Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-11-23
PRESIDENTS TRAIN
MEETS landslide
ROOSEVELT PANAMA SPECIAL
FORCED TO 60 TO cRIsToeAL
nv A ROUNDABOUT WAN.
GREAT HAVOC CAUSED
BY HEAVY RAINS
American Executive Surprises Natives
with Great Tramp Through Gu
Zebra cut-Returns to His Car
Soaked and Covered with Mud.

ZEBRA Cut-HeturnS to HIS Car
Soaked and Covered with Mud.
Colon, Nov. flowing to the recent
heavy rains a landslide occurred be.
tween here and Panama, compelling
President Roosevelt's train to make
detour, but it reached Cristobal on
schedule time.
The landslide occurred at Paraiso.
a station on the railroad southeast of
Empire, and not far from the Culebra
cut.
All street traffic was suspended here
from 10 a. m. to l p. NJ, in view of
President Roosevelt's coming inspec-
ton of the town of Colon, the Ameri-
can hospital and other places.
Even this phlegmauc community is
aghast over the spectacular tramp Of
President Roosevelt through the Guile
a downpour of rain.
Neither the mud nor the rain nor
the danger of landslides daunted Mr..
Roosevelt. When he plodded out Of
the ditch and sought the shelter Of
the train he was soaked and sheathed
in mud, but smiling happily.
Not Deferred by LandslIdss.
Early in the day the presidential
train arrived at Pedro Miguel, where
some steam shovels were at work, and
the president had his train stopped to
make personal examination.
At this point in the cut the peculiar
soil conditions have resulted in more
or less frequent landslides, and this
fact was brought to the presidents
attention. This did not deter him
from leaving his train and climbing up
on one of the steam shovels and taking
seat alongside Engineer Gray, whom
he subjected to searching fire of
questions regarding the work.
During his conversation Engineer
Gray took the opportunity on behalf Of
himself and the other engineers. to
declare that unlike the railroad engi
neers, they were not paid for over
time. The president promised to look
into the matter. He stayed on the
steam shovel about 20 minutes. By
this time 1t was raining hard.
| Want to See Everything.
President Roosevelt told Chief En-,
gineer Stevens that he wanted to see
all the works in connection with ex.
cavation, even to the temporary layins
of tracks. With this in view he
boarded work train near Pedro Mig.
uel and went on to the next point
where the steam shovels were at work
Here there was no danger Of land
slides.
| At about 9:25 the president entered
the deep portion of Culebra cut, hii
train going slowly In order that he
might observe the workings Of the
drill machines and shovels. One shovel
was decorated with a sign reading:
I'VE will do our best to help you
build It,"
Set OF Dynamite In RaInstorm.
The rain was now coming down In
torrents and the water poured in rivu
lets down the funnel-shaped sides Of
the famous cut. Several charges OF
dynamite were exploded in order that
the president might see the feet
after which he went back to his OWE
train.
At Rio Grande, with the rain still
falling steadily, the president decided
to leave his train again and inspect
personally the sleeping quarters of the
Jamaicans. He inquired how the men
were fed and patiently listened tc
their complaints. He went through
the commissary, where his visit was
unexpected, and also penetrated into
the living quarters Of the families o.
several Jamaican laborers.
Makes Address to WerkFasB,
In the afternoon Mr.. Roosevelt Wis
iteA the Office of the assistant CHEZ
engineer for the purpose Of meeting
the employees. He made a speech say
ing all he would have to say was thai
he heartily appreciated in behalf d
the United States the work that was
being done. He added:
yesterday and to-day, while goinl
along the canal and seeing your work
] felt more and more that you ar,
earning the right to the gratitude o
: your country. feel have been meet
ing men who have done big worl
, that is necessary to the honor and in
; tsrest of their country. Phe thiql
} that is best worth doing is something
j that counts for the country. That Il
the kind of work you are doing.
hope this spirit will grow greater
among you, SO that each man car
identify himself with the work and d.
it In such shape that in the futur,
it only will be necessary for him to sa!
he was connected with the canal t.
have q patent of nobility conferred
on hiu. Good-by, good luck. Yo,
seem to be straight out set Of Amer
leans am mighty proud OF yo9,"