The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-08-08

Colon, c. I'm writing or talking
about the Panama Canal the superla-
tive degree is very likely 10 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 it 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
1t 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 employe
The business Of the department for
| the fiscal years ending June 80. 1912.
was s6.T02, 355.6S. to transact which it
Is necessary to carry a stock valued
at about $1,000. 000."
That sounds decidedly prosaic, but in
truth the operations OF this great bust
ness machine are almost romantic
The vessels OF the Panama railroad il
amending procession bring TO the
docks at Cristobal the vast bulk oil
supplies and as continually these are
i sent out to the score of stores main.
tanned by the department along the
route OF the canal and at Porto Belle
H Every evening each storekeeper tele
graphs to the headquarters in Cristo
bal the list of supplies of which he is
n need, and during the night the cars
are loaded. Al 5: As o'clock each morn
ing the long supply train starts out
from Colon. II consists of n cars, II
If which are refrigerated. and the foed
and ice are distributed along the route
so that they may be delivered TO the
quarters Of families by 8 o'clock.
In Cristobal is the biggest store Of
all, and it compares well with the
huge department stores of American
cities. There may be obtained al
kinds of food stuffs, American an6
European: clothing for men and wo
men, furniture, household wares. sup
plies for travellers, cigars and cigar
sttes-indeed almost anything one
might call for except intoxicating
drinks. Articles from foreign lands
being imported by the government il
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 tn,
states. It is said on the isthmus, an,
generally believed. that the member
of congressional junketing partie
which from time 10 time go down t,
inspect the canal always carry homt
with them lot of this choice por
eelain.
At the head OF the commissary de
partment is the subsistence officer
Col Eugene Wilson. whose huge phys
lcal bulk is weu 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 it runs like clockwork
Seldom is q complaint heard frou
even the most exacting of housewife;
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 it is not posted on any wal
every enploye understands that hi
jon depends primarily on his cleanl
ness In Cristohal are the great col
storage plant. bakery, coffee plant, ic
plant. ice cream plant, corned hes
plant. butter printing plant and laul
dry. and in every one of them the III
written rule be clean" is adhered {
with the utmost care Nowhere, II
can be avoided, is there personal col
tact with the food, and the numerou
and ingenious automatic machines AZ
kept serupulousiy clean,
Now lets set hack 70 figures.
order to obtain some idea Of the MAJ
nitude of the commissary department
operations. Take the Geld storag
plant first. In its fse.sS0 cubic feet
| REFRIGERATED space are kept constant
on hand meat and vegetable supple
for ten days st least, in some