Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-10-24

more than 1900 workers came to the
canal zone, but the migration back to
the United States or adjacent islands
and countries was heavy.
Colonel Gorgas had urged the prompt
sanitation of Colon and Panama, and
early in the American occupation the
construction of sewers. waterwOrks
and paved streets was begun. The
Americans advanced the money for
these improvements on plan of taxes
that at the end of fifty years from
their completion will repay the United
States and turn them over to the re-
spective cities.
One of the dredges left by the
French was found to be. after twenty
years, in excellent condition and was
put to work in Colon harbOr. The
twenty miles of track in the Culebra
cut Occasioned derailments and wrecks
with eXasperating frequency until re-
laid with heavier rails, and this mile
age was increased by an addition of
fifteen miles during the first year. Ma
chine shops existed ut Colon. Mata-
chin and Gorgona. where, when the
jungle had been cut away. facilities
were found for repairing machinery
and rolling stock.
Mr.. Wallace made his headquarters
in Panama in building that formerly
had been occupied by the French di'
rector general. The disbursing officer.
sanitary officer. engineering parties
and clerical forces were conferred in
Panama. but site for an American
administrative town was selected at
the foot of Ancon hill. just outside of
Panama.
French towns ut Culebra, Empire and
Gorgona were rehabilitated and sys-
TENS of sewers and waterwOrks begun.
There were settlements at Matachin.
Bas ObispO and Colon. accommodate
lions were of the crudcst description
Powder boxes served for morris chairs,
furniture was scanty and of ancient
design. tropical insects made life mis-
cry. servants were worse than indif-
ferent, there were no baths. no running
water in the houses. and that which
was used sometimes was caught from
roofs on which the buZZards roasted,
the native foods had to be eaten. and
ice was luxury that only occasional
ice factory at Colon.
Each ship that brought workers to
the canal zone invariably carried tn"
same or others back. Yet Il percentage
stuck and accepted the undesirable
conditions gracefully. A few had vi
sion enough to see that our great gov.
eminent would rectify everything If
only given time. Others realized that
the canal never would be built If the
workers expected soft conditions right
at the start. and they accepted Their
sacrifices of comfort as national ne
cessity.
Mr.. Wallace came from highly or
ganized railroad system to an abso
lutely unorganiZed enterprise 1000
miles from the base of supplies. Gov
eminent red tape to such Il man was
eXasperating to the last degree. 1t was
necessary for the government to adj
vertise for bids. and this constituted
the principal delay in securing orders:
but. barring that procedure. it has not
been shown that private contractor
could have placed machinery and sup
plies on the ground with much greater
celebrity than the government
The overriding idea was to make a
showing President Roosevelt himself
had set the pace for quick results.
congressman who were expected to
vote for canal appropriations frequent
~ could not be impressed that the
project was worth while if the dirt
was not flying. Mr.. Wallace therefore
concentrated energies on excavation
work that more protitably could have
been spent Oh preparations. He got
out 741 GA yards in his year, Il credit
able showing with the equipment at
hand The first steam shovel was in
stalled on Nov. II, 1904, and was Nc.
101, Of the seventy ton class. 1t Is
still in use in the canal. On Dec. 2,
1904, the second steam shovel was
erected, No. POI, of the ninety five ton
class. BY June. 1905. there were nine
steam shovels ut work. and the last
French eXcavatOr was abandoned on
June 16, 1905. the day Mr.. Wallace left
the canal zonc as chief engineer.
All engines, cars, steam shovels and
other large equipment had to be
brought to the isthmus knocked
down." This work. with the repair