Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18
CHIEF EXECUTIVE SENDS A spE-
CIAL MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS
MEN EMPLOYED ARE
WELL CARED FOR
His Inspection Was Purposely Made
at the Most Unauspicious Time of
! Year So as to See Zone at
Its Worst
[By Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, Dec. Id .-PreSl-
dent Roosevelt today sent to congress
q special message in which he report
ed the result Of his observations while
inspecting the Panama canal zone In
November. Admitting that in the
three days he was there he could not
possibly observe all things, nor ascer-
tain facts on which to base opinions
in regard to the engineering feats In
volved, nevertheless he contends that
he had ample opportunity to talk with
representatives Of all classes of en-
ployes on the canal work and to In
spect their lodging and to take meals
with the employees without giving any
notice Of his coming. The tests and
observation, taken as a whole. proved
most satisfactory to him. notwith-
standing the fact that he was in the
canal zone at the most unauspicious
season of the year-the rainy season
which was purposely selected so as to
see the canal at it's worst. The presi-
dent says:
In the month of November I visited
the Isthnus of Panama, going over
the Canal Zone with considerable care;
and also visited the cities Of Panama
and Colon, which are not in the zone
or under the United States flag, but as
to which the United States govern
ment, through it's agents, exercises
control for certain sanitary purposes.
The United States steamer Louisi-
ana, on which I was. anchored off
Colon about half past 2 on Wednes-
day afternoon, November IA. came
aboard her, after my stay on shore,
at about half past on Saturday eve
wing. November II. On Wednesday
afternoon and evening INreceived the
president Of Panama and his suite,
and saw m members of the canal COM
mission, and various other gentle
men, perfecting the arrangement for
nv visit, so that, every hour that
was ashore could be employed to adj
vantage. ] was three days ashore
not a sufficient length Of time to all
low o. n exhaustiye investigation of
departm epttt still less to pass judg-
ment on the engineering problems,
but enough to enable me to get a clear
idea. Of the salient features of the
great work and of the progress that
has been made as regards the SANTA
ton OF tile zone, Colon, and Panama !,
the caring FOR and housing of the EN- :
ployes, and the actual digging of the
canal. The zone is a narrow strip of
I land, and IL can be inspected much as
\ one can inspect SO or 60 miles of a
I great railroad, at the point where il
runs through mountains or over
comes otner natural obstacles.
chose the month of November for
my visit partly because 1t is the rain
fest month of the year. the month In
which the work goes forward at the
greatest disadvantage, and one of the
two months which the medical depart
ment of the French Canal company
found most unhealthy.
Immediately after anchoring on the
afternoon of Wednesday there was q
violent storm of wind and rain. From
that time we did not again see the sur
until Saturday morning, the rain con-
tinuing almost steadily, but varying
from fine drfzzle to torrentia
downpour. During that time in flf-
teen minutes at Cristobal LOS inches
of rain fell; from to 3 a. M, No
vember 16, 3.2 inches fell; for the
twenty four hours ending noon, No
vember 16, A. 6S inches fell, and fol
sthe six days ending noon November
10, 1924 inches fell. The Chagre.
rose In flood to a greater height thar
it had attained during the last ffteer
years, tearing out the track in one
place 1t would have been impossi
bic to see the work going on under
more. unfavorab1e weather conditions
On Saturday, November II, the SUI
shone now and then for a few min
utes, although the day was general,
overcast and there were heavy show
ers at intervals.