The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-04-28

THAT Is what the committee Will re-
port. Dilly, when they return from the
scene of their arduous labors. Their
tales of the hardships endured by those
gallant men will send the tears cours-
ing down the hardened cheeks of their
fellow representatives and they will
resolute soma more good money"
do they dig canals with toothpicks,
cut glass and Scotch whisky, dear un-
cle?" asked Dilly, rehectively.
"Only on government jobs. my dear
boy" replied Uncle George, sadly. mo
reputable engineer on government
job can think properly out of ham,
mock, or remove one cubic foot OF
earth without silk pajamas and lace
parasols. The hardy laboring men
must have their deck chairs and
swings. 1t could not be expected that
the canal could be built without some
fresh garden seeds and full line OF
portable greenhouses. To the casual
lay mind, Dilly, it would seem that
1000 gross of pressed steel shovels
and few shiploads of hickory pick
handles would be about the proper
thing, but that is all wrong. -Four
years from the day the first carload OF
workers arrived, they will be about
ready to petition congress for a few
steam shovels and few hosting en-
gines and some mules, but not until
then. In these great national affairs
MA c1nU1v and aoufiOlfSIv
Dilly. Shortly you will hear the vi.
cious press demand to be informed just
what useful purpose eight dozen best
brand white and baby blue corsets will
be put to in the great task, or a re-
quest that the purposes for which IL
dozen diamond-set gold toothpicks are
intended to be set forth, but the true
patriot ruust set aside these senseless
queries and go at the root of the mat.
ter. 1t is a herculean task, my boy. In
Chicago or New York. a couple OF
thousand Italians. under a hundred
Irish foremen, with the assistance of q
couple of active steam diggers, and
some scrapcrs, would rush the Job and
have 1t finished and water running
through it six months from the day
the first shovel was put to the ground
but in Panama things are different
Besides 1t Is a government job. Moth
ing mrst be done hastily, my dear
nephew, for the concert of Europe is
looking at our labors and we must
strike no sour notes.
only last week, Dilly, an order was
sent in for 80 cents worth of quinine
and six gross Of best quality silk hand
kerchiefs. BY 1908 the purchasing
agent will begin to buy few wheel
barrows and some children's gardening
tools. Two years later, should one
ramble adown that canal route one
may find a steam shovel at work Ia
boriously pecking at hill side. and
then my dear nephew, we shall be
proud people, for we can think Of the
day when our grandchildren will
watch a fleet of stately ships running
aground on the shallow cuts and hid
den dangers Of the canal. 1t will be
a great sight. but we shall not be there
to see 1t, Dilly. There is some comfort
in the thought that congress will not.
either"
But do you not trust the men In
charge to hurry on the great work,
dear uncle?" asked little Oily.
Il would trust them further IL there
were more overalls and fewer bottles
of eau de violet ordered for the job.
my boy" replied Uncle George, .refcc-
lively.