Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-06
REPORT TO SECRET AIRY AFT
UPON CANAL CONDITIONS

i nlOnE!' That sentence was ncard
constantly, rs we'll as There Will be
no kick coming as long as 1t can he
seen that needed changes are being
made"
Quarters Inadequate.
There are many manufacturing vii
lagos presenting an appearances so
| beautiful as the homes for American
| families and bachelors dormitoriies
| All have wide, screened verandas and
modern plumbing. The interiors are
artistic. The Government furnishes
quarters. furniture an digit free to
all. The married employees alsco re-
ceivc free fuel. II was surprising to
find beautiful mission and wicker fur
nlture. although golden oak Is some.
times supplied.
Two years ago II was common to be
assigned an old French house with
out mosquito netting, without plumb
ing and with an attic containing bats
and rats and all sorts of objectionable
creatures which had merry-go.
!, round every night" and II was nee.
cssary TO walk through Jungle, CON-
Ing In contact with II dangerous fun.
81 and bugs. Bachelors were forum
nte to have fonts or quite unlnhabita.
bic quarters for which high prices
were paid. Water for bathing cost
forty to sixty cents can; food con-
talncd maggots frequently and eggs
had TO be fried or schamblcd hecaus,,
ut was not safe TO boil them" The
only music tht was heard was Lead.
indy Light played Mt the funerals
of the unfortunate yellow fever vic
Tins.
| Conditions have changed almost
4 mrnculonsly but there are Improve.
ments yet to be made for health and
comfort.
i The Hotel Tivoli. n beautiful struc.
tnrc. Is used by transient guests and
by employees who cannot he housed
elsewhere. Rates for TRANSFORMS arc
absnrdly high considering tho sor-
vice rendered. Charges for resident
employees arc excessive in view of the
fact that quarters are FREQ elsewhere.
Employees visiting the T,voll trans
iently pny cXorbitant prices.
Tho barracks OF tho European Ia
borers. including Crooks. Italians and
, Spaniards, and of the West Indians
arc identical In construction. cncn
house being ono large dormltorv con.
tanning GO to ~ or 81 cots. The air
NUbtt 10 INV UlMUNN NluUl 10 the 10.
quircment In modern tenement house
laws. There Is no furniture what.
ever on which TO sit In the common
lnborers dormtorics when changing
clothes or when 1t rains daytimes.
The lalorors. rs we'll as tho Amerh
cans, nrc required to buy blankets
| and consequently few of tho former
a have them. Tho principal mnlad,
from which the laborcrs suffer If
pneumonia.
Tho cold shower bath has beon
introduced generally for all employees
In exceptional cases tub baths have
been installed In family quarters. but
only there is II feasible to have hot
water secured by utilizing cook
stoves.
Movable bath tubs should l., sold
Mt tho commissaries for women and
children. All mon cannot endure tho
COLI shower bath. for It chlls them
especially If 'ovcrheatcd Mt tho close
of the DAVIS work, when the bath Is
most needed, because mechanics. en-.
Eincors and others desire to remove
+, shop grease
II Is common to hear tho express.
sion, "if could not hollor would
not he able to get morning bath!''
There should he some special bath
houses equipped with hot water for
American bachelors and It should be
supplied in those of tho laborers.
Shortage of Furniture.
Their are dissatisfaction among
American bachelors who were sleep.
Ing upon cots. All were promised
beds, hut many had not vet received
them. Families who had been there n
year had not yet received their full
quota OF furniture.
While 1t is generally conceded that
there always will be grumblcrs. nu
matter how great Is the attempt to
he fair In assigning quarters and FUR
nitnre. many OF the conditions exist
ing to-day are certainly unnecessary.
! 1t is 10 he hoped that the Army
method OF purchasing, now being
adopted, with the larger corps of In
/ spectors to follow mp orders and urge
1 deliveries. may mid In relieving tho
] situation.
There must he n poor system Of in.
spection OF materials for types order,
cd are not received For instance.
copper screen Is required in that
most Innate. where everything trusts.
and vet iron screen has been received
largely.
1 Drying Rooms Needed.
| Tho airing of garments and bed
/ clothing. which soon becomes moldy
and musty. is constantly necessary
in the wet season. The housewife
may dry the garments of the husband
at the kitchen stove. but the bachc.
Tor has the greatest hardship. for he
has no means of drying his wet cloth
Ing after being at work In tho rain
daily eight months in the year.
One OF the greatest causes of illness
| among the laborers is the placing OF
damp clothes uon the warm body in
the morning, chilling it.