davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18

form It. we should yet recognize with
frank generosity the epic nature OF
the task on which they are engaged
and its worldwide Importance They
are doing something which will re-
dound immeasurebiy TO the credit OF
America. which viii benefit all the
world and which will last for ages 10
come badge is 10 be given 10 every
American citizen who for a specified
time has taken part in this work: for
participation in IL viii hereafter be
held 10 reflect honor upon the man
participating just as IL reflects honor
upon a soldier 10 have belonged to a
mighty army in great war for right
eousness- Our fellow .countrymen on
the isthInus are working for our in
terest and for the national renown in
the same spirit and with the same ef-
fciency that the men Of the army and
navy work in time OF war. II be-
hooyes US in our turn 10 do all we
can TO hold up their hands and 10
aid them in every way TO bring their
great work 10 a triumphant conclu-
sion
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. December II. 1906
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
COURT OF APPEAL
NAMES ATTACHES

SACRAMENTO. Dec 1.-THE new
judges of the Court of Appeal of the
Third District met this afternoon and
selected their attaches
G. H. Chase Of Tehalla is 10 be clerk.
succeeding H w Wood. who an
nounced some time ago that he would
not be q candidate for reappointment.
Chase was formerly a deputy clerk.
c. H Adams Of Placer County is
named for stenographer, succeeding
Fred Brownlee.
w H Lowell of Sacramento is ap-
pointed deputy. clerk G. B. Donaldson
Of Solano retains his position as bailin.
II is stated that it was LowelTs am
bition TO be named as bailin The re-
tention of Donaldson made this i'm
possible and he was cared for by the
appointment mentioned
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Contempt for Libelers

So much for honest criticism There
remains an immense amount of as
reckless Islander as has been published.
where the slanceTes-s are of foreign
origin have no concern with them.
Where they are Americans feel for
them the heartiest contempt and in
dignation. because. in spirit of
wanton dishonesty and malice. they are
the execution Of. the greatest work
or the kind ever attempted. and are
seeking 10 bring 10 naught the efforts
OF their counrrymer to put to the
eredlt OF america enc OF the giant
feats of the ages The outrageous ac-
cusations Of these slanderers consti-
tute a gross libel UPON a body of pub
lie servants who. for trained intelli-
gence, expert ability. high character
and devotion to duty, have never been
exceiled anywhere. There is not 3
man among those directing the work
on the isthmGs who has obtained his
position on any other basis than merit
alone. and not one who has used his po-
sition in any way for his own personal
or pecuniary advantage
After most careful consideration we
nave decided TO let out most of the
work by contract, If we can come 10
ors. The whole work IS of a kind
suited 10 the, peculiar genius Of our
people: and our people have developed
the type of contractor best fitted TO
grapple with it. II is of course much
better to DO the work in large part
by contract than To do it ali by the
Government. provided III is possible
on the one hand 20 secure to the con
tractor sufficient remuneration 70
make IL worth wh lie for responsifle
take the work. and provided on the
other hand IL can be done on terms
which will not give an excessive profit
to the contractor at the expense of the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Import Coolie Labor

II has not proved possible. how
ever, 10 get them in anything like the
numbers needed for the work and
from present appearances we shall in
the main have TO rely. for the orf7fn-
airy unskilied work. partly upon colored
laborers from the West Indies partly
upon Chinese labor. II certainly
ought TO be unnecessary to point out
that the American woFkingman in the
United States has no concern what
ever in the question as 80 whether the
rough work or the isthmus. which is
performed by aliens in any event is
done by aliens from one country with
a black skin or by aliens from another
country with yellow skin. Our bust
ness IS 70 dig the canal as efficiently
and as quickly as possible, provided
always that nothing is done that is
inhumane 10 any laborer. and nothing
that interferes with the wages of or
lowers the standard of living of our
own workmen- Having in view this
principle. I have arranged to try sew
eral thousand Chinese laborers This
is desirable both because we must try
no find out what Iaborers are most
efficient. and. furthermore, because we
should not leave ourselves at the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
RAILROADS At SAN
DIEGO COMBINED

SAN DIEGO. Dec 1T--At a meeting
today OF the San Diego and Arizona
Railroad Company. which was incor-
poTated last week. John D Spreekels
was elected president. William Clayton
vice president. and Harry L Titus sec
rotary treasurer and attorney
The new company willstake over the
rights Of way. franchises and surveys
and al other property Of the San
Diego Railroad Committee. which was
incorporated as the San Diego Eastern
Railroad in order that, il might ac-
quire the property. The San Diego and
Eastern viii thus secure a franchise
along the water front and through Ma
tional City well. besides right OF
way across large portion OF this
county between here and the noun
rains
The committee also has acquired
property suitable TO- seminal facilities
and il has completed a survey from
here 10 the Imperial Valley and a pre-
liminary survey from there TO e Paso.
Tex
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Risks Are Not Great

The Culebra cut does not offer such
great risks-that is. the damage liable
10 occur from occasional land slips will
not represent what may be called ma
5or disasters. The work wilr merely
call for intelligence, perseverance and
executive capacity 1t is. however. the
TO be spent. The dams viii be COM
posed of the earth taken out of the
cut, and very possibly the building of
the locks and dams will taken even
longer than the cutting in Cuiebra it
self
The main work is now being done in
Culebra cut 1t was striking and I'M
pressive to see the huge steam shovels
in full play, the dumping trains car
rying away the rock and earth they
disiodged- The implements of French
excaValing machinery. which often
s sIaIS little LITTLE way from the line OF
ton, look like the yeriest toys when
compared with these new steam show
els, just as the French dumping cars
seem like toy cars when compared with
the long trains OF huge cars. dumped
by steam plows, which are now in use
This represents the enormous advance
that has been made IN machinery dur
ing the past quarter Of a century No
doubt q quarter Of century hence this
new machinery of which we are now so
proud will similarly seem out of date.
but il is certainly serving its purpose
well now. The old French cars had TO
be entirely discarded We still have in
use e few of the more modern but not
most modern. cars. which hold but
twelve yards of earth They can be
employed ON certain lines with sharn
curves But the recent cars hold from
twenty-five TO thirty yards apiece and
instead of the old. clumsy methods of
unloading them steam plow is drawn
from end to end of the whole vestibuled
train. thus immensely economizing la
Dor. In the rainy season the steam
shovels can do but little in dirt. but
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Idlers People Colon

IN Colon the population consists
largely Of c0lored iaborers who. har-
ing come over from the West Indies
70 work or the canal, abandon the work
and either take 20 the brush OF lie idle
IL Colon Itself. thus peopling Colon
with the least desirable among the i'm
parted laborers, for the good and steady
men OF course continue at the work let
aSt0lls hing progress has been made
il both cities In Panama 80 per cent
OF the streets that are 70 be paved al
al are already paved with al excellent
brick pavement laid n heavy concrete,
& few OF The streets being still IN pro-
cess OF paving. The sewer and water
services n this city are Of the most
modern hygienic type, some OF the ser
vice having Just been completed
In Colon the conditions are peculiar.
and II IS as regards Colon that most
cf the very bitter complaint has been
made Colon IS built on low coral
island. covered AZ more or less shallow
depths with vegetable SccUIn Z lz-loDS OF
mold. which affords susteuance and
strength 70 many varieties Of low lying
tropical plants. One-half o. the sur
face Of the island IS covered with water
al high tide. che average height OF the
land being one and z half feet above
low tide The slight undulations fur
nish shallow. natural reservoirs or
fresh water breeding places for every
variety OF mosquito. and the ground
tends 10 be the lowest IN the middle
When the town was originally built
40 attempt was made 10 Ill the low
ground either IN the streets OF on the
building sites. so that the entire sur
face was practically q Quagmire. When
the QuaEmire became fElpssSsole Ger
tain Of the streets We're crUdely i'm
proved by filling especially bad mud
holes with soft rock or other material
IN September. 1905. q systematic effort
was begun 10 formulate q general plan
10r the proper sanitation OF the city.
IN February last temporary relief
measures were taken. while in July
the prosecution OF the work was begun
IN good earnest The results are al
ready visible in the sewering- draining
guttering and paving OF the streets.
Il was not practicable. with the force
Al the cimmission's disposal and IN
view OF the need that the force should
BE used N the larger town OF Panama
70 begin this work before early last
winter. Water mains were then laid
in the town. and water was furnished
10 the people early IL March from a
temporary reservoir. This reservoir
proved 70 be Of insufficient capacity
before the end of the dry season. and
the shortage was made Up by hauling
water over the Panama Railroad 50
that there was al ali times an ample
supply Of the very best water. Since
that time the new reservoir back Of
Mount Hope has been practically COM
pleIe6- ! visited this reservoir Il is
z lake over 4 mile long and half q
mile broad Il now carries SOC, coo. 600
gallons Of Arst-class water Nothing
but q cataclysm VIII hereafter render
Il necessary IN the dry season to haul
water for the use OF Colon and Girls
tobai-
One OF the amusing. as well as dis
honest. attacks made upon the com
mission was n connection with this
reservoir
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Scheme of Naval
Promotion Is
All Wrong
That
Ability Be Given
a Chance

WASHINGTON. Dec 17.-Lesislation
TO wipe out the present archaic system
OF promotion. which he says sacrifices
the good Of the service 70 the interest
OF individual medioerity and gravely
compromises the future OF our navy. Is
urgently requested BY President Roose-
Welt in his special message on the per-
sonnet OF the navy. transmitted 10 Con-
gress today
The message points ont that under
our system OF seniority appointments
officers reach the grade OF captain az
an average age OF IS years and rear
admiral al the average age OF 50 years.
thus becoming flag officers only few
months before their retirement The
comparison in this particular with
other sea powers is most unfavorable-
In the English navy officers reach
the grade of captain az an average age
OF S5 years and have an average serv-
ice in that grade OF more than eleven
years American captains reach that
grade at IS years and have an average
service in il OF four and a half years.
In the English navy officers reach the
seagosng flag officer grade at IS years
and their country has the benefit OF
an average service IN that grade OF
eight years
The American seagoing flag ofheer
reaches that grade al So OF SO years
and has an average service OF one and
a half years They have not the time
or the opportunity 20 become fully
qualified for the responsibilities thrust
upon them before they are retired by
operation OF law
The message was accompanied By a
bill. which the President SAYS has the
Endorsement even Of the officers IL viii
legislate out OF the service. and which
he says viii work a saving Of $4,000. goo
N the ensuing seven years by stopping
the voluntary retirement OF young
lieutenant commanders with the grade
OF commanders The bifl also provides
for the re-es-ablishment OF the grade
OF vice admiral
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Finds No Rascality

There viii now and then be short
contDgs in administration; there will
be unlooked-for accidents to delay the
excavation of the cut or the build
ing OF the dams and locks Each such
incident will be entirely natural. and.
even though serious. no one OF them
will mean more than a little extra de-
lay or trouble Yet each. when discev-
cred by sensation mongers and retailed
TO timid folk OF little faith, will serve
as an excuse for the belief that the
whole work is being badly managed.
Experiments will continually be tried
IN housing, in hygiene. in street re-
pairing, in dredging and in digging
earth and rock Now and then an ex-
pertinent viii be a Failure: and among
those who hear Of IT. a certain pro-
portion OF dcu5ting Thorases will at
once believe that the whole work is a
failure Doubtless here and there
some minor rascality will be discov-
ereds but as to this. l have 10 say that
after the most paiEstaking inquiry ]
have been unable 10 ind single
reputable person who had so much as
heard Of any serious accusations az
fecUng the honesty Of the commission
or OF any responsible officer under IL
1t IS not too much to say that the
whole atmosphere Of the commission
hrsathes honesty al IL breathes eff
cheney and energy = bove all the work
has been kept absolutely clear of
politics. | have never heard even a
suggestion of spoils politics in con-
nectiorl with II
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Commission Is Clumsy
A seven-headed comn1ission

A seven-headed commission is of
course a clumsy executive instrument.
We should have but one commissioner.
with such heads Of departments and
other officers under him as we NAV
find necessary We should be express
~ permitte I'd to employ the best en-
gineers in the country as consulting
engineers.
/ accom- pany this paper with a map
showing SUBSTANTIALLY what the canal
best informed believe that the work
will be completed in about eight years.
but II is never safe TO prophesy about
such work as this. especially in the
tropics
Of the success of the enterprise 1
am as well convinced as one can be
of any enterprise that is human II
is a stupendous work upon which our
fellow countrymen are engaged down
there on the isthmus. and while we
should hold them to a strict account
ability for the way in which they per-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Negro Labor Expensive

But thousands of those who are
brought over under contract tat our
or loaf around Colon, or work SO
badly after the first three or four days
amount of labor performed on Friday
and Saturday Of each week
! was struck by the superior comfort
and respecta bility OF the lives of the
be q most admirable thing if q much
larger number of men had their wives,
for with their advent all complaints
about the food and cooking are almost
sure TO cease.
I had an interview with Mr. Mellet
the British Consul, 10 md out II there
was any Just cause for complaints as
TO the treatment of the West India ne
groes. He informed me most emphat-
ically that there was not and author
lied me TO give his statement pub
lleity He said that not only was the
condition of the laborers far better
than had been the case under the old
French company. but that year by year
the condition was improving under our
own regime. He stated that complaints
were continually brought to him and
that he always investigated them. and
that for the last six months he had
failed TO find q single complaint of a
serious nature that contained any JUS
LITIGATION whatever
This gathering. distributing and car
ing for the great force OF iaborers IS
one OF the giant features of the work
That friction will from time TO time
occur in connection Herewith is in
eyitable. The astonishing thing is that
+ the work has been performed so well
and that the machinery runs so smooth
~ From my own experience / am
able 10 say MAT more care aad been
exercised in housing. feeding and gen
orally paving heed TO the needs of the
skilled mechanics and ordinary labor
ers in the work on this canal than is
the case in the construction OF new
railroads or in any other similar pri-
vate or public work in the United
states proper, and Il is the testimony
Of all people competent to speak that
on no other similar work anywhere
in the tropics-indeed, as far as / know
anywhere else-has there been such
forethought and such success achieved
who do the work
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
oontinued From Page i. Column i

runs thru mountains or ovsrcomes
other natural obstacles.
I chose the month OF November for
NY visit partly because X is the rain
lest month OF the year. the month II
which the work goes forward AT the
greatest disadvantage. and one Of the
TWO months which The medical depart
Den- OF the French Canal Company
found most unhealthy
Immediately after anchoring on the
afternoon OF Wednesday there was q
violent storm OF wind and rain From
nat tine We did not again see The
sun until Saturday morning. the rain
continuing almost steadily but vary
rg from q inc driZzie 10 4 torren1isl
loWCpour- During that time in fifteen
--tnutes a. Christobsi les inches OF
ram te-l, from I 10 3 p n. November
10 p inches fell. for The tWentv-tour
cG-s ending noon. November Is. SIS
inches fell, and for the six days ending
1oons November Is. 1o-2z inches fell
Ire Ensgres rose IN food % z greater
height than Il had attained during the
-ast fifteen years. tearing out the track
70 one place Il would have been i'm
possible 70 see the work going on IN
Ger more unfavorshle weather condi-
.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Progress Is Rapid

Our people found on the isthmus a
certain amount of old French material
and equipment which could be used
Some of II IN addition could be sold as
scrap iron. Some could be used for
furnishing the foundation for hlling in.
For much no possible use could be de-
Tised that would not cost more than
II would bring in.
The work IS now going on with a
yigor and efficiency pleasant to witness.
The three big problems of the canal
are. the La Boca dams. the Gatun
dam and the Culebra cut The Guile
bra cut must be made anyhow. but Of
course. changes as 10 the dams or at
least as TO the locks adjacent to the
dams may still occur. The La Boca
dams offer no particular problem, the
bottom material being so good that
there is a practical certainty not mere
" as TO what can be achieved. but as
TO the time of achievement. The Gatun
Gam offers the most serious problem
which we have to solve and vet the
this problem is certain of solution along
the lines proposed. although Of course
It necessitates great toll and intelIi-
course, there will be some little risk
in connection with the work II the
huge earth dam now contemplated is
other we viii have what is practically
Z low, broad mountain ridge behind
which will rise the inland lake This
artificial mountain will probably show
or restraining capacity-than the av-
erase natural mountain range The
exact locality OF the locks at this
dam-as at the other darns-is now
being determined. In April next Secre-
tary Taft. with three Of the ablest en-
gineers of the country--Messrs. Noble,
mus. and the three engineers will make
the nnai and. conclusive examinations
as 10 the exact site for each lock. Mean
wnile the work is going ahead without
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18

mercy Of any one type of foreign labor
At present the great bulk of the un-
skilled labor on the isthmus is done
by West India negroes. chiefly from ia
maica. Barbados. and the other
English possessions One of the Gov
ernors Of the lands in question has
shown an unfriendly disposition 10 our
work. and has thrown obstacles in
the way OF our getting labor needed:
and it is highly undesirable TO give
any outsiders the impression. how
ever Ill founded. that they are indis-
pensable and can dictate terms to US
The West India iaborers are fairly.
but only fairly. sa tisfactory- Some of
the men do very well indeed: the bet
ter class, who are to be found as fore
men, as skilled mechanics, as police
men. are good men; and many of the
ordinary day laborers are also good.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
THREE DROWNED IN
SCHOONER WRECK
SPECIAL DIsPArcH TO The cALr-


VANCOUVER. Dec 1.-The steamer
Tees from the north brought news to-
day OF the loss OF the schooner Ca
b-ieola, a craft well known in local
waters. and three men who were on
board-Captain Schultz. J. Lindstron
and an Indian IN September the
schooner left Skiddegate for Herfott
Bay. Queen Charlotte Island Moth
ing further was heard OF her Until ten
days ago. when the wreckage Of the
boat was washed Up on Skiddegats
Bar The bodies OF the men were found
on the beach The Tees had the rough
est trip for Years. weather al Skidds-
gate being so stormy that the men
did not dare 70 go inside the bar The
Tees turned back TO Port Simpson. and
for forty hours the boat steamed
against the gale
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Management Is Wise

The wisdom OF the canal management
has been shown IN nothing more clear
u than IN the way IN which the foun-
cations OF the Work have been laid
To have yielded 10 the natural imps-
thence OF III Informed outsiders and
begun ali kinds OF experiments II work
.s-nmus and % fairly satisfactory
Vo-kt-g ont Of the problem Of getting
ard keeping z sufficient labor supply.
would have been disastrous The va
-fcus preliminary measures had 70 be
-GZeu first aid these could not De
q ken 50 IS 10 allow rs 70 begin the
I I'd work Of construction prior 10 Jan
NzrT o the present year Il then
became necessary 10 have the type Of
the canal decided. and the only delay
has been TIE necessary delay until the
2e-r day O June the date Wen the
Congress definitely and wisely settled
lrs- we should nave an elgnr--1ge-
foo--leVs canal ImmeCi lately after
-Iac re work began IN hard earnest
end has been continued with increas-
t-E V-zr ever since and Il VIII con
t5-ue 10 progress IN the future
Wae1 re contracts are let the con
cirlcrs Fll be such as 70 insure e con
sral--y decreasing amount O. perform
lDce-
Tie rs great problem 70 be solved.
u-cn = solution Of which the success
~ rle es- O. ne work depended. was
TIE p-hlsu OF sanitation. This was
from ~ outset under The direction OF
Dr- " g GorGas. who Is 10 be made q
full -sD1er q me commission Il the
COMP oEiol OF The commission remains
-rchzEei. Il must Be remembered
rlar = work was nCL mere sanitation
IS ill., terrn is understood IN or or
rna- municipal work throughout
rrs Zte snl IN The rE-0 cities OF Pan
ANA &c Colon. In addition 10 the san
t-a-sr work proper he has had 70 co
I'll = work that the marine hospital
se---e does as regards the nation. that
tie earn department ot1lcers co IN
ire ari0us states and cities and that
Colrel Waring did FL New York when