The Red Cloud chief., 1913-07-31

Colon. c. I'm writing or talking
about the Panama Canal the superla-
tive degree Is very likely to be over
worked. The canal itself is the big
gest thing of the kind ever under.
taken; the locks are unequalled In
size: the work OF the department Of
sanitation Is the most remarkable
ever carried out. and 20 II goes.
But there is one other feature OF
the building OF the canal that calls
loudly for the superlative degree-the
commissary department and the way
In which 1t has fed the Zone. Not fed
It only. either. but largely clothed It
and supplied 1t with household naces-
stiles and even luxuries.
The commissary department Is de.
partment of the Panama railroad.
which is owned by the United States
ind Of which Chairman Goethals Is
president. AS officially stated:
"The commissary department Of the
Panama railroad Is operated by the
subsistence department Of the 18TH
mian Canal commission for the pur-
pose Of supplying employees Of the
Panama railroad and Isthmian Canal
commission and their families with
foodstuffs, wearing apparel and house
hold necessities, and also supplying
food for the hotels, hospitals, messes.
and kitchens operated by the Isthmian
Canal commission and for the United
States soldiers and marines located on
the Isthmus Of Panama. and ships Of
the United States navy. It is esti.
mated that the department supplies
about 10000 people daily. computing
one dependent for each employe.
"The business Of the department for
the fiscal years ending June 30, 1912,
was $6.7O2. .355.6S, to transact which 1t
Is necessary to carry a stock valued
at about 81 100000"
That sounds decidedly prosaic. but In
truth the operations of this great bust.
ness machine are almost romantic.
The vessels Of the Panama railroad In
unending procession bring to the
docks at Cristobal the vast bulk Of
supplies and as continually these are
! sent out to the score of stores main.
tanned by the department along the
coute of the canal and at Porto Bello.
Every evening each storekeeper tele-
graphs to the headquarters in Cristo-
bal the list of supplies of which he Is
In need, and during the night the cars
are loaded. At 3:45 o'clock each morn
ing the long supply train starts out
from Colon. 1t consists of 21 cars, II
81 which are refrigerated, and the food
and ice are distributed along the route
20 that they may be delivered to the
quarters OF families by o'clock.
In Cristobal is the biggest store Of
all, and 1t compares well with the
huge department stores OF American
cities. There may be obtained all
kinds of food stuffs, American and
European: clothing for men and wo-
men. furniture. household wares. sup
plies for travellers. cigars and cigar
ettes-indeed almost anything one
might call for except intoxicating
drinks. Articles from foreign lands.
being imported by the government It.
self, Of course pay no duty, and con-
sequently such things a. fine English
chinaware can be bought there at
prices tar below those charged in the
states. II 10 said ON the isthmus. and
generally believed, that the members
Of congressional junketing parties
which from time to time 60 down to
inspect the canal always carry home
with them lot of this choice por-
celain.
At the head Of the commissary de.
partment is the subsistence ofIicer.
Col Eugene Wilson. whose huge phys.
zeal bulk is we'll matched by his great
executive ability. It would seem tha
no better man could possibly have
been found for the position, for he has
in hand every detail of the immense
business and 1t runs like clockwork
Seldom is q complaint heard from
even the most exacting of housewives,
and when one Is registered It Is cour.
teously received and the fault, II one
exists. promptly rectihed.
Cleanliness before godliness every
time" IL Colonel Wilson's motto and
though II 10 not posted on any wall
every employe understands that his
Job depends primarily on his cleanli.
ness. In Cristobal are the great cold
storage plant, bakery. coffee plant, ice
plant. ice cream plant, corned beef
plant, butter printing plant and laun
dry. and in every one of them the un
written rule "be clean" is adhered ia
with the utmost care. Nowhere, II II
can be avoided. is there personal con
tact with the food, and the numerous
and ingenious automatic machines are
kept scrupulously clean.
Now let's get back to figures, In
order to obtain some idea of the mag
nitude OF the commissary Department.
operations. Take the cold storage
plant first. In Its 192.230 cubic feet OF
refrigerated space are kept constantly
on hand meat and vegetable supplies
4