Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-12-21
THE PRESIDENTS
PANAMA MESSAGE

Washington, Dec. II. In his spe-
cial message to congress concerning
the construction of the Panama nal,
President Roosevelt says:
In the month of November 1 visited
the isthmus of Panama, going over
the canal zone with considerable care;
and also visited the cities of Panama
and Colon, which are not in the zone
or under the United States flag, but as
to which the United States govern
ment, through it's agents, exercises
control for certain sanitary purposes.
The United States ship Louisiana,
on which l was, anchored off Colon
Nov. IA. l came aboard her, after my
stay on shore, Nov II. Wednesday
afternoon and evening I received the
president of Panama and his suite,
and saw members of the canal COM
mission, and various other gentlemen,
perfecting the arrangement for my
visit. so that every hour that | was
ashore could be employed to ad-
vantage. l was three days ashore
not a sufficient length of time
to allow of an exhaustive investiga-
tion of the minute details of the work
of any single department, still less to
pass Judgment on the engineering
problems, but enough to enable me to
get clear idea of the salient features
I,.f1 Of
that has been made as regards the
sanitation of the zone, Colon and Pan
| ANA, the caring for and housing of the
employees, and the actual digging Of
the canal.
1 chose the month of November for
est month of the year, the month in
which the work goes forward at the
greatest disadvantage, and one of the
two months which the medical de-
partment of the French canal COM
pany found unhealthy.
An Isthmian Flood.
Immediately after anchoring We'd
nesday there was a violent storm of
wind and rain. From that time we
did not again see the sun until Satur-
day morning, the rain continuing al
most steadily, but varying from fine
drizzle to a torrential downpour.
The Chagres river rose in flood
to a greater height than it had
attained during the last 16 years, tear
| ing out the track in one place. 1t
would have been impossible to see the
work going on under more unfavor'
able weather condition. Nov. IT., the
sun shone now and then for few
minutes, although the day was geper.
ally overcast and there were heavy
showers at intervals.
Thursday morning we went slowly
over the line of the Panama railway
ending with an expedition in tug at
the Pacific entrance of the canal out
to the islands where the dredging fol
the canal will cease. We took our din
ner at one of the eating houses fur
nished by the commission for the use
of the government employes-nc
warning OF our coming being given.
inspected the Ancon hospital, going
| L0rOuSn Ile various WdTuS. III
spected portions of the constabularJ
(zone police), examining the men indi
vidually. I also examined certain o
the schools.
In the afternoon | was received
in Panama by President Amador, who
together with the government and al
the people of Panama, treated me
with the most considerate courtesy
for which / hereby extend my mos
earnest thanks. | was driven through
Panama and in a public square was
formally received and welcomed b!
the president and other members o
the government; and in the evening
attended dinner given by the presi
dent, and a reception, which was alst
a government function. also drov'
through the streets of Panama for thu
purpose of observing what had beer
done.
A Day In cuebra Cut.
Friday morning we left the hote
and spent the entire day goinl
through the Culebra cut--the snot il