The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1911-12-02

always was called David and so the military acao
envy held friendly David and Goliath, thereby
establishing a better record for amity and friend
illness than that contained in the Scriptures
When the army engineers went to Panama to
take charge of the work they knew that in order
to make progress with the digging they must have
contented family of laborers. They also knew
that they must maintain discipline. In the army
discipline is maintained as a matter of course
the men who enlist knowing that they must sub
NIT themselves without question to the proper
orders Of their superors.
The men who work the Isthmus of Pan
ANA are mostly civilians, and Colonel Goethals
and his assistants knew that they would resent
anything like army disciplinary methods, even
though they were intended for their benefit and
would soon prove their worth. Goethals is
most tactful man. With his assistants he secured
army discipline on the isthmus without allowing
the civilians even to appreciate that gradually
they were coming under the guidance of rules
laid down for men who wear the uniform of the
service. The army officers worked at first in a
suggestive way. Men were directed to 'try" Ger.
tain things and see how they came out
Trial was made and then other suggestions
were made and finally the big working force
found that 1t was living regular, healthful life
with time for regulated recreation, and that it
was possible to get pleasure out OF existence by
other means than by drinking it in. Sugges.
ton rather than command made a disciplined
force out of the forty-odd thousand laborers.
There probably is not a healthier place on the
face Of the earth today than the canal strip Of
the Isthmus Of Panama.
Colonel William c. Gorgas of the medical de.
partment Of the United States army is the head
of the department of sanitation on the fsthmus
Under his direction disease virtually has been
killed and fear itself has been set at defiance.
large part of the food for the isthmus is
purchased in the United States and it is shipped
under the most favorable conditions. "A paper
called 'The Canal Record" IL published at fire.
quent intervals and it's last page is devoted to
list Of the food which can be obtained at the
commissary department. with the prices afxed.
Living on the isthmus is Just 40 cheap II not
cheaper than it is in this country and the food
is Of the highest possible quality. Many Of the
civilian employees constituting clerical and engi.
neering forces have taken their families to Pan
anna. They have fine quarters and they buy their
food virtually at cost price.
The army was on its metal when 1t was put in
charge of the Panama canal building. Thus far.
admittedly, its work has been nothing short Of
wonderful in all lines Of isthmian endeavor It
may be that President Taft's prophecy viii not
come true and that the canal will not be opened
until 1915, but it should be remembered that the
latter date is the one set for athe opening by
Colonel George w. Goethals, the enginerin-chief.
It is probable, however. that he hopes to see the
procession of ships. with the old Oregon leading,
pass into the great waterway on some day within
the next two years.