The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-04

Tszs9y lunch she introduced Kirk to
49, the master of transportation
of the Panama railroad. saying:
Mr. RunnelS has offered to take you
out through the cut this afternoon and
explain the work to you
Runnels was Il straight well set up.
serious young man. Anthony was
drawn to him instantly. for there was
no affectation about him.
She's wonderful" he remarked a
moment later as he and Kirk descend
ed the hotel steps together. "She told
Colonel .Ioson he'd just have to find
you II position. and | have been dele
gated TO show Won about
The ortlandtS seem to have consid-
cradle influence for outsiders ! thought
I'd have to begin at the bottom"
Runnels glanced at his companion
quickly.
"Outsiders. You don't call them out
siders: She knows everybody and ev-
erything in this country She's the
whole diplomatic service. Take the
Colombian trouble for instance
What trouble!"
when Panama seeded. She manip-
ulated that. or at least Steve Cortlandt
did under her direction. 1t was one of
the cleverest exploits on record. Co
lombia wouldn't let us build the canal.
so Panama seeded. War was declared.
but the United States interfered in
time to prevent bloodshed. BY the time
the excitement had died out we had
begun digging. She knows Central
America like the palm of her hand
When she says Kirk Anthony wants a
position. we hirelings jump about and
see that he gets it. Oh. you'll have any
job you want
The two passed through the railroad
gates and took their places in the lit
tie car. When they were under way
Runnels went on: II am supposed to
show you this end of the work and tell
you what it all means The ditch
will be about fifty miles long. and.
roughly speaking. the work is in three
PARASITIC dredging and harbor build
ing at sea level on each end of the
canal. the lock work and the excava-
tons on the upper levels. That dam
you saw building at Gatun will form
lake about thirty miles long-Guite a
fishpond. eh? When a westbound ship
arrives, for instance. it will be raised
through the Gatun locks. three of them
and then sail along eighty-fve feet
above the ocean. across the lake and
into channel dug right through the
hills until it reaches the locks at
Pedro Miguel. Then it will be lowered
to smaller lake five miles long. then
down again to the level of the Pacific
An eastbound ship will reverse the
process. Get the idea?''
"Sure. 1t sounds easy"
You will start in with the P. r. R..
Mr.. Anthony. under my despotic sway"
81 know little about railroading"
$50 much the better. There's a big
railroad man by your name in the
states. Are you related?"
II believe So" Kirk answered. quiet
ly. Go ahead with the lesson"
THE canal zone is a strip of land
ten miles wide running across the
Enthusiastically an American colony.
| yOu know. for we govern ii. police it
and all that. AS for the work itself.
well. the fellows at the two ends of
| the canal are dredging night and day
to complete their part. the lock build
ers are laying concrete like mad to
get their share done first. the chaps in
! the big cut are boring through the hills
/ like moles and breaking steam shovel
records every week. while we railroad
men take care of the whole shooting
match. Of course. there are other de-
partm nitary. engineering. COM
missary, and so forth-all doing their
| share. but that is the general scheme.
| Everybody is trying to break records.
! Lord. It's fierce"
Why didn't you quit?" suggested An
/ thony.
Quit. What for? Good Lord. We
| like it. Here we are at Pedro Miguel.
by the way. Well be into the cut
shortly
| To his left Anthony behe'd another
scene somewhat similar to the one at
Gatun. Other movable steel cranes
with huge wide flung arms. rose o't e.:
another chasm in which We're extensive.
concrete workings. From distaHre-
the towers resembled parts of half
constructed cantilever bridge Of ire
mendous height Another army WAS
toiling ut the bottom Of the pit. more
cars Shunted back and forth. more
rock crushers rumbied: but. before
Kinks eye had photographed more
than small part. the motor car had