The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-17
BACK FROM PANAMA
WITH TALES ON CANAL
Interesting Story of the Big Cut Is Told
by George w. Shannon, Who Says
Col Gothals Is the Right Man
In the Right Place.

"Col. Gothals has undertaken biz
task. But he is equal to the occasion
the right man in the right place" Sc
says George w. Shannon, ex,British cav
alryman, Spanish American war veteran
and until recently member of the po-
lice department in Culebra, Panama, UNI
| der the isthmian canal commission. Mr.
Shannon returned to Vermont few
weeks ago, after six months of arduous
service in the canal zone lie has been
making long anticipated visit to his
wife and daughter in Burlington but
came this week to Barre, where he is
employed as a road salesman by j. f.
Sadlier of Elm street, dealer in house
hold specialties.
Back in 1900, Mr.. Shannon, then a
young Irish lad who had seen calvary
service in the British army, came to
America and shortly joined the Philip
pine constabulary. Although much Of
the unrest in our newly acquired island
possessions has been dissipated by this
time, gorilla, warfare still continued and
Mr.. Shannon figured in several "snipe-
shooting" brushes in and around Samar.
The experience was not without its adj
vantages for it fitted the young sol
der for other things and several years
later when the lsthmian commission
came to organize the police department
TO patrol the canal zone, Mr.. Shannon
was among those selected The depart.
ment is composed entirely of ex-sol-
diers. He had served for some time in
Panama prior to his last term of six
months.
Mr.. Shannon stated to-day that IL is
expected that water viii be flowing
through the canal within two yearh
Much delay, however, is caused by slid.
ing earth. In fact, il is one Of the
chief drawbacks with which the en-
gineers have to contend Curious to
note, the earth and debris causing the
difficulty is caused by the sinking of
the top OF the bank resulting in an up
heaval of earth and stones at the base.
This will be remedied however, as the
water flowing through the canal will be
of sufficient pressure to prevent the up
heavals
When approached concerning the ques-
ton OF Notifications at the canal, Mr..
Shannon said that he was heartily in
favor OF protecting the finished work
since so large sum has been entailed
in its constructions
In making this statement, he said, he
echoed the sentiment of nine tenths of
the people who are stationed at the
canal and those who have visited the
monstrous engineering job during its con-
struction.
The police department in the zone is
composed of over 400 white soldiers
Colored police are also employed to pat
Tol the negro settlements. The major
ity of laborers employed on the canal
are OF the colored race, coming from
the Barbados and other islands Of the
West Indies Mr. Shannon eyinced lit
tie enthusiasm over the working ability
Of the blacks and said that ten Of them
were required to do the ordinary work
of a boy. They are the chief mischief
makers in the zone and form the bulk
of the inmates of penitentiaries there.
At the Culebra peuetentiary, where Mr..
Shannon was stationed. only twelve out
of perhaps four hundred were white.
And those were confined simply because
their offenses, although nominal, could
not be condoned. The coolies are abso-
lutely devoid of ambition in their make.
up and spend their wages in drinking
and debauches
In Colon and Culebra, as well as every
other settlement along the canal the
saloons, shops and other business places
are operated almost invariably by Chin |
ese. They form class by themselves
and are orderly and respect the law. |
Other nationalities, however have crowd. |
ID into the zone, and Mr., Shannon ex- /
presses n belief that Colon is already I
one Of the most cosmopolitan cities in |
The world
In regard to sanitation and climate,
Mr. Shannon said that the canal com
mission had taken every precaution to
safeguard the health of the builders and
hat the quarters provided are models of
leatness and convenience. Cases of ma
aria rarely occur, and the disease
more prevalent in some Amer
can cities than in Colon. When asked
1 the frequently quoted statement to
he effect that the death rate in the I
one is lower than in New York City I
II other American centers OF population,
le said that this was true. The reason,
lowever, becomes more apparent when
is learned that only men in per-
ect physical condition are allowed to
inter- the governments employ A large
of the deaths are the re-
ults of accidents and not disease.
Mr., Shannon was enthusiastic in his
raise Of Col. Goethals and believes that
better man to take hold of the project
nd carry it through to completion could
ot be found in the country He has
aimed the confidence and respect of all
he officials concerned in the work.
fact which in no small way accounts
or the measure of success which rs |
ttending the undertaking. Mr.. Shan i
on expects soon to move his family to