Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-21
Our Letter Box
Not Exceeding Two Hundred words
Are Invited from Our Readers.
HenIth in III. Canal Zone.

CRIsToBAL. c T.. sept 40 the
Editor OF The Bee: I received clipping
few days ago OF an article which, be
lieve. appeared in your paper, copy Of
which Is herewith enclosed. This article
is entitled. rs Back from the Canal Zone
Former Fireman is Unable to stand
Climatic Conditions" and is supposed to
be q statement Of conditions on the isthmus
as found By Mr.. r. L. Dunlap, q former
empioye OF the Canal Zone Fire depart
ment
The statements In this article do not
present the facts. and / wish to correct
the erroneous impressions conveyed by it
The article states that Mr.. Dunlap became
a physical wreck, practically. during his
stay on the zone. although he was here
only forty-two days. He was apparently
In good health when he came here was
not sick at all on the isthmus and left
here as well as he came, giving as his
reason for leaving that he was Obliged to
leave the isthmus on account of serious
illness OF his wife
With reference to the statement that
three other firemen also left on the same
boat with MIR. Dunlap. and that four had
left on the boat which sailed just previous
/ wish to state that this is entirely wrong
There were only two firemen on the boat
on which Mr.. Dunlap sailed. including him
self, and none on the previous boat. The
implication Of the statement is that a gen
eral exodus of firemen from the canal zone
is in progress. which is not true. OF course
firemen are continually going TO the states
on regular vacations allowed them, but the
great majority Of them return. We had
only ten designations during the last year
Fifty per cent of our firemen have beer
! in the department over two years, and
eight OF these men have been in the serv'
ice since 1906. nine since 1907 and thirteen
since 1905
The six Omaha firemen mentioned bJ
Mr.. Dunlap have all been in the department
longer than six months. except one. ON
Of the men has been here over three years
and three men over one and one-half years
Their services have been very satisfactory
and have heard no complaint about con
ditions from any of them, and they are al
satisfied with their work.
| ! have been on the isthmus five years
and 1 also lived seventeen years in Ne
braska, and from my experience 1 thinl
the climatic conditions on the isthmus arr
more agreeable than in the middle west
According 10 the annual report of the de
partment of sanitation of the canal zon,
| for the year 1903 the annual death rat
| for the year, per 100 employees. was 10
from diseases and sos from violence
making a total death rate from all causes
1854; and OF this the larger percentage wa
among the negroes.
The article also states that the commits
sion charges 80 cents for each meal
whether II is eaten or not. This Is no
true, except at one or two messes wher
monthly rate Of board is charged, but {
| is optional with employees whether the
board at these messes or not The com
mission hotels charge 80 cents a meal to b
paid for each time a meal is taken; coupe
books being issued for this purpose, an
no man need to pay for a meal he doe
not select to take.
Articles OF the kind herein referred {
only advertise wrong ideas about the cans
zone. and are detrimental to the best In
terests of the work on the canal. The gov
eminent publishes sufficient reports fror
which accurate Information may be OF
tained so that no one need to be mlsle
by careless publications. Very respectful!
| CHARLES E. swEIDMANE. Fire Chief