these dis
paraging remarks, and cause a move for
betterment Of existing conditions. This is
again erroneous. OF course. everything
could be bettcred, just the same as any
where else but any one that finds fault
with present conditions has cold feet or
is contemplating going home
Every one knows how financial panic
may be started by simply a word being
dropped in the right place. 1t is also true
that a wrong idea may be transmitted
through the medium OF newspaper With
such men as Mr. J. f. Wallace on the
isthmus it should rest as an assured fact
that things are represented they should
be by the government. A man of such in
tegrity, responsibility and foresight is not
going to have his character assailed
through any Misrepresentation of condi-
tons on the isthmus The presence of Mr.
Wallace himself is sufficient to give the lie
direct to any such missta tements. Is 1t
for a moment reasonable to suppose that
the government would lie to its accom-
modations? Is 1t possible that the Amer
lean people have so little faith in the head
of their own country? If so. they do not
deserve the name of Americans.
l left New York on the government
steamer Advance April 4, arriving at Colon
on the 18th, and while 1 have been only n
month on the isthmus feel myself more
tain individual who was here for two
months Why? Because. being in the en-
cheering department, my work takes me
outside of one solitary spot, and enables
me to get deeper insight into the affairs
as they actually exist OF the seventy-six
who sailed from New York on the same
date as myself. three only have thus far
returned Strangely enough, one found the
climate warm. another had a slight attack
of the malaria, and a third left on general
principles, namely, without excuse. These
are the men who throw cold water on all
true reports, and L regret to say that sew
eral take their accusation as the truth. Ii
is to be hoped that every sensible minded
American who reads these false newspaper
reports will take them at their true value.
nothing. c. c. ALEXANDER,
IT, Culebra Panama
Engineering Department.