The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-07

sanitary i devices no, small task in
itself. Until it is adone it will be, i'm
possible toAget a force of men, of The
class n necessary to carry the work thru
successfully, to move to the isthmus.
The problem of cthe25 food supply is
also momentous. Insufficient food of
execrable quality has been responsible
for much Of the fatal sickness at the
isthmus, and altho this condition Isl
being improved, the arrangements are
still inadequate. 4.
The Home Opposition. 'f7.
/. Home opposition f.; another setback
which strikes direct TO- the eitals of
the enterprise. here are two classes
of persons, to be found both in official
and civil life, sho seem determined
upon thwartingg the project. One is the
crowd Of 9 graf ttefs, r and political
puppets, who for selfish reasons Of their
own, or those they rep present, seek to
delay, if not prey entt, Operations, look
ing, Of course, for aneiaI gains. AS
might be expected, officials and repre-
sentatives Of several Big continental
railroads are to. besSfoundS in this class,
and they exert a tremendous influence
at Washington. g r. r. ;..:s5fs s :E s
The other class is composed Of The
chronic pessimist and calamity
howlers, e who, tho doing more than
anyone else to bring about the failure
which they foresee,I are still sincere in,
their actions. Between these two an
anti-canal bureau has been actually es-
.tablished at Washington for the pur-
pose of discouraging in every possible
way the work on thescanal. al 4
While the engineering problems are
stupendous, because Of the magnitude
isof the work, and the conditions trying,
;ayet with time, money, energy.and the
ability now enga red, these Gamble over
come. The moral difficulty Of satisfy
ing engineers: to remain and work in
such a God forsaken country, where one
I is roasted by day and chilled by night,
as well as deprived Of CIVILIZED society
and means Of recreation, to say nothing
Of the dangers of yellow fever, which
IIsno known means can suppress when
/ the swamps are laid. open, is much more
serious and would seem to deserve more
attention than it has yet received.
: However, American engineers and
contractors have pride in accomplishing
what they set out to do, and succeeding
where others have failed. and national
and professional pride may keep the
| heads of departments at work where
money consi tions would fail.
Making the Zone Healthful.
| r.. That, the work Of sanitation in the
canal zone was given, the. first consid-
Grafton is good evidence that the com
mission ! is going at the task in the
right, methodical, business like way.
/ Complete systems of water mains and
sewers whichssa are being Installed in all
/ the cities and wherever practicable
! along the. line Of the canal seem to be
| the only guard against the tropic pesti-
/ lences Of the fnsanitary lowlands of
/ Panama. The matter Of hotels, lodging
land mess houses has also received early
| attention, with theS result that two
/ hotels and seven mess houses have al
| ready been erected and some six thou.
/ sand men are being fed by the gov.
eminent.
/ Present State of the Work.
When the Panama canal commission
began work a year ago with no set
ideas as to what they would do, de
termining most wisely to be guided by
their laters judgments, they found 9
4 canal about onesffth dug, and nearly
! $4,000, 600 worth of. machinery rustine
along the routey hesides enough
payne bottles to build a pyramid to the
extravaganza and high living of the
men in actual charge Of the spectacular
failure of De Lesseps. Today digging
lis in progress at several points on the
] canal, dredging Of harbors is beginning