South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-26

larged until il became a great depart
ment store, supplying to the employees
whatever was necessary for their COM
fort and convenience Manufacturing.
cold storage and laundry plants were
established and turned out each day
about 80 tons OF ice, IA, 900 loaves OF
bread. 2.40O rolls. ESQ gallons of ice
cream, ], 900 pounds Of roasted coffee
and 1900 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 10 distant points, and
every morning a supply train of about
IS cars, of which number six to eight
were refrigerator cars, left Cristobal
at 4:30 10 distribute food-stuffs and
laundry to the local commissaries
along the line, where employees could
make their purchases and where the
hotels, messes and kitchens secured
their supplies for the day.
The construction plant, consisting
OF steam shovels, locomotives. cars,
unloaders. spreaders. track-shifters.
pile drivers, cranes, dredges, steam
boats, tugs and barges. was purchased,
for the most part "knCcked down"
and the shops for their erection and
repair were constructed and enlaTc Cd
Some Of the machinery was built
from parts manufactured in the shops.
The distance from the home market,
with attendant vexatious delays in Sc
curing parts and material and the
necessity for keeping the construction
plant in the most efficient condition
for economical operation, made il i'm
perative that the shops be equipped to
meet every possible contingency.
The capacity Of the Panama rail-
road was increased by double track
ing il throughout, except from Girls
tobal TO Gatun and from Culebra to
Paraiso. Yards were enlarged and
connections made to areas available for
dumping grounds.
Laws were framed, and civil gov
eminent was established with its nee
essary adjuncts of courts, police force.
fire companies. customs and revenue
service, postoffices, public works and
treasury.
A purchasing department was or
ganized in the United States for the
obtainment of supplies of all kinds
and descriptions. Upon arrival on the
isthmus. the supplies were shipped to
the various subdivisions of the canal
work for which they were purchased
or they were placed IN storehouses
along the line for issue when requir
ed.
1t was only after these various, yet
necessary, adtuncts had been provided
and the forces for their operation were
lldl WOIh III
hand, the building Of the canal, could
be pushed forward with any hope Of
success, and too much praise cannot
be given to those who conceived and
established them in a working condi-
ton. The department OF engineering
and construction was divided into
three construction divisions. The At
lantic division embraced the engineer
ing construction from deep water in
the caribbean sea to include the Gatun
locks and dam; the Central division
extended 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 II could be replaced
by more modern appliances. This
was the most formidable part of the
enterprise on account OF the magni-
tude OF the cutting and also because
of the difficulties attending it due to
the excessive rainfall and to the vary
character sof the materials encount-
cred.