The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-12-22


ferent men 49, superintendent and
heads Of departments, divisions and
bureaus; steam-shoyel men. machin-
ists. conductors. engineers. clerks.
wives Of the American employees
health officers, colored laborers. col
ored attendants, and managers OF the
commissary stores where food is sold
20 the colored laborers; wives OF the
colored employees who are married.
In the evening I had an interview
with the British consul Mr.. Mallet.
gentleman who for many years has
well and honOrably represented the
British government on the Isthmus OF
Panama and who has a peculiar rela-
tion 10 our work because the bulk
OF the colored laborers come from the
British West Indies | also saw the
French consul, Mr.. Gey, gentleman
OF equally long service and honorable
record. saw the lieutenants, the
chief executive and administrative Off
GERS. under the engineering and sani
tary departments. also saw and
had long talks with two Populations
--one Of machinists and one repre-
sentng the railway men OF the dirt
misunderstanding 20 what they had 10
say as to the rate OF pay and various
other matters and going over, as much
IN detail as possible. all the different
questions they brought up. AS to
some matters was able TO meet their
wishes; as 20 others. felt that what
they requested could not be done con
slstently with my duty to the United
States government az whole; as TO
yet others reserved judgment.
The Third Day.
On Saturday morning we started at
s o'clock from the hotel. We went
through the Culebra cut. stopping of
10 see the marines, and also to inves-
tigate certain towns: one, of white
employees. as to which In certain re-
spects complaint had been made TO
me; and another town where l want
ed 10 see certain houses OF the col
ored employees. We went over the
site OF the proposed La Boca and Sosa
dams. We went out on a little toy
railway to the reservoir, which had
been built to supply the people OF
Colon with water for their houses.
There we took lunch at the engineers
mess. We then went through the
stores and shops OF Cristobal. inspect
ing carefully the houses of both the
white and colored employees, married
and unmarried, together with the 9TH
err buildings. We then went 10 Colon
and saw the fire department at work;
I'm four minutes from the signal the
engines had come down 10 Front
street, and twenty-one 2I5-lnch hose
pipes were raising streams OF water
about 75 feet high We rode about
Colon, through the various streets,
paved unpaved. and in process OF paw.
ing, looking at the bitches sewers.
curbing. and the lights. | then went
over the Colon hospital in order 10
compare Il with the temporary town
or field receiving hospitals which |
had already seen and Inspected.
also inspected some OF the dwellings
of the employees. In the evening | at
tended a reception given by the Amer
lean employees on the isthmus, which
took place on one OF the docks I'm
Colon, and from there went aboard the
Louisiana.
Each day from twelve to eighteen
hours were spent in going over and
inspecting all there was to be seen.
and IN examining various employees.
throughout my trip was accompan.
led by the surgeon general of the
navy. Or Rixoy by the chairman Of
the isthmian canal commission. Mr.
Shonts; by Chief Engineer Stevens
hy Or Corgas. The chief sanitary OF
ncer OF the commission, by Mr. Bish
op. The secretary of the commission,
by Mr. Ripley. the principal assistant
tngincUr. hy SIR. Jackson Smith, who
huH had practical charge Of collectins
and handling The laboring force; by
Mr. Bierd, general manager. Of tho
railway. and by Mr. Rogers, the gen.
oral counsel OF the commission; and
many other officials Joined us from
time to time.
At the outset / wish to pay a tribute
10 the amount Of work done by the
French Canal company under very dit
hcuit circumstances. Many OF the
buildings they put up were excellent
and are still in use. although. natur.
ally. the houses are now getting out
OF repair and are being used as dwell
ings only until other houses can be
built. and much OF the work they did
I'm the Culebra cut and some OF the
work they did In digging has been OF
direct and real benefit This country
has never made a better investment
than the s4O.oO0.O0o which II paid TO
the French company for work and bet.
terments, including especially the Pan.
anna railroad
An inspection on the ground at the
height OF the rainy season served 10
convince me OF the wisdom OF con
gress In refusing to adopt either
high-evei OF sea-level canal. There
seems 10 be n universal agreement
among all people competent to Judge
H..