Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-11-22
IN CULEBRA CUT
President Roosevelt Made an lnspeC-
tion Of the Great Under aking
In a Pouring Rain.
Boarded q Work Train and Went
Into the Deepest Part Of the
ExeayatiOn-His Promise
to an Engineer.

/
Panama, Nov. 1i.-President Roose
welt, who stopped at the Tlyoli hotei
Thursday night started at z COCOA
Friday morning with Mrs. Roosevelt
and the other members OF his party
to make an examination OF tie Cue
bra cut. Tie weather was overcast,
threatening rain. AT nall past lAe
Presidential train arrived at Pedro
Miguel, where some steam snoVel2
we're at work. The president had MS
train stopped for the purpose Oh max
ing a personal examination. At this
point In the cut the peculiar sell con
dltions have resulted In more or less
frequent landslides, and this fact was
brought to the presidents attention.
President Roosevelt descended from
his train and climbed up on one Of
the steam shovels, taking seat
alongside Engineer Gray, whom he
subjected to searching fire of ques-
tions regarding the work. During his
conversation. Engineer Gray took the
opportunity, on behalf Of himself and
the other engineers, to declare that,
unlike the railroad engineers, they
we're not paid for overtime. The pres
ident promised to look into this mat
ter. He stayed on the steam shovel
about 20 minutes. BY this time 1t was
raining hard.
President Roosevelt told Chief En-
gineer Stevens that he wanted to see
all the works in connection with ex-
cavataion, even to the temporary lay
ing OF tracks. With this in view, he
boarded work train near Pedro Mig
uel and went on to the next point
where steam shovels were at work.
Here there was no danger Of land
slides.
The presidential train continued on
the regular line toward Panama. The
work Of the second steam shovel was
observed and the president made a
detour to examine the site of the Pc
dro Miguel lock- He shook hands with
all the Americans he met while walk
ing over the grounds. At about rs
minutes past nine the president en-
tered the deep portion Of the Culebra
cut, his train going slowly In order
that he might observe the workings Of
the drill machines and shOvels. One
shovel was decorated with a sign read
ing: 1--WE will do our best to help
you build It."
The president spent some time In
the deepest portion of the cut, where
last Sunday % tons Of explosives
were used to throw down $4,000 Gu
bic yards Of material
The rain was now coming down in
torrents and the water poured In rivu-
lets down the funnelshaped sides Of
the famous cut. Several charges Of
dynamite were exploded in order that
the president might see the effect,
after which he went back to his own
train.
At Rio Grande, with the ran still
falling steadily, Mr.. stevens pointed
out to the President the laborers'
quarters under construction there.
The President decided to leave his
train again and inspect personally
the sleeping quarters Of the Jamai-
cans. He inquired how the men were
fed and patiently listened to their
complaints. He went through the
commissary when his visit was I'M
expected and also penetrated into
the living quarters Of the families of
several jamaican laborers. This in
spection lasted for three quarters Of
an hour, at the end Of which the
President returned to Culebra, wet
through and spattered with mud. At
Culebra the President went through
the local offices Of the canal con-
structorB
The presidential party had lunch
with Mr.. Stevens at 10 O'Clock and
after this meal the ladies Of the party
returned to Panama. The President
want a. far aa Cornona