Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-26

- 8 NV - - WAv2ANV-
of the whole world had been stimu-
lated by the rejuvenation Of the canal
project by the Americans. with the re.
suit that restless spirits everywhere
began bending their steps toward Pan
anna. Men Of excellent character In
the United States also came. attracted
BY the pay and the romantic nature Of
the undertaking.
: The houses left by the French were
inhabited by natives or buried in the
jungle growth. They necessarily were
run down. but could be made habitable
once the carpenters and lumber to do
the work were at hand. These, how
ever. like everything else, were 1000
miles away with spider web Of red
tape over them that paralyzed speedy
movement. In his year Of service Mr..
Wallace repaired 357 of these houses
hnd built forty-eight new ones, still
ieaying the problem of housing en-
ployees unsolved. During that time
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 a plan Of taxes
that at the end of fifty years from
their completion viii repay the United
States and turn them over to the re-
spectivs cities.
Hone of the dredges left by the
French was found to be. after twenty
years, In excellent condition and was
but to work in Colon harbor. The
twenty miles of track In the Culebru
Ont occasioned derailments and wrecks
Nth exasperating frequency until re-
IA with heavier rails, and this mile
aye was Increased by an addition Of
Fifteen miles during the first year. Ma
chine shops existed at 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 a building that formerly
had been occupied by the French di.
rector general The dlsbursing officer.
sanitary officer, engineering parties
and clerical forces were centered In
Panama, but site for an American
administrative town was selected at
the foot Of Ancon hill, just outside OF
Panama.
French towns at Culebra, Empire and
Gorgona were rehabilitated and sys-
TENS Of sewers and waterworks begun.
There were settlements at Matachin.
Bas Obispo and Colon. Accommoda.
lions were of the crudest description.
Powder boxes served for morris chairs,
furniture was scanty and Of ancient
design. tropical insects made life q 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.
ly could be obtained from the railroad
ice factory at Colon.
Each ship that brought workers TO
the canal zone Invariably carried the
same or others back. Yet percentage
stuck and accepted the undesirable
conditions gracefully. A few had VI
sion enough to see that our great gov
ernment would rectify everything II
only given time. Others realized that
the canal never would be built II the
workers expected soft conditions right
at the start. and they accepted their
sacrifices Of comfort rs 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
ernment red tape to such a man was
exasperating to the last degree. 1t was
necessary for the government to ad-
vertise for bids. and this constituted
the principal delay in securing orders:
but. barring that procedure. It has not
been shown that q private contractor
could have placed machinery and sup
plies on the ground with much greater
celerity than the government
The overriding idea was to make q
showing. President Roosevelt himself
had set the pace for quick results.
Congressmen who were expected to
vote for canal appropriations frequent
ly could not be impressed that the
project was worth while II the dirt
was not flying. Mr.. Wallace therefore
concentrated energies on excavation
work that more pro6tably could have
been spent on preparations. He got
out TAI, ga yards in his year, a credit
able showing with the equipment at
hand. The first steam shovel was In
stalled on Nov. II, 1904, and was No.
1O1, 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-ive ton
class. By June, 1905. there were nine
Steam shovels at work. and the last
French excavator was abandoned on
June 16, 1905. the day Mr.. Wallace left
the canal zone rs 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
work and original steel and iron con-
struction work. required boilermakers.
mechanics. blacksmiths and machine
shop workers Of all kinds. Recruiting
offices were opened in the principal
American cities to engage them. and