Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-08-13


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 30 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
II only, either, but largely clothed It
and supplied It with household neces-
sites and even Injuries.
The commissary department is a de-
partment of the Panama railroad,
which is owned by the United States
and 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
milan 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 employee.
"The business Of the department for
the fiscal years ending June 30, 1912,
was $6,7O2, 1868, to transact which It
is necessary to carry 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
route 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 81 cars, IL
Of which are refrigerated, and the food
and ice are distributed along the route
30 that they may be delivered to the
quarters Of families by o'clock.
In Cristobal Is the biggest store OF
all, and 1t compares we'll 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 1t
self, Of course pay no duty, and con
sequently such things as fine English
chinaware can be bought there a
prices far below those charged in tht
states. 1t is said on the isthmus, anC
generally believed, that the members
Of congressional junketing parties
which from time to time go down Il
inspect the canal always carry homt
with them lot of this choice por
celain.
At the head of the commissary de
partment is the subsistence officer
Col Eugene Wilson, whose huge phys
zeal bulk is we'll matched by his grea
executive ability. 1t would seem tina
no better man could possibly hav
been found for the position, for he ha
in hand every detail of the immens
business and 1t runs like clockworl
Seldom is a complaint heard fror
even the most exacting Of housewives
and when one is registered it is coul
teously received and the fault, If on
exists, promptly rectified.
Cleanliness before godliness ever
time" is Colonel Wilson's motto an
though 1t is not posted on any wal
every employee understands that hi
Job depends primarily on his cleanl
ness. In Cristobal are the great col
storage plant, bakery, coffee plant, iC
plant, ice cream plant, corned bee
plant, butter printing plant and laul
dry, and in every one Of them the III
written rule "be clean" is adhered I
with the utmost care. Nowhere, ifN
can be avoided, is there personal col
tact with the food, and the numeror
and ingenious automatic machines al
kept scrupulously clean.
Now let's get back to figures,
order to obtain some idea Of the ma
nitude of the commissary department
operations. Take the cold storaE
plant first. In its 1920 cubic feet
refrigerated space are kept constant
on hand meat and vegetable supple
for ten days at least In some i