The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1914-02-19

tive degree is very likely to be over
/ worried. The canal itself is the big
Sest thing of the kind ever under.
taken; the locks are unequaucd in
size; the work OF the department Of
sanitation is the most remarkable
ever carried out, and so il 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
IT only. either, but largely clothed it
and supplied it with household neces-
stiles and even luXuries
The cOmmissGry department Is de-
partmeut of the Panama railroad.
7 which is owned by the United States
ana of which Chairman Goethals is
president. As omcially stated:
The comnissary 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
loodstufs. wearing apparel and house
food for the hotels. hospitals. messes.
and kitchens operated by the Isthman
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
eyes S6,1J3. 355.6S, to transact which il
Is necessary 10 carry a stock valued
at about $i.oGl "@8H
That sounds decidedly prosaic, but in
truth the operations OF this great bust
ness machine arc almost romantic
The vessels OF the Panama railroad in
unending procession bring 10 the
docks at Cristobal the vast bulk Of
supplies and as continually these are
GENT ont TO The score of stores main
tainel by the department. along the
route o. thc canal and at Porto Bello
Every evening each 9torekeeper tele-
graphs 20 the headquarters in Crsto-
bal the list OF supplies OF which he is
IN need, and during the night the cars
are loaded. A. 1886 o'clock each morn
ing the long supply train starts out
from Colon. 1t consists OF - cars, II
Of which are refrigerated. and the fool
and ice are distributed along the route
go that they may be delivered to the
quarters Of families by s o'clock.
In Cristobal is the biggest store of
all, and il compares we'll with the
huge department stores of American
cllles. mere may be obtained All
hlhGH oI 1000 stuhs' American ana
-uroPe'ni clothing for men and We
men. furniture, household wares, sup
pHes ioH travellers. cigars and cigar
attes-lndeed almost anything ono
might cal for except Intoxicating
cFlhhs. Arucles from foreign lands
Delhs Imported by the government it.
sell on course pay no duty and con
5equeh.Iy such things ms fine English
chlHa"are can be loAe"t there at
prices iaf beloW those charged i" The
'Ia'eS. 10 Is sad on me is'nmus, ana
generally believed, that the members
on congressional Jonketins parties
"hI'A from N-ne 10 time go down TO
'ua9act the canal always carry home
WIN inca ioJ OF this choice por-
-eIa-'
~ tHa mead OF the commissary de.
F@l''. 'nt ls ls'e subsistence officer
OF. Eugene wilson, nose huge phys
''I rs ie Wen matched hy MS great
"', we ao'I'|. IL would seem thot
70 Le'',f man could possibly nave
h'eil l".''' i"' 'hT position lot ne mas
=" nan" every uetali or me immense