Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-11-11
NUMBER IS

tralizauOn Of work the cost is from ~
to 80 per cent lower than for similar
work In American cities Cleaning
and pressing are done for both men
and women's clothes at low rates.
Early In 1905 the commission adver-
tised free quarters to both married
and bachelor employees as a special
inducement to come to the canal zone.
Thus in addition to high pay the em-
plOyees have no house or room rent to
pay. This alone constitutes u sharp
increase In an employees income over
what he could earn In the United
States for similar work. but this is not
all he receives gratis.
1t has been figured that in six years
the commission grants to each married
employee gratuities that cost 1t $1,000
and to bachelor employee gratuities
that cost $3.50. The monthly service,
such as commissary, fuel and distilled
water deliveries. removal Of garbage,
etc.. to a married employee costs $l2,
and janitor service and other service
to q bachelor employee cost $2.25
monthly. In six years IN average
force of 5000 employees has been en-
titled to these gratuities. and II is tig-
ured that the total investment by the
commission in that period for all free
service and gratuities runs between
$40 100000 and S20.OO0,000.
To married employee the free al
lowance is as follows: An individual
house or an apartment I'm building
with two or four families. a range. Il
double bed. two pillows. six dining
chairs. two kitchen chairs. one chif-
fonier. two center tables. a mosquito
bar, a refrigerator. Il double dresser.
double mattress. n kitchen table. din
Ing table, sidebourd. bedroom mat and
three wicker porch chairs.
Married quarters were assigned in
1905 and 1906 on the basis OF one
square foot for each dollar Of salary,
with extra allowances for the wife and
children. This method was abandoned.
and quarters are assigned without re-
gard to salary, except that officials re-
ceive first consideration. There are
one, two and four family houses. ell
tirely screened on the outside. Every
house or apartment has Its shower
bath. tubs not being used. and each
town has n complete sewer system.
Bachelors. whether men or women,
are treated correspondingly well.
Quarters with two. three or four In q
room and janitor service are free. In
the early days there was unpleasant
crowding because Of the scarcity OF
buildings. hut only occasionally has
there been congestion In late years.
These buildings shelter from n dozen
to sixty men and. like the married
quarters. are screened OH the outside.
Hotels operated by the commission
are the boarding places for the bach
elor employees The wide verantins
are screened. and tables here are re-
served for the bachelor girls and for
the men who Wear conts at mealtlme.
Inside the employees may eat In their
shirt sleeves The meals cost 30 cents
each and are paid for by coupons that
come fifty 10 the book These books
cost Sl5. and the amount Is deducted
from the employees salary ut III" end
OF the month. so that no cash Is llnm!iei
Mt the hotels. except from nonrnillny-
ees, who must pay 30 cents for II meal.
The fare could not be duplicated In
the United StntcS for - cents Il nl''il.
A typical thirty cent menu Includes
SOUP. two kinds Of meat. four kinds "
vegetables. LUt rolls or light bread. a
salad. ten. coffee or cocoa. and Tor des-
sert Ice cream or pie. On every mbie
are fruit. olives preserves. condiments.
and for several years In the early
stages an open bowl of qulnine aS II
malarial antidote
The hotels for the gold employees
usually have been operated mt Slight
loss. while the European lnborers
messes and the colored laborers' kitch.
ems have shown profit. NJ the mess
es for the Europeans. principally
Spaniards and Italians. the cost OK
three meals Is 40 cents. willie nj the
kitchens where the West Indian la'inr-
ers get their food cooked TO take away
and eat the cost IL 80 cents for three
meals. The food Is always wholesome
and plentiful. and the tastes OF the va
rious natiOnalities are studied To give
them that to which they are accustom-
ed. The West Indians consume more
than 100 tons OF rice monthly. the itai-
ians want macaroni. and the Spanihrds
eat vast quantities Of bread
Stewards ut the hotels for the goid
EMPLOYEES found that each man aver
aged only two meals day. The saw
ing to an employee by cutting ont one
meal Is 50 Il month They substitute
fruit or sandwich from the clubhouse
for the third meal and In the two they
do eat stow away enough to sntisfy
their needs. Three meals day ut 80
cents each would cost S2I II mouth.
Two meals day. or sixty for the
MONTH cost SIS. Some of tue employ
ees cut out breakfast and some lunch.
so the stewards prepare food Tor an
average Of two meals per employee.
The Tvoli hotel ut Ancon. on the
Pacific side. Is the tourist hotel oper-
ated by the commission. Its rates.
American plan. are $3.50 day and
up. There are 21S rooms and dining
room that will seat 760 persons. At
Colon. on the Atlantic side. the COM
mission operates the Washington hotel
for the use Of visitors to the canal zone
Still another factor that makes hv'
Ing In the canal zone cheaper than In
the United States Is the result Of the
climate. With uniformly warm
temperature the quality Of clothes does
not vary the year round-for the wom-
en-, light. summery goods. largely
white; for the men. duck or linen suits
or light staple cloths The saving
from not having to buy new clothes
with the change Of seasons Is impor-
tant, and the employees generally try
to arrange their vacations 30 az to be
In the United States In mild weather.
A bride starts out life there on
basis that means a rude jolt to her
when the canal Is finished and she re-
turns to the United States. Young
couples who have been treading the
easy path OF high salary. free rent,
free water. light and fuel. cheaper
food, clothes and furniture, elastic
class distinctions and plentiful though
80. m,to,t ,oryonto muaf ever look