Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-12-01

always was called David and so the military acau
envy held friendly David and Goliath, thereby
establishing a better record for amity and friend
lness 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
a contented family of aborers. 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 superiors.
The men who work on the Isthmus Of Pan
anna 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 a
most tactful man. With his assistants, he secured
army discipline on the isthmus without allowing
the civilians 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 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 it living regular, healthful life
with time for regulated recreation, and that 1t
was possible to get pleasure out Of existence by
other means than by drinking it in. Sugges-
ton rather than command made disciplined
force out of the fortyodd thousand laborers
There probably is not 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 isthmus
Under his direction disease virtually has been
killed and fear itself has been set at defiance.
A large part of the food for the isthmus is
purchased in the United States and it is shipped
under the most favorable conditions. paper
called "The Canal Record" is published at fire.
uuent intervals and it's last page is devoted to
a list of the food which be obtained at the
commissary department, with the prices affixed
Living on the isthmus is just as 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
ana 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
NAV be that President Tafts prophecy will not
come true and that the canal will not be opened
until 1915 but 1t should be remembered that the
latter date is the one set for the opening by
Colonel George w Goethals, the englner-in-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 so;ne day wituiI
the aext two ysars.