La Junta tribune., 1912-09-14
Marvellous Canal Work
Beggars Description
~ r. W. PATTERSON

cents silver. The negroes and
spauiards are furnished quarters
aud barracks free. They are fed in
messes. the negroes at II cents
gold a day for three meals, the
Spaniards at 20 cents gold a day
The spaniards and negroes work
nlne hours day. They are paid
time and one.half for overtime.
There are dozen or more towns
In the canal zone which have been
built practically entirely by the
government and both sites and
all the houses and Improvements
are owned by the government
Thes. towns were built as part of
the work and expense OF building the
canal When the canal has been fin
ished these towns. with probably four
or five exceptions. will be abandoned.
the houses, shops and Improvements
torn down and moved away
Many Of the towns are beautiful.
with beautiful sites and surround
Ings, and, while there is little va
riety OF architecture. they are hand
some comfortable and convenient
houses. built after style we'll
A.. 4 ~ I'D
fort OF the people These towns
are provided with complete sewer,
drainage and water systems. elec.
,ric lights. postoffices and tele-
phones. although but few private
houses have telephones These
towns are almost exclusively oc-
cupied by the canal employees and
their families. There are few
merchants and other people not
connected with the canal. bu, when
this great work l. completed, there
viii be use or employment or bust
ness for but a very small portion
of the 5000 people who are now
deriving their support from the
canal building aud also for the few
aud others who are not
connected with the canal directly.
There will b. important cities at
each end Of the canal Cristobal
At the Atlantic end and Ancou and
Balboa AZ the Pacific entrance TO
the canal At the Pacific end will
be the great shops. dry docks,
and warehouses that will
furnish employment for several
thousand men. for here will be
done almost the entire shop work
for the canal aud the railroad.
There will be permanent town
at Gatun and one at the Pedro
Miguel and Mirafiorcs locks
At Bas Oberpo. Camp Elliott. the
government has post Of marines
and nt Los Cascades. Camp Otis.
an army post These camps will be
maintained at some point on the
rome. The railroad has been per.
manentiy located on the east side
Of the canal. having been moved.
Ia parts. Two and even three times.
from tho original line
Many - the present towns ARE
on m" west bank of the canal. 80
that when th" canal Is completed.
there will be- no railroad rommunica.
cation with these towns II H.
doubtful whether there will bee a
bridge across the canal at any
point This. however. Is under con.
sidcratiou
When ,hls work Is finished and
these towns have rsssod out of "a.
is'"uce and ihls immense army OF
hb1rcrs aud their happy families
tho world there will be many n
sigh for tho happy. prosperous
days Of tho canal zone and every
mhn be- ho high or low, will ever
feel pride iu that hr helped 10
build the Panama canal II seems
70 pity 10 break up this prosperous
and happy community of Amcri.
cans. for ! viii venture 10 say that
nowher" can there be found In one
community 30 lin" a body Of men.
each master In his profession.
trade. arr and labor. iutelligeu, and
of high moral haractcr.