East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-27

VI NAp oAhNi WIN Oll a. SllOll NdtdllOll
He was so pleased with what he saw
that his resignation was soon speed,
ing to Washington before even his
vacation was finished.
Mr.. Manning is one of the most re.
cent arrivals from the Isthmus OF
Panama and he talks very interest
ingly Of the great work which is be-
ing done there in the separation OF
North and South America by the
United States in its connection Of the
two oceans by the narrow canal across
the isthmus.
Being an employe of the govern
ment, and having supervision over
hundreds of men in the canal zone,
Mr.. Manning understands the situa-
tion well. When interviewed by a
representative of the Capital News
about the great engineering feat be-
ing accomplished at Panama, Mr..
Manning said:
Tells OF the Canal.
Comparatively few people under
stand or appreciate the great magni-
tude of the Panama canal. It Is GER
tainly a wonderful work. In connec-
ton with the department Of labor and
subsistence I spent the past two years
at the canal zone and was in posi-
tion to become very familiar with the
great work which is being carried on
at the Isthmus by the United States.
our department takes charge of
furnishing quarters on the canal
as well as securing additional ones
from all over the country; their re-
ception at Panama and installation in
quarters. There are numerous other
duties which the present management
and system of providing for the men
employed In the zone as we'll as the
general plans followed towards dig
ging the canal Uncle Sam has perfect
ed one of the greatest working ma
chimes of human beings which this
world has ever seen.
THE result is that the dirt is fly
ing In the canal trench and the NAM
moth crew is doing everything to-
wards perfecting this waterway where
ocean meets ocean.
mo less than 10000 men are at
work on the canal. OF this number
$500 are Americans, 500 Europeans
and the balance natives Of the West
Indies. This mammoth crew has to
be provided for every day in the
year The government adopted reg
ulation buildings, furnishing, etc, for
them and today they are housed as
comfortable as any one would care to
be. The conditions have been made
sanitary so that the death rate has
become normal in the zone region.
Every house is furnished with
sewerage, baths, etc, and Ice is de-
Ilvered them just the same as 1t is at
your doorstep here. Wide porches
keep out the summer pests and while
The atmosphere is very warm. full of
and sultry the men fare
very well.
"The government lays down the
that every employe shall
work 10 months of the year and then
nave vacation of six weeks with paw
Turing which time they must leave
he isthmus and go to some other
country. The change has its effect
ma helps the men to stand the work.
MI OF the heavy work is done by the
west Indians, The Americans hold
Iown the carpenters, mechanics. fore
nanship, engineering and other i'm
'ortant positions.
When l tell you that during the |
month OF April last S,25O,OOO cubic !
ards of dirt were taken out of the |
anal you would hardly understand
ne great amount this involves. The
ecord during May of this year fell
title below this, but the engineers In
harge of the canal are working to
make the record of 100000 cubic
ards month. That Is moving a
amount of earth.
Double railroad tracks are operat-
d along the entire distance of the
anal so far constructed and the dirt
taken away from the scene of ac-
witty to the lower ground where It is
sed to fill in. Great steam shoyels
ear out six wagon loads at a SPOON
ll and dump 1t into cars which are
waiting. When a trainload Is fill
d powerful engines rush the cars to
he end Of the line for dumpage.
Complete in Eight Years.
ut is estimated that the Panama
anal will be completed in either 1915
r 1917. At the present time the great
alubria cut is the knotty problem
'hich must be solved by engineers.
he canal after leading from the At
Intic coast strikes this mountain and
is now being cut in two. 1t is ad-
lifted by experts to be an unknown
uantity. No one can say when the
reat cut will be made through it. The
ut is 400 feet deep. They are now
own 2S5 feet with still 115 to go. 1t
three miles through and is the only
'ally difficult problem yet to be solv-
] In the great ditch. Trouble has
cen experienced In this cut with the
des Of the mountain caving in and
ling the canal.
Machinery Thrown Away.
One remarkable thing about the
lnal zone is the great amount Of ma
ninery which the French spent mil
ons Of dollars on and later abandon
alOn0 the roiita of the nanaI 10 ,