The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-30
.[|GHTNER RETURNS . FROM CANAL VISIT Means Great Industrial
 Boom for the South OPEN IN TWO YEARS Says It Is Impossible To Realize the Magnitude and Importance of Big Ditch Until It Has Been Seen
OPEN IN TWO YEARS

A. executive department for the Frisco lines, returned yesterday from three weeks trip to Panama and various points on the isthmus MT. Lightner was accompa- nied by Mrs. Lightner, both Of whom were greatly interested in the work now nrogressing in the building of the Pan anna canal.
 Tn speaking of the Panama canal yes- terday MT. Lightner said that not the slightest conception could be secured of the magnitude of the work by anyone who failed to visit the zone. He said the engineering feat was the most colossal proposition that he had ever looked upon and that more work was being done in that connection than upon any construc- ton he had ever heard of.
 "The indications are now that the ca- nal will be opened in less than two years" said MT. Lightner. "That seems to be the opinion of the engineers in charge of the work and others who are more or less familiar with the progress being made.
 "The huge ditich is now about S9 1-3 DOT cent completed and it Is not believed that any great amount of time will be required to finish 1t. The canal is about fl miles long and the work is being pros ecuted from the center of the ditch in order to promote the proper drainage The health of the workmen is exception ally good, according to all reports. The workmen seem to be interested in the work, as well as satisfied with their sur roundings.
 Benefit. South .As a beneficiary traffic possibility for the south the Panama canal Is the great est undertaking that has come to this section in 50 years, in my opinion. At tins time a terrific amount of freight traffic is handled on the railroad which runs parallel with the canal When the ditch is completed the traffic will be greatly increased and will be hauled cheaper. It is folly to harbor the thought that the south will not be greatly helped by the canal It would be the height of inferior business policy for freight to be handled any other way than through the Panama canal, rather than across the continent That will draw traffic down this way and will add greatly to the railroad powers of the south. I an- ticipate wonderful results from the Pan- anna canal opening.
  propriations which now has under con sideration the giving of additional funds for the canal were in the zone when we visited there. Uncle Joe Cannon, the late speaker of the House, was there, and all of the officials seemed to be very much interested in the work that has been done. Uncle Joe was very much interested in the canal and looked minutely over the de- tails of the task.
 Fine Living Conditions
 'It is almost impossible to realize the very fine conditions under which the men work on the canal It would not be thought that in the tropics where the fever used to prevail that our kind of folk could be healthy However, the wonderful system of sanitation and other measures invoked for the benefit of the workmen have proved to be the most successful work of fever eradi- cation and sanitation performed in years. The government provides every possible comfort for the workmen. They are given AZ days leave of absence every year with 30 days. additional vacation with pay They are allowed to rent bungalows owned by the gov ernment; are furnished heat, light and water at lower rate than most houses can be secured in the states. Those
 
 ment hotel, where meals are given at a very reasonable price. The best hotel there furnishes meals for the same price as an ordinary restaurant here
 "The government has co-operated with and encouraged the Young Mems Christian association in the establish ment of a club house for the men, and they have canal zone band that is very good indeed
 ba ha oiy and they are greatly enjoyed. The cit izens there very greatly appreciate the interest of the government in those matters.
 "The canal is a great undertaking. The government has conferred upon the south one of her greatest natural blessings when that work is completed as 1t will bring great riches to this section. I take it that almost all of the great southern railroads are preparing to share in the effects of that develop ment."