Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-28
PART H..
BY COL. G. w. COCKTAILS
copyrighted, 1913, by the Newspa-
per Enterprise Association In the
United States, Great Britain,
France and Germany

across the isthmus.
The work of sanitation included
clearing lands, draining and filling
pools and swamps for the extermina-
ton of the mosquito, the establish
ment of hospitals for the care of the
sick and injured, and the quarantine.
In addition, to secure and maintain
better health conditions, municipal
were undertaken in the
cities of Colon and Panama and the
various settlements along the line
line of the canal, such as the con-
struction of reservoirs, with mains
and adjuncts, for furnishing whole
some and sufficient water, sewerage,
and a system of roads
Buildings to the number of 2,0O9
were constructed, including office
buildings, hospitals, hotels, messes,
kitchens, shops, storehouses and liv-
ing quarters. In addition to this 1,536
buildings out of total of 2,200 build
ings turned over by the French were
remodeled and repaired for use.
Recruiting agencies were estab-
llshed in the United States, Europe
and the West indies.
The comissary department of the
Panama Railroad Company was en-
larged until 1t became a great de-
partment store, supplying to the en-
ployees whatever was necessary for
their comfort and convenience. Man
ufacturing, cold storage and laundry
plants we're established and turned
out each day about 80 tons of ice,
ID, 900 loaves of bread, 2,400 rolls, $50
gallons OF Ice cream, 1000 pounds of
roasted coffee and $500 pieces of
laundry. -Four to five refrigerator
cars loaded with meats, vegetables
and such fruits as could be obtained
were sent out on the night freight to
distant points, and every morning a
supply train of about sixteen cars, of
which number six to eight were re-
frigerator cars, left Christobal at 4:30
to distribute foodstuifs and laundry
to the local commissaries along the
line, where employees could make
their purchases, and where the ho-
tells, messes and kitchens secured
their supplies for the day.
The construction plant, consisting of
steam shovels, locomotives, cars, un-
leaders, track shutters, pile drivers.
cranes, dredges, steamboats,, tugs and
barges, was purchased, for the most
part knocked down." and the shops
for their erection and repair were con-
structed and enlarged. Some of the
was built from parts man
ufactured in the shops. The distance
from the home market, with attend-
ant vexatious delays in securing pnrts
and material and the necessity for
keeping the construction plant in the
most efficient condition for economi-
cal operation, made it imperative that
the shops be equipped to meet every
possible contingency.
The capacity of the Panama rail-
road was Increased by double tracking
1t throughout, except from Cristobal
to Gatun and from Culebra to Paraiso.
Yards were enlarged and connections
made to areas available for dumping
grounds.
Laws were framed and civil govern
ment was established with its neces-
sary adjuncts of courts, police force,
fire companies, customs and revenue
service, postofilces, public works and
treasury.
A purchasing department was or
ganized in the United States Tor
the obtainment of supplies of all
kinds and descriptions. Upon arrival
on the isthmus, the supplies were
shipped to the various sub divisions
of the canal work for which they
were purchased or they were placed
in storehouses along the line for issue
when required.
1t was only after these various,
yet necessary, adjuncts had been
provided and the forces for their
operation were organized that the
principal work in hand, the build
ing of the canal, could be pushed for
ward with any hope of success, and
too much praise cannot be given to
those who conceived and established
them in a working condition. The
department of engineering and con-
struction was divided into three con-
struction divisions. The Atlantic di-
vision embraced the engineering con-
struction from deep water in the
Caribbean sea to include the Gatun
locks and dam; the central division
from Gatun to Pedro Miguel
and the Pacific division from Pedro
Miguel to deep water in the Pacific
ocean.
AS already noted, the Americans
continued the work in progress by
the French in the cut commonly
known as the Culebra cut, utilizing
the French machinery until 1t could
be replaced by more modern appll-
ances. This was the most formida-
BILE part of the enterprise on account
Of the magnitude of the cutting and
also because OF the difficulties attend
ing it due to the excessive rainfall
and to the varying character of the
encountered.
The French so planned the excava-
ton that after the removal of the
peak of the divide and lesser sum-
mits they could work a number of
simultaneously at several
points, so that a succession of benches
or lodges resulted, lying one above
4 In NJ N a c11fs.
face at the point of beginning. BY
working in the direction of the length
of the cut, the face of the bank gave
the longest cutting possible, reducing
the number of times the excavator
must be hauled back, and secured
drainage arrangement,
since the cutting was carried up
grade on either side of the summit.
The Americans followed the same
method, the only difference being in
the character of machinery used.
The greatest difficulty encountered
in the excavation was due to slides
and breaks which caused large
masses of material to slide or move
into the excavated area, closing off
the drainage, upsetting steam shovels
and tearing up the tracks.
The term "slide" is applied to the
movement of the everything clay upon
smooth, sloping surfaces of rock or
other material harder than clay.
Breaks" occur at points where the
rock is of poor quality.
by vertical seams or
seams sloping toward the canal, and
which Is unable to bear up the SUI
mass. Generally the up
per surface of Che broken portion of
the bank remains approximately hcr-