Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-07-24
Conditions on the Panama Canal
Interesting Review of the Work by Former Official Who
Has Spent Years in Central America.

Z. H. Manning, for the last II
years "A resident Of Costa RIGA, Me
aragua, Panama and all Contra
I America, is a new conner to Sho
shone, having resigned a respon
-ible position with the government
canal service at Colon. TO com,
back to 3he States and look after
bis 800 acre farm near Jerome
Mr. Manning tells much OF in.
terest regarding conditions at Pan
anna. There is now an active, eff
cient force Of between $4,000 and
10000 men working on the canal.
OF these men. there are about $500
from the States, about 5000 Euro
peans, mostly higher class labo ers
and 1900 to 10000 efficient West
India negro laborers. Health con
ditions are remarkably good.
Since the discovery of the infection
carrying danger of mosquitoes, and
the practical stamping out OF these
insects, there is no more yellow
fever or malaria than there is here
in Idaho. Should there ever occur
a case OF malaria, it is the duty of
the heal b inspector to hunt out
the breeding place of the mosquito
that bit the man-for it is assumed
that this desease can come only
through the infection carried by
the malaria mosquito. 1t sounds
at first ridiculous-but the results
prove the the ny as infallibly as
the falling objects prove the theo-
retical laws Of gravitation.
Pay is goud ON the Isthmus.
White tradesmen and mechanics
get an average of a little b tier
han 60 cents an hour, with free
homes fully furnished. Conduct
'rs, engineers. and others of this
lass get abont $3.50; the basis is
$3.50 month, with additional pay
or length OF service. Til, same
Practice runs through all the labor
nd employees. Machinists, timers
nd some otner skilled tradesmen /
raw so cents an hour; pattern I
makers draw rs cents. Cler- ,
al positions pay up to 5000 t
lonth for competent men. Stem. t
receive 800 and up /
ards. i
Thirty days sick leave with pay b
allowed all employees, in case OF t
lness; if one is i'll more than 80 D
lys, only that much pay is given. b
at there is little illness; the q
)sp tai service-and all employees "
ceive all medical and hospital at l.
ndence, free-is unexcelled. At c,
neon, is one OF the finest hospitals
the world. NJ
Bachelor employees are furnished pr
cellent quarters, much bet err vi
an the ordinary hotel rooms. free at
lese are well furnished, with gen ey
ne hair mattresses, iron beds ed
tn the best of springs, rugs, and IL
best Of bathing aud other san ha
ny adJuncts. In the laborers' an
tracks, each man is allowed 400 da
BE feet OF space; ample space for &c
Mort, CONVENIENCE, cleanliness on
e married employees are given no,
uses free-houses that would un
I in most OF the western cities. he
to $50 dollars month-with ma
allowance OF l square foot floor wa
face for each dollar of salary tho
the same allowance for the mo
?, with 5 percent extra allow ply
{ for each child. This is ex- An
.ive of the iNvariable central gu,
'idor through the houses. and cou
of the kitchen and bath room enc
Sc houses are furnished much hon
er than the average home in bui
states; the houses are electric 90
ted, with lights free; free coal the
Pr distilled watsr delivered AT car,
: door every day for drinking. carr
and cold water in the rooms the
everything is Of the very best slee
bile there Is good opportunity unit
the young man who wants to The
something OF the world, and men
pay and opportunities are bet som
han in the States, Mr.. Mann. som,
Toes not advise Panama as the saws
goal for the ambitious hustler. tom
only way to get employment done
is through Washington; no any
lntments are made directly on worl