The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-27


non labor during the year.
",rhc total force of skilled and ilnslills
I'd laborers Of The Istbmlan Canal Com
mission and Panama Railroad on June
30, 1905, was lD6o0 and on June 40,
1907. II was 2D.4t6--an incsasc ln the
total of 10000 men. During this period
0.ss4 men were brought TO The Istlim'is
from the United States Europe, and the
West Indies The labor problem u stu
On unsolyed one. but the experiments Of
tho past year with q diversity q races
and nationalitics has improved the q.
iiciency of tho force and promises 70
make the term 81 service longer Tropi
cal labor Ia migratory, and notwithstand,
Ing superior wages housing, md sub
sistencc. there win always be- large
periodical changes In the individual force.
"A regular recruiting organization chang
I'd from one labor center 10 another,
viii always be necessary 70 keep =
maximum force available.
aAt Tho close Of the last fiscal year
Ii20 houses wc,e available for quarter
Ing employees Of all claases. furnishing
buildings for Offices, hotels. messcs,
kitchens, and storerooms. On June 30.
1907, 220s buildings were IN use for the
same purposes. Considering the large
increase In the skilled forcc and the
number Of women and children provided
Tor during the past year. the number
Of people from the United States In
qarteM now. d. compared with the cIose
.of the last fiscal year. Is just about
doubled. but they are all better and
more comfortably housed than ut this
period last year, New houses are being
turned over every day. and each ho,iHs
finished relieves the congFestion. II any.
In that particular locality. or enables
some employee TO send for his family.
The congestion in the quarters Of the
common laborcrs has entirely disap.
peared. due to two causes. first. the
completion Of a great many houses dur.
ng the past gear, and, second. the fact
that with Improvement In efficiency IL Is
not necessary to house as large mum
bcr oi men a. formerly.
AT the close OF the fiscal year Is
hotels were operated for white Amer''
cans. where good wholesome meals are
furnished for 80 cents each. These hotels
are under the direction Of stewards from
the United States. and the cooks are
generally Americans or men who have
had experience IN hotels and restaurants
Inv the United States.
",rhe Hotel Tiyoli. at Ancon. II opcr'
ated also for employees, but on account
of superior accommodations and appoint
ments higher rates prevail.
Eighteen mess halls are operated for
the Europeans. where a days board Is
furnished for 40 cents. The stewards
and cooks at these messes are usually
Europeans. and a meal peculiar TO the
tastes OF the men boarding there Is
served.
There are in operation 81 kitchens
for the West Indian lahorers. where a
days board Is furnished for 30 cents
and Is made up OF such food supplies as
they are INST accustomed to ard prepar-
ed BY cooks / their own country. The
common lahorcr Of the West Indies is
employed upon basis Of subsistence be-
ing part OF bls compensation. This was
found advisable on account Of his care.
less habits aud the fact that insufficient
nourishmcnt Impaired his usefulness as
a laborcr, and sooner or later landed
him in the hospital.
'These hotels. messes. and kitchens
are inspected daily by the supervising
employees OF the department Of labor
quarters, aud subsistence, and weekly by
the district physician, All meats, yege-
tables, and food supplies are carefully
inspected before they are used,
"The number for meals served during
the month Of June. 1907 is as follows;
Hotel, l97,4lo; messes, 2s6, 1856; kitchens,
450765, or nearly million meals for
the month,
"The subsistence operations are mere
ly self.sustaining, and It is not the pur-
pose to make profit. They are opsr,
ated upon the basis Of contributing
messes as far as possible.