Tensas gazette., 1913-08-22

Colon, e. 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 so 1t 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 it has fed the Zone. Not fed
1t only, either, but largely clothed 1t
and supplied it with household neces-
stiles and even luxuries.
The commissary department is 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
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. 1t 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 80, 1912.
was s6,7O2 .355.6s, to transact which it
is necessary to carry stock valued
at about $1,000, ,000."
That sounds decidedly prosaic. but In
truth the operations of this great busi-
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. II consists Of 21 cars, IL
of which are refrigerated. and the food
and ice are distributed along the route
so, 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
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
I sequently such things as fine English
chinaware can be bought there al
Q prices far below those charged in the
states II is said on the isthmus. and
! generally believed. that the members
of congressional junketing partie:
e which from time to time go down tC
q inspect the canal always carry home
d with them a lot of this choice por
celain.
J, At the head Of the commissary de
partment is the subsistence officer
Col. Eugene Wilson. whose huge phys
u ical bulk is well matched by his grea
s executive ability. It would seem tina
/ no better man could possibly hav'
been found for the position. for he ha
|" In hand every detail of the immens
6 business and It runs like clockwors
( Seldom is a complaint heard iron
); even the most exacting of housewives
e and when one is registered 1t is cour
e teously received and the fault, IL on
O exists. promptly rectified.
4 Cleanliness before godliness ever
o time" is Colonel Wilson's motto an
e though It is not posted on any wal
] every empToye understands that hi
Job depends primarily on his cleanl
e ness. In Cristobal are the great col
e storage plant, bakery. coffee plant. ic
plant, ice cream plant, corned bee
plant. butter printing plant and laur
N dry, and in every one Of them the VI
written rule be clean" is adhered I
=, with the utmost care. Nowhere. IL
can be avoided. is there personal col
tact with the food. and the numerou
and ingenious automatic machines al
4. kept scrupulously clean.
}" Now let's get back to figures,
,s order to obtain some idea OF the ma
N nitude of the commissary department
!, operations. Take the cold storae
:, plant first. In its 2,230 cubic feet (
: refrigerated space are kept constant
= on hand meat and vegetable supple
= for ten days at least. in some y
stances much more. Hanging in To-.
% rows in. the icy cold rooms are u
- carcasses of 400 beeves and hogs an
~ sheep in due proportion. In otf
rooms. not SO cold, are $50 tons Of =
tatoes, and vast quantities Of onion
turnips, beets, carrots, cabbage
yams, celery, tomatoes and other We
ie etables. In yet other rooms are 4
:. tons Of poultry. and elsewhere q.
boxes of fruit without number. AZ
this enormous supply Is daily deple