South Bend news-times., 1913-11-27
The Story of the Panama Canal--By the
Man Who Built 1t.

I established and turned out each day
about 80 tons OF ice. $4,000 loaves OF
bread, 2,40O rolls. $50 gallons OF ice
cream, 1000 pounds OF roasted coffee
and $500 pieces OF laundry. Four TO
FIVE refrigerator cars, loaded with
meats, vegetables and such fruits as
could be obtained, were sent out on
the night freight TO distant points, and
every morning a supply train OF about
16 cars, OF which number six to eight
We're refrigerator cars, left CrlstObal
at 1880 10 distribute food-stuffs and
laundry to the local commissaries
along the line, where employees could
make their purchases and where the
hotels messes and kitchens secured
their supplies for the day.
The construction plant, consisting
OF steam shovels, locomotives, cars.
unloaders, spreaders, track-shifters.
pile-drivers cranes, dredges, steam
boats, tugs and barges was purchased.
for the most part knocked down"
repair were constructed and enlarged.
Some OF the machinery was built
from parts manufactured in the shops.
The distance from the home market
with attendant vexatiOus delays in Sc
curing parts and material and the
necessity for keeping the construction
plant in the most efficient condition
for economical operation, made il i'm
perative that the shops be equipped TO
meet every possible contingency.
The capacity OF the Panama rail-
road was increased by double track
ing it throughout. except from Girls
tObal 10 Gatun and from Culebra to
Paraiso. Yards were enlarged and
connections made TO areas available for
dumping grounds.
Laws were framed, and civil gov
ernment was established with its nee
essary adjuncts OF courts, police force.
fire companies, customs and revenue
service, postoffices, public works and
treasury.
A purchasing department was or
ganized in the United States for the
obtainment Of supplies of all kinds
and descriptions. Upon arrival on the
isthmus, the supplies were shipped to
the various divisions of the canal
work for which they were purchased
or they were placed in storehouses
along the line for issue when requir-
ed.
1t was only after these various, yet.
necessary, adjuncts had been provided
and the forces for their operation were
organized that the principal work in
hand, the building OF the canal, could
be pushed forward with any hope Of
success and too much praise cannot
be given to those who conceived and
established them in a working condi-
ton. The department of engineering
and construction was divided into
three construction divisions. The At
lantic division embraced the engineer
ing construction from deep water in
the caribbean sea to include the Gatun
locks and dam; the Central division
extended from Gatun to Pedro Miguel
and the Pacific division from Pedro
Miguel to deep water in the Pacific
ocean.
AS already noted. the Americans
continued the work in progress by the
French in the cut commonly known as
the Culebra cut utilizing the French
machinery until 1t could be replaced
by more modern appliances. This
was the most formidable part of the
enterprise on account of>th magni-
tude of the cutting and also because
of the difficulties attending it due to
the excessive rainfall and TO the varyA
character OF the materials encount-
cred.
The French so planned the eXcava-
ton that after the removal of the
peak of the divide and lesser sum-