The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-09-13
Continued from Yesterday

SdnlIduon 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 q 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-
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 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 discussing officer,
sanitary officer, engineering parties
and clerical forces were centered in
Panama, but a 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 ut Matachin.
Bias 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 a mis-
cry, servants were worse than indff-
ferent, there were no baths. no running
water in the houses. and TINT 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
" 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 10 see that our great gov
efpnient would rectlfy everything il
only given time. Others realized that
the, canal meyer would be. built If the
workers expected soft. conditions right
at the start. and they accepted their
sacrifices Of comfort as q national ne.
cessity.
Mr.. Wallace came from a highly or.
ganized railroad system to an abso.
lutely tinorganized enterprise 1000
miles from the base OF supplies. Gov
eminent red tape 10 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. 1t has not
been shown that q private contractor
could have placed machinery and sup.
plies on the ground with mnch greater
celerity4thap tlIe government
The overriding idea was to make a
Showing. President Roosevelt himself
had set the pace for quick results.
congressman who were expected 10
vote for canal appropriations frequent.
~ could not he Impressed that the
project was worth, while If the dirt
was not flying Mr.. Wallace therefore
conee1tratEd on excavation
work that more proftably could have
been spent. on preparations. He got
out T41, GA yards in his year, credit
able showing with the equipment at
hand. The first steam shovel was in.
stalled on Nov. II, 1904, and was No.
101, of the seventy ton class II is
still in use in the canal. On Dec. ..
1904, the second steam shovel was
erected, No. POI. of-rhe ninety-five ton
class. By June, 1905. there were nine
steam shovels at work. and the last
French excavator was abandoned on
June I6, 1905, the day Mr.. Wallace left
the canal zone 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
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
sometimes conditions in the canal zone
were pictured a little roster than the
facts warranted.
As secretary of war William Howard
Taft had the immediate direction of
Panama canal affairs. Every time he
touched the project he manifested tile
high order Of ability that made him so
admirably equipped for the presidency !
later on.
Almost coincidental with the begin |
ming Of American operations Panama
began tD faal how q he0Irtat,, ,o,,a,.t.. Z