New-York tribune., 1907-09-30
LIFE IN CANAL ZONE.
CONDITION OF WORKERS.
Report of CiUic Federation Ofc'dt
as Sent TO Mr.. Taft.


she report yesterday Miss Beeks made s"eel''il5
Investigation and visited white and negro cahdi
workers engaged in every line of work Every piiso
Of life on the isthuus is dealt with III the Fepoi'
and although many OF the conditions are cor
deraned. Miss Beeks mentions number that iie'i
No trnprovement In view OF the time TO De con-
suued in building the canal, Miss Befks urges 'ia~
The government make living conditions as nearly
perfect as possible for the workers VINO must spu
years trying climate
Before leaving the sthmus Miss Beeks presented
To Lieutenant Colonel Goethals a draft OF her re-
mort and he at authorized the erection OF dr!-
ing rooms rain sheds and permanent quarters for
American employees. He has intimated that ne VIII
put into effect each suggestion soon as FUNDS
become available. and will confer with the Con
gress Committee Appropriations. which VII. WISH
the isthmus in October, in reference 10 the 4afEe
improvements.
The Department of Agriculture has already oegrn
the establishment OF government farm ana VIII
have all foodstuffs examined before they leave the
United States. The Canal Commission has started
the publication of newspaper in the. canal zone.
and has obtained the services of Miss Helen V
Boswell. of the Welfare Department of the CIVIC
Federation, 70 organize women's clubs
WORSE CLIMATE IN UNITED STATES.
Miss Beeks's report will sent 10 the Canal Com
mission for comments and will be made pubilc IN
full within few weeks. She has been requested
.,, President Roosevelt TO return 20 the isthmus
within eight months and report on the progress
made
rse,,tenant Colonel Goethals chief engineer Of the
commission has made many improvements in nous
ing food and employment conditions. and af1ords
all employees an opportunity to make known their
grievances
The climate Miss Beeks says. is more endursble
than MANY parts Of the United States in summer
A. q result of the tropical light. nervousness Is
prevalent and annual vacations IN other climates
are necessary for Americans An EXTENDED resi-
dence in tbs would probably undermine 'he
health but ordinary precautions render tenn
porary stay safe
Tn. term -laborer' is applied only TO the com
mon labcrer: the American clerks. mechanics ETC.
are called employees. There are 5000 American en-
ployes and $1,000 West Indian negroes and Europe
ans In the main villages built for the employees
.he-e are fire departments postal stations, tele-
phone service and band stands IN front OF the
hotels The contented so long as they see
needed improvements being made. The government
furnishes quarters light and furniture free TO al
In addition. married employees receive fue!. IIs
houses are equipped with modern sanitary plumb
ing and are artisticalIy built Conditions have been
greatly improved In the last two years
For the opening of cuts the sleeping accom-
rnodations for Americans are inadequate Ere
ouently four men are assigned TO one room, and
one thousand OF the railroad construction gang
are ouartered in boxcars- New quarters are no"
being built The only hotel for transents charges
excessive rates Barracks for the accommodation
or laborers are now being constructed under the
most modern sanitary rules. The cots for 1he
labore-s. however devoid Of covering ana
there is nothing between the sleeper and the metal
lattice work of the bed
FOOD INSPECTION NEEDED
A -ecrea ation hail is recommended for these men
Few Of the labOrers have blankets. but Colonel !
t;oethaIs has ordered that they be supplied with
these articles Shower baths have been installed
in all quarters. ard in a few of the married mems
houses .there are tubs. No hot water is supplied
h1t Miss Beeks suggests that hot water plant be
installed for laborers and employees.
-Four reservoirs and an elaborate water and "
erage system have been constructed from end to
end of the isthTnus- The water although not paIa
table. is said he pure The establishment OF
9is-fTl-tton plants is urged that Will not
haze buy alcoholic drinks tn replace the i'll tast
tng water.
The houses and streets lighted by electricity /
and an extension of the plant is being made The
meals in the halls for American bachelor en-
roves good al the time Of the Investigation,
but il is said that thy were specially prepared I
The saneness OF the breakfast menu caused mt =
,nerous complaints and the tipping evil has cropped
out Of TIE camps along the the food /
was not OF the best At Ancon Hospital the food /
for patients and employees bad In of /
the camps the food is excellent. and this causes
much dissatisfaction among the men from other !
camps.
The negro Iaborers cooked their Own food until !,
last February. when il decided feed them /
from a cook house. Their food is passed out 10 /
them. but they are forced sitting on the /
ground any convenient place, mess hall haV- /
ing been provided for them. Miss Beeks urges the
construction of such building and the supplying
Of the with granite enamelled dishes !
which should be cleaned by the kitchen help in !
stead Of by the Much of the food sent from !
the United States is of poor quality and sometimes
in decaying condition. It is recommended that all i
he rgidty inspected before leaving the United
States
All con- 7lissaries are TO he placed in charge Of
white men and the building will be oYerhauled and
enlarged where necessary.
In April the profits of the commissery depart |
including the ice plant bakery and laundry
were S2.oea. As there Is desire make any
thing more than the investment Of 3
sseaego in order TO reimburse the government at
the end Of fifteen years tie prices have Just been
lowered.
HOSPITALS WELL EQUIPPED.
The main hospitals at each end of the isthmus
ere splendidly equipped The speak enthu-
siasticaIly of their treatment. At the various
camps there dispensaTies and receiving
There also rest camps for common laborers
who not III. but who would be more comfort
able in beds with mattresses and bed clothes than
tn their barracks cots without covering. There
gre wire cages which suspect placed
until il can be learned whether not the disease
IS yellow fever. The object is to prevent the car
1-ying of contagon by mosquitoes, from such pa !
tents to others.
In some of the camps there cubrooms with /
billiard tables dance halls etc. supported by vol
untary associations of employees The Young Mems
Christian Association has established buildings ct
four of the seventeen camps. These are equipped F,
with gyInnasiums and libraries. Miss Beeks says |
there are 20 opportunities provided for the canal
workers on Sunday their one day of rest. She !
says an amusement park. nearly like Coney |
Island possible, should be established with a
racetrack side shows and other features As soon
as adequate recreation provided. Miss Beeks
thinks that the Saturday half-holiday should be |
Instituted. A recreation department. with a COM
petent head should be established, If the govern