Gilpin observer., 1906-12-27
CANAL PROGRESS
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COM
MISSION.
PREPARATIONS COMPLETED
Ready to Begin Real Work Of Con-
observation-disclosures Free From Vel
low Fever-Sp.niards Best La


low Fever-sp.niards Best La
borers.
Washington.-T,a Isthmian canal
commission in it's annual report says:
During the year the first stage of
canal work, that of preparation, has
virtually been passed., and the commits
sion finds itself il position to enter
upon the second stage, that of actual
construction of lock canal at an eIe-
walton of eightyfive feet, authorized by
Congress in June last.
"Of these two stages the first was
at once the more difficult and the more
important. If not done thoroughly and
intelligently in every part the actual
work of construction would be handi-
capped from the start. 1t was neces-
sary, as in the launching of any great
enterprise, to create an organization
with which to work 1t was necessary
also to make the isthmus, by thorough
sanitation, healthful place in which
to work; to provide suitable quarters
and food for employees; to construct
proper terminal yards and railway
| tracks AMI intermediate yards for the
handling of the vast quantities of ma
terials and supplies; to install a sys-
| TEN of railway tracks through the
! cuts; to rut the Various Levels IN the
cut in proper condition for the install
lation and operation of the maximum
number of steam shovels: to purchase
and assemble the plant for construct
ing the canal; to work out all engl
neering problems; to perfect a. govern
ment and create a system of accounts,
| and to formulate a preliminary plan
| for carrying forward the work in each
| department.
| THE isthmus is now completely free
| of yellow fever, an achievement which
demonstrates the high efficiency of the
health department. In combating other
| diseases the departm ent has been
scarcely less successful. The average
| daily sick rate among employees OF the
commission during the ten month,
from January /, 1906, to October 81.
1906, was twenty-eight per thousand,
which is no higher than might be ex-
pected in an equal body of 4abor( IS en-
gagged in construction work In any part
of the world. During the same period
the death rate among the whites was
about 171a per thousand, and among
the blacks nearly fftythree per
| thousand.
Another years experience with ne
: gro laborers from nearby tropical
islands and countries has convinced
the commission of the impossibility oi
doing satisfactory work with them
Not only do they seem to be disqualf
ned by lack of actual vitality, but their
disposition to labor seems to be a,
frail as their bodily strength.
"The experiment with laborers from
northern Spain has proved very sltis
factory. Their efficiency is not only
more than double that Of the negroes.
but they stand the climate much bet
ter
IN November, 1905, the commits
sion's employees numbered approx
mately 1900 and in November, 1906.
the number was practically the SINE
OF these 1852 were under the de-
partment of construction and engineer
ing: 1,129 under the divis'on of ma
terial and supplies; 1921 under the de
partment of government ana santa
ton. and 1877 in the auditing and dis
burs'ng offices.
THE commission has made some
progress in its efforts to provide
means of amusement and recreation
for its employees, but not so much az
would have been the case had 1t NOT
been for the continued stress of work
of more vital importance"