The Yale expositor., 1910-06-03


large business on the east coast in high-grade
standardized asphaltum for many years and as it
was necessary to ship the products of their Cali
fornia refneries across the continent or around
the Horn in order to get them to the market they
decided to lay pipe line across the isthmus and
send the crude oil down the coast from California
in their steamers and then up the Atlantic coast
to New York or Philadelphia where 1t could be
refined
The laying of the line and construction of the
pump stations was intrusted to Mr.. r. w. Fem,
a. S. c. e.. who had not only been with the COM
pany for many years. but had also lived in a num-
Der of the South American republics and was ac-
customed to the health conditions and to handling
native and Jamaican labor. Six months time
was given the company under their concession
from the United States government. dating from
January 10, 1906. Mr.. Fem given about so
minutes to get ready for the trip and reached
New York in time to take the boat sailing Febru-
ary 2 1906, for Colon, without men or plans but
with plenty of money.
On April 16 the pipe laying was commenced
and the line was completed October 16--six
months to day-but the time had been extended
by the government in order to allow for premi-
nary arrangements Mr.. S. T. McElfresh of Pitts
burg, Pa, was in immediate charge of the pipe
laying gangs. The progress of the work was
watched with great interest by all who saw it,
So much complaint had been made by everybody
about the worthlessness of Jamaican laborers that
the laying OF this pipe line was an object lesson
the subject The gangs contained. each, about
20 men and were divided into sections. First
came the "brushers." cutting all the grass and
brush, followed by the "stringers," who laid the
pipe in line end to end. The next division re-
moved the thread protectors and painted the
threads with preparation of oil and graphite.
The pipe-laying gang proper consisted of the men
who handled the lifting jacks. jack boards and
chain tongs, five men each of four pairs of
extra heavy long-handled lay tongs. Another Sec
tion lifted the next joint with pick-ups and the
pipe steerer lined 1t up so that the thread would
enter properly. while the joint was twirled by the
friction OF length of rope passed around it sew
eral times and drawn back and forth until the
pipe would enter no further in the collar without
the aid Of the tongs
The foreman then sat astride the collar and
beat time with HIS hammer while the tongsmen
broke out"-two tongs up and two down, with
the precision of military drill. After the joint
in place the painters did their work and put
on the second coat of paint the first having been
applied when the pipe left the shops, to prevent
rust forming while in transit.
An important feature Of the gang organization
was the employment of confidential man, who
spent all his time going from one gang to another
and watching to that the orders covering the
treatment of the blacks were properly carried out
by the foremen.
AS the Jamaicans arc simply great overgrown
children, they are easily discouraged by hazing
injustice and quite easily encouraged by
jollyng. One may swear at them all he wants
provided he has their confidence and. on the other
hand, big, well-traned gang can be scattered in
two days by foreman who has mean streak
in him and lets 1t crop out.
1t is also necessary TO make each repeat
every order before sending him to do anything.
in order to be sure he understands. their intel
lect is not well developed and they are so anxious
to please that they will always answer. Yes
sah," and start off without knowing what they
going to do
It is hard to realize all Of the difficulties which
presented themselves during the work. The Pa
mama railroad was in the act OF double tracking
its line and canal construction was going on ey-
ervwhere Steam shovels were at work in various
places on both sides Of the railway and tracks
we're being shifted and plans being constantly
changed all along the line There was no wagon
road across the isthmus and II was necessary to