The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-07-18
Zz1zeesn>2 I1zZZZ.A2Oe
C2x1cwseSeEzZI

bitter terms but the. engineers never
changed their plans. and after 1t was
completed in 1913 these same muck
rakers were loud in their praise. &. /,
Others took up the slides in Culebrs
Cut. and one sent report to his paper
that the sides of the cut were smoking
and that a volcano was under the
Gold Hill. The report spread over the
country and experts were sent to the
Isthmus only to. find that no such con-
ditions existed.
All sorts Of ridiculous stories were
circulated. Even the Commissary De-
partment camesin for share OF the
criticism, yet every canal employe will
tell you that he has been able to sup
port his family on food Just as pure
as that sold in the United States and
at far less cost. The workmen were
well housed-far better than those
who are engaged In factory labor in
the United States. OF course, once in
awhile a disgruntled workman gave
out a story of unfair treatment which
upon Investigation was found to be
merely trifling disagreement between
the foreman and himself. The women,
too, sometimes complnined-perhap
because Mrs. Brown had better looking
dining-room furniture. or the apart
ment of Mrs. Jones had larger rooms.
but on the whole even the women
agree that life on the Canal Zone is all
that could be wished for, and tha,
everybody was given a fair deal.
Every act Of the Commission was
V,oo 40 r,,1a1 a. aI -
the chief engineer to the poorest la
borer was given a hearing II he felt
that he was not receiving his Just
deserts. Colonel Goethals for several
years held open court every Sunday
morning for the purpose OF hearing
complaints. Indeed, this court has
gone down In history as one of the
most remarkable ways Of dealing out
Justice. Each member of the Commits.
sion had special duty-a duty which
was so well performed that one Of its
members, Colonel D. D. Gaillard, gave
his life in that ,line-a martyr to the
greatest work ever undertaken by
man. When the Commission complet-
ed their task the canal was practically
ready for small steamers and was
opened to them on the tenth day of
May. Had 1t not been for the activity
OF the Cucuracha slide the canal as
far as the waterway was concerned,
would have been completed year be-
fore Its formal opening, which has
been set for January LIST, 1915. Az 1t
is, barring accidents, it is believed that
It will. be ready for the use OF all YES.
sells In September.
Cucnracl,a Slide,
The cucuracha slide has been the
bette noir ever since. the work began.
and even in the days of the French
It was the hoodoo of progress The
channel through Cluebra Cut is at
present about two hundred feet wide,
one hundred feet less than It will be
when completed. The slides there
have already reached the enormous
total OF 100000 cubic yards Of
earth and still the monster Curchracha
resists control. Colonel Gaillard. who
was the engineer in charge of the Gem
trail Division since 1908, believed that
the water would give stability to the
sides and stop It's progress, and per-
haps 1t has In measure. but not AZ
completely Is Colonel Gaillard had
hoped. The hght against Cucuracha
led to Colonel Gaillard's death. Day
and night he planned against its prog
ress, only to meet defeat. Finally.
nature could stand no more and the
faithful officer came North for rest
and medical trsatment-a physical
and mental wreck, dying Aikew months
later. &