Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-18
PRESIDENT SEES
GREAT WATERWAY
MAKES SHORT SPEECH TO
LAB0RERS
Many Complaints Lodged with Hon
ored Guest, but with One Exeep-
ton They VIII Not BE
Needed
Rv Associated Press.

COLON, Nov. IL, II a. moving to
the recent heavy rains a landslide oc-
CURED between here and Panama,
compelling President Roosevelts train
to make a detour, but It arrived In
Cristobal on schedule time.
The landslide occurred at Paraiso,
not far from the Culebra cut.
All street traffic was suspended after
10 a. m. and remained so up to 1 p. m.
In view of President Roosevelt's com
ing inspection of the town of Colon,
the American hospital and other places.
After a reception at Cristobal the
president embarked on the flagship
Louisiana for the north.
He expects to arrive at Ponce, Porto
Rico, Wednesday. After landing there
he will cross the island in an automo-
bile and will embark at San Juan
Thursday for Hampton Roads.
The Louisiana, Washington and
Tennessee coaled yesterday in the
Chiriqua lagoon and are expected here
shortly.
President Roosevelt had a conference
Friday night with the heads of the
various canal departments and went
aboard his train at Tivoli at $3.50 O'Clock
this morning to begin the homeward
journey. AS the train passed Camp
Elliott the marines there were lined up
Star Spangled Banner" At Gaton
President and Mrs. Roosevelt disem-
barked and climbed the hill, where the
big dam and locks will be located. The
men of the camp cheered the presi-
dent, who made a short speech.
The weather was cloudy, but no rain
fell during the day.
President Roosevelt told the Asso-
ciated Press he was glad to have seen
10 y. farv III
ditions, as he now could appreciate
the magnitude of the obstacles to be
overcome.
Complaints Unjustfied
With one exception, he said, he found
all complaints made to him to be un-
justified. He was pleased with the
condition of affairs and the system as
now established in the zone. Asked
If he would return to the isthmus, he
said he surely would whenever it was
necessary, as he was delighted at the
hearty welcome the people of Panama
had given him.
During the past six days the rain
all has beer exceptionally heavy. Fri
day the rain guages at Cristobal reg
istered Az inches for twenty-four hours
and at one time one inch fell in fifteen
minutes. he Chagres and Rio
with it over fifty yards of the main
track of the railroad and wrecked
locomotive and freight train.
President Roosevelt reached Cristo-
bal at 3:15 o'clock this afternoon and
personally inspected the houses Of
canal employees, the camps of the Ia
borers, the docks and other points of
interest. The presidential party took
breakfast at Mount Hope where there
is large reservoir supplying water to
Cristobal Colon.
When he reached the railway station
at Colon President Roosevelt went up
stairs in the Panama railroad offices
whence he reviewed the Cristobal fire
brigade, which turned on simultan-
eously twenty-one streams of water
from hydrants extending along the
main street from the railroad station
to the entrance of the town of Girls
tobal.
The force of the water, which easily
went over the tops of the highest
buildings, proved to be very satisfac-
tory to President Roosevelt and the
citizens of Colon. The citizens were
especially pleased with the exhibition
and there is no fear of the destruction
of the town by fire if such a force
of water is always available.
Takes Horseback Ride
After the exhibition President Roose-
welt mounted a horse and accompanied
by Chief Engineer Stevens and other
canal officials galloped over the ei.
tire town. The president was cheered
everywhere. Most of the president
time at Cristobal was devoted to the
inspection of the quarters of the labor.
erS.
He talked with some of them ant
made note of their, complaints which
| were chiefly on the scarcity of Wes
| Indian food. The president promised
that improvements such as the erec.
tion of baths and kitchens and tn;
paving of streets would be made
When at the commissary Presiden
Roosevelt said he saw no reason why
the canal commission Should not bt
able to sell West Indian provisions a.
the same price as was being charged
by outsiders.
This evening reception and bal
was given on pier No. II at Cristoba
| in honor of President Roosevelt anG
his party by the employees of the com,