The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-10
THE PREsTDENT AT PANAMA.

1t Is interesting to note how Presi-
dent Roosevelt inspected conditions at
Panama, as related by recent weekly
magazines. There was nothing formal
about his Investigations He plunged
about, here and there, asking questions
and finding out things for himself.
Here are some of the incidents of his
inspection, as told in the current num-
Der of Harper's Weekly:
Instead of going up to the new rail-
road station where prancing horses
were held ready to draw him to the
new and luxurious Hotel TivoH for
luncheon, the president led the way to
the government mess-hall at La Boca.
Forty engineers, steam-shovel men and
mechanics had just finished their
breakfast, as the midday meal is call
ed in Spanish-American countries, and
although they knew in a moment who
their visitor was, they did not stare at
him overmuch, but in silence politely
filed out OF the room.
Mr.. Walsh. manager Of the mess. ia
ken by surprise, was anxious to have
a fresh cloth laid.
mot at ALL said Mr.. Roosevelt.
Lets get the crumbs off and go
ahead"
Side stepping the Panama Cocktail
While the waiter was making ready
Mr.. Stevens handed to the president
the bottle of quinine and brandy local
ly known as Panama cocktail" and
invited MN TO SOIIlG. II IS GUS
tom held In high repute on the is
thmus to take this mixture before
meals; but Mr.. Roosevelt shook his
head and smiled and took a three
grain quinine pill instead.
The brea kfast came on briskly. There
were excellent vermicelH soup, good
bread and butter, broiled ham, canned
peas, canned kidney-beans, fried sweet
potatoes. boiled parsnips. jelly cake, ice
cream, coffee, and cocoa.
Good as any one could wish" was
Mr.. Roosevelt's judgment after he had
taken literally from every dish. He
went through the kitchen and found it
clean and-wonder of wonders in the
tropics!-without a single fly in sight.
Every door and window was screened
with fine wire mesh that keeps out all
insects, no matter how small. All waste
stuff is burned or dumped far out at
sea. Every house and every bit OF
ground at La Boca IS as clean as the
houses and the grounds along River
side Drive. Not one drop of water is
allowed to lie stagnant anywhere
Within an hour after the heaviest RAIN
fall you will not find, either a La Boca
or any other part Of the canal zone,
puddle as big as a mules footprint.
Incidentally 1t may be remarked that
not one mosquito was visible anywhere
in the zone.
At Rio Grande the president sprint
ed off through the rain and mud to
see the quarters of the Jamaica negro
labOrers. He walks with quick, short
jerxy steps as if he intended only to
squirt for few rods. But he kept up
the pace indefinitely, and all of US
who went with him were soon putting
The laborers' houses are of wood.
perched high on stone piers that keep
them safely dry above the mud Of the
rainy season. The doors and windows
are screened and mosquito-proof, even
though Colonel Gorgas has extermi-
mated adj the mosquitoes. The canvas
cots and the rooms were clean and
neat. Next we visited a cooking-shed
near at hand. There were just four
posts holding up roof. and sitting on
the red earth floor, now a squaShy
quagmire. were a few bricks on which
were perched little charcoaI-stoves.
Mr.. L2ttas" said the president
please take this down: cook-Shed
iron roof. good; floor, a swamp"
1--WE are going to have a concrete
floor" explained Jackson Smith, SUI
perintendent of labor and quarters
When? Why not now?" the presi-
dent shot at him. Mr. Smith said no
more, but seemed wrapped in deep
thought.
At the Hotel Tfvoli that night the
president heard complaints from COM
mittees Of the mechanics, trainmen,
and clerks. Most of these related to