The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-09

Panama City Republic de Panama,
Jan. 23.-There probably never was as
complete and thorough an examination
made OF the details and workings Of
q gigantic enterprise In so short a time
as was the examination made by Pres
ident Roosevelt upon his recent visit to
the Isthmus. But with all his remark
able energy and marvellous mastery of
deSai1 the president, in the prescribed
time at his disposal, could not begin to
grasp the situation as It IS day by day
and week by week Naturally the
coming Of the president was heralded
across the Isthmus, the time Of his ar
rival was known instantly. and
matter Of course every man at the
head of a particular detail section or
department was anxious to favorably
impress Mr.. Roosevelt, and every en-
ergy was bent in an effort to have
everything pass off as nearly perfect
as possible; and this, l take It, without
any specific instructions from the Chief
Engineer or his immediate staff. the
several heads of departments directly
under him And no matter If Mr..
Roosevelt did plan and endeavor to
drop into different sections Of the work
at unexpected times and to take his
meals In the general mess rooms with
out notification, everything was pre-
pared and in readiness; so that the
president could not from the very
nature of things gain thorough knowl-
edge Of everyday conditions
But he saw the stupendous under
taking from one end to tho other. the
means being employed to carry 1t
through to It's ultimate conclusion. and
many Of the difficulties to be en-
oountered and the advantages to be
taken: he saw the 1aborers as they
are in the field. their quarters, their
messes, what they are doing and how
they are doing it: he saw the ponder
Gus machinery employed in the digging
of the vast channel, removing the earth
therefrom, and the motive power be-
hind the whole; he saw the different
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES building con-
struction, material and supplies, labor,
quarters and subsistence, government,
sanitary, educational and police; the
Panama railroad. the docks and
wharves: the hospitals, the jaiIs, the
hotels and messes, married and bach
elor quarters, etc. etc All these he
saw and was favorably impressed with
them, and we'll he might be. But I
things the president could not see and
therefore could not understand or
criticise for I am sure he would criti-
else them were they brought home to
him.
The canal. it's history, course type,
magnitude, engineering feats. time re-
quired to construct and the cost thcre-
of, have been described times without
number. so that I shall not here enter
into those details but will confne my
self to other matters which will be of
interest to people in the states, especi-
ally those who may now or hereafter
contemplate coming here. whether out
of curiosity and pleasure or with a
view to establishing themselves here
as employees Of the commission or en-
gaging in other enterprises.
In passing I will say the actual
work of construction is proceeding in
earnest and as rapidly as conditions
and circumstances will allow. There
are some fourteen or fifteen thousand
silver laborers, Gas distinguished from
the gold employees. which virtually
ne"->r the American employes) now
tnoIoyed on the excavation work alone
to say nothing of those engaged in
building construction. sanitation and