The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-18

them for precisely opposite reasons, some
complaining bitterly that the work is not
in a more advanced condition, while the
others complain that it has been rushed
with such haste that there has been in
sufficient preparation for the hygiene and
comfort Of the employees. As a matter OF
fact, neither criticism is just. 1t would have
been impossible to go quicker than the
commission has gone, for such quickness
would have meant insufficient preparation.
On the other hand, to refuse to do anything
until every possible future contingency
had been met would have caused wholly
unwarranted delay. The right course to
follow was exactly the course which has
been followed. Every reasonable prepara-
ton was made in advance, the hygienic
conditions in especial being made az nearly
perfect as possible; while, on the other hand.
there has been no timid refusal to push
forward the work. because of inability to
anticipate every possible emergency, for
of course many defects can only be shown
by the working of the system in actual
practice.
In addition to attending to the health Of
the employees IL Is Of course necessary to
provide for policing the Zone. This Is lone
by a police force which at present numbers
over 200 men, under Capt. stanton. About
one-ifth of the men are white and the others
black. In different places I questioned
some twenty or thirty of these men, taking
them at random. They were a fine set,
physically and in discipline. With one
exception all the white men l questioned
had served in the American army, usually
in the Philippines, and belonged TO the best
type of American soldier. Without excep-
ton the black policemen whom | questioned
had served either in the British army OF in
Al. Taraasoa - pa~ka1Aa --It-z Nh
we're evidently contented snd were doing
their work well. Where possible the police
men are used to control people of their own
color, but in any emergency no hesitation
is felt in using them indiscriminately.
Inasmuch as so many both of the white
and colored employees have brought their
families with them, schools have been
established, the school service being under
Mr.. O'Connor. For the white pupils white
American teachers are employed; for the
colored pupils there are also some white
American teachers, one Spanish teacher
and one colored American teacher, most
Of them being colored teachers from ia
maica, Barbado and st. Lucia. The
schoolrooms were good, and it was a pleas
ant thing to see the pride that the teachers
we're taking in their work and their pupils.
There seemed to me to be too many
saloons in the Zone; but the new high license
law which goes into effect on January /
next will probably close four-ffths Of them.
Resolute and successful eforts are being
made to minimize n control the sale OF
liquor.
CARE OF
Next in importance 10 the problem of
sanitation, and, indeed, now Of equal inn
portance, is the problem of securing and
caring for the mechanics, laborers and other
employees who actually do the work on
the canal and the railroad. This great task
has been under the control Of Mr.. jackson
Smith, and on the whole has been well DONE.
At present there are some 5000 white EN-
ployees and some 1900 colored employees
on the Isthmus. / went over the diff
places where the different kinds OF EN-
ployees were working; l think l saw repre-
sentatives OF every type both at their work
and in their homes; and / conversed with
probably a couple OF hundred of them all
told, choosing them at random from every
class and including those who came espe-
cially to present certain grievances. I
found that those who did not come specif-
cally to present grievances almost invariably
expressed far greater content and satisfac-
ton with the conditions than did those who
called TO make complaint.
Nearly 5000 of the white employees had
come from the United States. No man
can see these young, vigorous men ener-
getically doing their duty without a thrill
Of pride in them as Americans. They repre-
sent on the average a high class. Doubtless
to Congress the wages paid them will seem
~ DAk oo n AA1NO "a lo1g ~ kChDA IL
complaint which 1 found had IN real basis
among the complaints made to me upon the
Isthmus was that, owing to the peculiar
surroundings, the cost of living and the dis
lance from home, the wage were really not
as high as they should be. In fact, almost
every man / spoke to felt that he ought to
be receiving more money--a view, how
ever. which the average mSn who stays at
home in the United States probably like
wise holds as regards himself.
QUARTERS food AMI SATISFACTORY.
The white Americans are employed
some Of them in Office work, but the ma
jority in handling the great steam shovels,
as engineers and on the dirt
trains, as machinists in the great repair
shops, as carpenters n timekeepers,
superintendents and foremen of divisions
and OF gangs, and so on and so on Many
of them have brought down their wives and
families; and the children when not in school
are running about and behaving precisely
as the American small boy and small girl
behave at home. The bachelors among the
employees live sometimes in small separate
houses, sometimes in large houses; quarters
and unmarried. Usually the bachelors
sleep two in a room, a sthey would do this
country. / u a few cases wherS three
were in a room; and l wa old OF, although
l did not see, large rooms in which four were
sleeping; for 1t Is not possible in what is
AO0lAy . NAcb oyotChl Va NOAAoe ~ oAAAB
always to provide in advance as ample
house room as the commission intend later
to give. In n case, where the hous was
an old French ous with a leak in the roof.
l did not think the accommodations were
good. But in every other case non the
scores Of houses l entered at random the
accommodations were good every room
was neat and clean, usually having books,
magazines and small ornaments; and, in
short, Just such a room as a sef-respecting
craftsman would be glad to live IN at home.
The quarters for the married people were
even better. Doubtless there must be here
and there a married couple who, with or
without reason. are not contented with their
house on the Isthmus; but l W. hap
pened to strike such a couple. The wives
Of the steam shovel men, engineers, ma
chinists and carpenters iato whose houses l
went all with one accord expressed their
pleasure in their home life and surround
incs. Indeed, l do not think they could
have done otherwise. The louise them
selves were excellent-bathroom, sitting
room, piazza and bedrooms being all that
could be desired. In every house which |
happened to enter the mistress OF the home
was evidently a good American housewife
and helpmeet, who had given to the home
life that touch OF attractiveness which, OF
course, the bachelor quarters neither had
nor could have.
FooD sUPPLIES-A THIRTY-cENr MEAL.
The housewives purchase their supplies
directly, or through their husbands. from
the commfssary stores of the commission