New-York tribune., 1906-11-18
TALKS WITH LABORERS
PRESIDENTS BUSY DAY.
ReUie1cs Fire Brigade, Inspects
Camps and attends a Reception.

Colon. Nov. flowing to the recent heavy
rains a landslide occurred between here and
Panama. compelling President RooseveIts train
to make detour. but it reached CristobaI on
schedule time
The landslide occurred at Paraiso. a station on
the railroad southeast of Empire and not far
from the CuIebra cut
All street traffic was suspended here between
10 a m. and l p. m. in view of President Roose-
velts inspection of the town of Colon, the Amer
lean hospital and other places
President Roosevelt reached Cristobal at Bis
,, O'Clock this afternoon and personally inspected
the houses of canal employees. the camps OF the
laborers. the docks and other points of interest
The Presidential party took breakfast at Mount
Hope. where there is a large reservoir supplying
water to Cristobal Colon When ne reached the
railway station at Colon. President Roosevelt
went upstairs into the Panama Railroad Offices
whence he reviewed the CristObal fire brigade.
which turned on simultaneously twenty-One
streams of water from hydrants extending along
the main street from the railroad station to the
entrance to the town of CristobaL The force OF
the water. which easily carried over the tops OF
the highest buildings proved satisfactory TO
President Roosevelt and the citizens of Colon
The citizens We're especially pleased with the ex-
hibition. and there is no fear OF the destruction
of the town by fire if such force OF water IS
always available
After the exhibition President Roosevelt
mounted his horse. and. accompanied by Chief
Engineer Stevens and other canal officials and
secret service men, went over the entire town
The President was cheered everywhere.
Most Of the Presidents time az Cristobal was
devoted TO an inspection of the quarters OF ths
laborers He talked with .some OF them and
made note of their complaints. which
Cbati,- on the scarcity of West Indian food The
President promised that improvements. such
the erection of baths and kitchens. and the paw
ing OF streets would be made When at the
commissary, President Roosevelt said be saw
no reason why the Canal Commission should not
be able to sell West Indian provisions at the
same price as was being charged by outsiders
This evening a reception and ball were given
on Pier No H. at Cristobal. in honor Of Prest-
dent Roosevelt and his party, by the employees
on the Canal Commission
President Roosevelt had a conference on Fri
day night with the heads of the various canal
departments, and went on board his train at
Tivoh at $50 o'clock this morning to begin the
boueward Journey AS the train passed Camp
Elliott the marines there were lined up for re-
view. and the band played THE Star Spangled
Banner" Al Cation President and Mrs Roose-
Welt disembarked and climbed the hill where the
big dam and locks will be located The men OF
the camp cheered the President. who made
short speech.
The weather was cloudy but no rain fell dur
ipg the day
President Roosevelt told The Associated Press
he was glad have the canal under such
unfavorable conditions, he now could appre-
Ciate the magnitude of the obstacles To be over
come. With one exception. he said, be found ali
complaints made to him be unjustifsd- He
was pleased with the condition OF efTeirs and
the system as. now established in the zone
Asked If he would return 70 the iSthulus. he
said he surely would whenever il was neees-
sary as he was delighted with the hearty well
| come the people of Panama had given him.
During the last six days the rainfall has been
I exceptionally heavy on Friday the rain gauges
at CristObal registered four and one-haif
| inches for twenty-four hours. and at one time
| one inch feu in fifteen minutes The ChaSres
and Rio Grande rivers flooded many portions OF
| the zone. causing several landsldes The land
| slide al Paraiso took with it nifty yards OF
the main track OF the railroad and wrecked a
locomotive and freight train.