The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-01-31

which, with his name, is entered II T the bosses time book. Each boss ha:
 two time books, one for the odd days and one for the even; they are turn ed in to the Timekeeper every night so that there is always one in the of
 fee being checked up while the other
 is out. There is a small army of in spectors, called Gum Shoe Men, who
 do nothing but go around checking up the men at wolk to compare with the bosses time books and prevent "mis-
 takes" A pay car goes over the
 whole system once a month paying off
 in cash There are two classes of
 employees Gold and Silver employees:
 the former are motly skilled white
 employees, who are paid in U. s. cur
 rency, and the latter unskilled color
 ed employees who are paid in Panama
 silver currency, equal to about half
 the value of gold. Employes can pur-
 chase coupon books denominations of
 five dollars and upwards at the Com
 missions stores, and with these they
 make purchases. The prices are very
 reasonable; lower than in the States, infact, and the quality of the goods the
 cellent and is a source ofg reat con-
 tentment to the employees.
 The hours of work are from to
 II in the forenoon and from 1 to in
 the afternoon, 8 hours per day, and
 these are general also outside of the
 Canal work. There is none but special
 repair work done on Sundays.
 The quarters provided the employees
 ares plendid; at all the important
 points along the Canal there are beau tiful camps; built by the Commission, consisting of various sizes of houses for married people and barracks for bachelors; theys are all provided with sleeping porches all around and are completely screened in with mosquito wire, and painted dark slate color; they are also furnished comfortably: they are built in no conventional or der but are scattered about, and there are beautiful driveways all around lined with flowers and trees. Any tenant of the Commission can procure free from the Commission's nursery at Empire any vines or plants kept there, or seeds, to beautify their homes, and this privilege seems to be taken advantage of, for a large per centage of the bungalows are verita- ble bowers of beauty, and everywhere you go you see the same; in the damp heat the thick rich green is very refreshing.
 The water supply is pure and good | and all the camps are properly plumb ed and drained. All this is provided by the Commission which has spent some eleven million dollars on these camps, but the houses are rented to the employees according to rank, though the rents are very moderate. At the larger camps the Commission has built churches and Y. M. c. A. club houses; these are a great acquisi- tion. I had lunch in one of the Club houses one day and found it filled ployes, playing billiards, bowling or lounging about the reading room. Theatrical companies are engaged to go the rounds of the camps, and the Commission supports several bands. There are tennis courts, and I saw 3 groups of colored fellows playing cricket. The subscription to the clubs is one dollar per month. Truly no one need consider it hardship to live on the Isthmus and work for the Commission.
 The Sanitary Department is one of the great features of the work; it may be said that it has been the key to success. Here we had the advantage of the terrible experience of the French and also of the 30 years of ad- in sanitary science since they began their operation.
 The Commission started out right by first of all ''clea ming up'. I men toned earlier that by treaty with Pan- anna we secured a zone miles on each side of the Canal across the Is- thmus. The cities of Colon and Pana- ma are within this zone, however, and were excluded, but the United States wisely stipulated that it be allowed sanitary jurisdiction over these cities, with authority to appoint inspectors, etc. Our government at once loan- { ed the Panama Government money to ( sewer and light these towns and pave ' he streets, which up to then had been ! quagmire of filth, and have since I seen that they are kept clean; also to f secure a good water supply The i 1;,,oo ,+ |, conditions that induce sickness; the z lir being so warm and moist, decom- a position is very rapid and products of C