Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-09-18
$4,000 MEN EMPLOYED
on PANAMA ClhlD
THOMAS sALLEw or GALVESTON
rs HOME ON A VACATION.
Says Employees Have Fine Mcdlfai
Trestmsns- Much IN Way 9.
Amusement. However.

MI. lhomus bhiicNs WHO trtufhco
home Wednesday for a visit to his
mother. Mrs. N. A. Ballew. 1906 Strand
tells Of many interesting features In
connection with his work ON the Is
lhmus OF Panama. Up TO about two
years ago Mr. Ballew has been res
Ident engineer and contractor In Gal.
weston. During he earlier part OF
1907 Mr. Ballew received commits
sion TO 60 to the canal.
THE canal is certainly great piece
of work" saId Mr.. Ballsw. Its con-
struction Is well organized and Is pro-
gressinx far beyond the expectations
OF engineers who have had the sxpe-
rience OF much smaller contracts. The
feature of It's construction is the fact
that the work moves on like clock
work. The average individual would
think that a stppendous undertaking
such as the canal would necessitate
much confliction OF orders and prog
ress.
"Abou, five thousand white men and
thirty thousand negroes are now em-
ployed on the Job. The work Is well
under way. and Il Is now an assured
fact that the canal viii Be completed
before the expiration Of five years.
The health conditions are good. and
everybody on the isthmus is satisfied.
They are working on the canal from
side TO side and from one end to the
other. Some would think the canal Is
being dug to completion as the men
70 along. I, is very different. At
present no portion is completed from
standpoint Of depth. In most OF
the places the excavations measure
from s5 to 90 feet When completed
the depth OF the entire canal win BE-
a. feet.
The United States government has
been at work on the canal for the
past five or six years. but about three
years OF this time has been spent In
getting sanitary conditions In the
proper stage. and also much OF the
time has been spent In the construc'
ton of houses and abodes for the
workers.
The white men on the job are re
ceiying good wages. The negroes are
receiving comparatively low wages. II
seems hat they do not care how much
or how little money they make. OF
course. these negroes make a great
deal more than Is paid in the West
Indies for such labor.
There has been a few little mat
ters OF disagreement among the la
boring class. but they have not termi
mated into any kind OF strikes or mu
tiny.
We have some Of the finest hospi
tails TO be found anywhere. The doc
tors and surgeons on the isthmus arr
far above the average. They do some
wonderful operations. More than or
dinary care Is taken OF the sick and
injured. The services OF the hospitn
corps ore limited to the treatment o
the employees on the canal work.
The railroad that Is used In th'
conveyance OF material and supplies
for the work is owned and operates
by the commission. This road rum
from Colon To Panama. which Is |
distance OF about fifty miles.
MANY civil engineers are cmploye'
by the government. who keep care
ful tab on the work. Inspections ar
made about every two or three days
There Is very little amusement 70
the American on the lsthnus. A fe,
moving picture shows are found in tn
more thlck;y settled portions. A Un
ted States military band furnishe
music twice week In the esplanade'
At both ends OF the isthmus Youn
Mems Christian Associations are ds
] ing good work. There Is nothing lik