New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-27
SYSTEM THINNING WAY
E1-COngressman Harrison Has No
Fault to Find ON IstbmuS.

a
conditions In the canal zone ex-Congressnan Fran
els Burton Harrison returned 10 this city yester-
day full Of enthusiasm the work that has thus
far been accomplished Ex-Congressman Harrison.
who resigned his seat in Congress to for Lieu
tenant Governor the same ticket with D. Cady
Herrick. spent six weeks in the canal with
Lindsay Denison, of ''Evrybody's Magazine"
Their time the isthmus was spent in visiting
the actual work in progress. inspecting the hospi
tails. restaurants. lodgings and machine shops
There were few persons of Importance In any fay
connected with the canal work that they did not
visit from President Amador John F. Stevens the
chief engineer, and Colonel Gorgas. the sanitary
expert down to the Jamaican laborers. Each of
the various divisions OF the work inspected IN
company with the chief division engineers. Ex-
Congressman Harrison did not gather all his infor-
nation from those directly connected with the
canal work. but obtained the views OF American
and foreign residents in way connected with the
government service
The chief difficulty in the immediate construction
of the canal. ex-Congressman Harrison believes is
the indecison at Washington and the absence OF at
least three Of the canal commissioners from the
ground. The attempt to direct the work from
Washington. the ex-Congressman says, has caused
noticeable lack OF esprit de corps" among the
subordinate engineers. although among the higher
officials there IS the utmost harmony and the best
Of feeling. The subrdinates were sent to the canal
by the Civil Service Commission
Considering the worthlessness of the Jamaican
negro as laborer ex-CongressInan Harrison says
that the work accomplished thus far is wonderful
The actual construction Of the canal has advanced
well in the Culebra cut. and along the OF the
route the work of preparation for the actual con-
structon IS well under way. He says that the work
done by the French has been OF assistance.
nine-tenths Of the buildings in use for example.
being those constructed by the French.
There is no scarcity OF labor, he says At Christ
mas time every negro who had few dollars saved
up went home for Christmas and stayed there
until his money was gone So many of them have
hocked back that the government has now ceased
to make contracts for labor and Is trying deter
the negroes from returning. Despite this every
boat coming to Panama brings scores Of negroes
who have paid their own passage to get on the
isthmus. In addition 10 these some three hundred
four hundred GallIcians arrived there recently.
and apparently will make desirable Iaborers.
Italian labor Is too susceptible to yellow fever and
malaria.
q. s. HAS ACCOMPLISHED WONDERS.
In summing up the impressions gathered in
conscientious investigation. ex-Congressman Harri-
said last night:
To who has travelled in other Spanish
American countries. it would seem that the
United States has accomplished wonders in the
canal zone, To one who arrives fresh from the
spectacle OF public works in our country for
an inspection Of the work the iSthmus there
comes an unreasonable feeling Of depression and
spd Of sakes beeye 6s ean Is s
honestly and efficiently and with earnestness and
minor criticisms concerning things both done and
there nor Is f6a cera no. "a
account like the house committee Of social club
be built 'D'-'S great ''iiAi' ana II Is gong 10
When started for. the Canal some was con-
thing was very rotten in the State OF Denmark
wise to inform myself thoroughly concerning the
character Of the work being done by the present
the Whole we re % e cK work Weo that
least. that we have prepared well the ground for
" 70 I 6rrnIy hall hat
would be the utmost folly for a Democrat to OPP
pose the work OF the administration for the canal
There seems TO have been an entire naisappre-
DISQUALIFICATION materially enhanced by the
CIloifn crlueishs OF P9u,tney Blgelow. man
tropical countries cannot understand why work
United States For that reason am glad that be-
fore going to the Canal Zone had an opportunity
to inspect the work being done by S. Pearson &
Son on the lsthmus Of Tehauntepec the work on
methods Of workreu In handling cargoes at Central
be done to the satisfaction OF everybody taking the
pains TO understand the effect Of the tropical eli
say that we have ideal labor conditions on the
Of he E5 ar0 negro a hsVs SSo 10y Th enG 2e
oSnng to the zone by thh'Opsands att5ae.s9 by
times What they get at home They are better
1oqSe1 tna1 N gel perez 1000 ana are as
fourth Of honest iaoorsr'. work: and hard
headache, he is sent in a special hospital train to
be nurSed by a white woman AS result they
have been so spoiled that ii Is most offensive for
with them. They constitute the most vexatious
problem with which our engineers have had to deal
thus far
beyond the point to which the French had brought
IT, The work far has been OF thorough
preparation. We have cleared away the jungle,
have prepared model habitations and hospitals,
have ordered the necessary machinery and have
received q considerable part OF 1t.
PLAGUE DRIVEN AWAY.
Most important OF all. have driven away the
parayZing fear Of illness no longer benumbs the
mind Of the canal worker. Malaria IS OF course,
present as in all tropical countries. II comes to
everybody who stays IN the sooner later.
comfortable so far as the climate Is concerned.
he be IN this city IN midsummer, perhaps
more So
Possibly the most obvious effect OF the tropical
climate arises from the Impotence felt by am
bilious man with the slowness with which life and
work move Gown there-a feeling manifested IN
tremendous trrftability evident I'm otherwise ante
BILE officials A remarkable exception TO this rule
is Colonel Gorgas. but he has right 70 be pleased
with things in general since he believes that with
quito he forever has banished indigenous cases OF
that much dreaded disease. This Is not alone
triumph for science and American energy, but has
most important bearing upon the spirits and EN-
cheney OF the canal workers.
Concerning the administration OF those IN charge
of the canal work. and the effect OF the various
charges which have been made. ex-Congressnan
Harrison said
EXTREME RETRENCHMENT