The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-17

United states during early spring. All
men to whom 1 spoke were a unit in
saying that the conditions of the Colon
streets were 100 per cent better than a
year ago. The most superficial exami-
nation Of the town shows the progress
that has been made and is being made
in macadamiZing the streets. Complaint
was made to me by an entirely reputa-
BILE man as to the character of some of
the material used for repairing certain
streets On investigation the complaint
ed that the use OF the material in Ques-
ton had been abandoned, the commits
sion after having tried it in one or two
streets finding it not appropriate.
Complaints Not Well Founded.
The result of the investigation Of this
honest complaint was typical of what
occurred when I investigated most Of
the other honest complaints made to
me- That IS, where the complaints were
not made wantonly or maliciously, they
almost always proved due to failure to
appreciate the fact that time was nee
eSsary in the creation and completion
of this Titanic work in a tropic wilder
ness. 1t is impossible to avoid some
mistakes in building a giant canal
through jungle-covered mountains and
sWamps, While at the same time sani-
tating trODic cities, and providing for
the feeding and general care of from
20 to so thousand workers The COM
plants brought to me, either of INSULT
cient provision in caring for some Of
the laborerS or of failure to finish the
pavements of Colon, or of failure to sup
ply water, or of failure to build wooden
sidewalks for the use of the laborers in
the rainy season, investigation
proved, almost without exception, to be
due merely to the utter inability of the
commission to do everything at once.
For instance it was imperative that
Panama, which had the highest death
rate and where the chance of a yellow
fever epidemic was strongest, should
be cared for first; vet most of the COM
N q n n q
of Colon were due TO the inability or
unwillingnesS to appreciate this simple
fact. Again as the thousands Of Ia
borers are brought over and housed, it
is not always possible at the outset to
supply wooden walks and bath houses,
because other more vital necessities
have to be met; and in consequence,
while most of the settlements have
good bath houses. and, to a large ex-
tent at least. wooden walks, there are
plenty of settlements where wooden
walks have not yet been laid down.
and / visited one where the bath
houses have not been provided But
in this very Settleme nt the frames OF
the bath houses are already up, and IN
every case the utmost effort is being
made to provide the wooden walks. OF
course, in some of the newest camps
tents are used pending the building or
houses Where possible | think de-
tached houses would be preferable to
the semidetached houses now in gem
eral use.
Unjust Criticism.
Care and forethought have been ex-
ercised by the commission and moth
ing 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 It is curious to note the |
fact that many of the most severe crit I
les of the commission criticize them |
for precicesly opposite reasons. some +
complaining bitterly that the work is /
not in a more advanced condition. |
while the others complain that it has I
been rushed with such haste that there 5
has been insufficient preparation for t
the hygiene and comfort of the en- [
ployes AS a matter of fact neither I
criticism is Just. Tt would have been (
impossible to go quicker than the COM +
mission has gone. for such Guickness f
would have meant insufficient prepar- /
alton. On the other hand, to refuse to +
do anything until every possible future !