Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-17

by hauling water over the Panama
railroad. SO that there was at all times
an ample supply of the very best
water. Since that time the new res
ervoir back of Mount Hope has been
practically completed. l visited this
reservoir. 1t is a lake over a mile
long and half a mile broad 1t now
carries some 500,OCOO00 gallons Of
first class water. I forward herewith
a photograph of this lake, together
with certain other Photographic of
what saw while | was ON the 18TH
mus. Nothing but cataclysm will
hereafter render it necessary in the
dry season to haul water for. the use
Of Colon and Cristobal.
One Of the most amusing las we'll
as dishonesty attacks made upon the
commission was in connection with
this reservoir. The writer in question
usually confined himself to vague gen
eral mendacity; but in this case he
specifically stated that there was no
water in the vicinity fit for a reser-
voir Il drank it and it was excellent)
and that this particular reservoir
would never hold water anyway.
Unjust Criticism.
Care and forethought have been ex-
ercised by the commission and nothing
has reflected more credit upon them
than their refusal either to go ahead
too fast or to be deferred by the fear
of criticism from not going ahead fast
enough. 1t is curious to note the fact
that many of the most severe critics
of the commission criticise them for
precisely opposite reasons, some COM
planning bitterly that the work is not
in a more advanced condition, while
the others complain that it has been
rushed with such haste that there has
been insufficient preparation for the
hygiene and comfort of the employees.
As a matter of fact neither criticism
is just. 1t would have been impossible
to 60 quicker than the commission has
gone, for such quickness would have
meant insufficient preparation. On
the other hand, to refuse to do any
thing until every possible future con-
tingency had been met would have
caused wholly unwarranted delay. The
right course to follow was exactly the
course which has been followed. Ev-
cry reasonable preparation was made
In advance, the hygienic conditions in
especial being made as nearly perfect
as possible; while on the other hand
there has been no timid refusal to
push forward the work because of in
ability to anticipate every possible
fects can only be shown by the work
ing of the system in actual practice.
Care of Employees. "-'~ u
Next in Importance to the problem
of sanitation, and indeed now of equal
Importance, is the problem of secur-
ing and caring for the mechanics, Ia
borers and other employees who actu-
ally do the work on the canal and the
railroad. This great task has been
| under the control of Mr.. Jackson
Smith and on the whole has been well
| done. At present there are some
| 5000 white employees and some 10000
colored employees OH the isthmus
went over the different places where
the different kinds OF employees were
working; l think ! saw representa-.
! tives of every type both at their work
and In their homes; and l conversed
with probably couple of hundred of
them all told, choosing them at ran,
dom from every class and Including
!. those who came especially to present
certain grievances. found that those
who did not come specifically to pre-
sent grievances almost invariably ex
pressed far. greater content and. salts
i faction with the conditions than did
those who called to make complaint.
Nearly 5000 Of the white employees
had come from the United States. Nc
man can see these young, vigorous
men theoretically doing their duty
without a thrill of pride in them al
I Americans. They represent on the
leverage high class. Doubtless t.
congress the wages paid them viii
seem high, but as matter of fact thu
i only general complaint which found
had any real basis among the com
plants made to me upon the isthmu
| was that, owing to: the peculiar sur
roundings. the cost OF living and thu
4 distance from home, the wages wer,
: really not as high as they should be
In fact, almost every man spoke t
felt that he ought to be receiyin
more money--a view, however, whicl
the average man who stays at hom
In the United States probably nkewis
4 holds. as regards himself. Happen
figures Of the wages paid, SO that th
congress can Judge The matter for Il
: self. Later shall confer on the sui
feet with certain representa- labo
& men here in the United Statess as we
ais going over with Mr. Stevens B h
comparative wages paid on the ION
Z and at home and / may then con
i municate my findings to the can;
! committees of the two houses.
The white Americans are employee.
some of them In office work, but th
majority in handling the great steal
shoVels, as engineers and conductor
on the dirt trains, as nachinists
the great repair shops, as carpenter
H and fimekeepers superint endents an
!,