Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-29

ell the 5pinlon that rI0 years would
be required for preparations.
IL required stout hearts not to quail
before the isthmus OF 1904. Not only
| the Traditional unhealthfulness, but the
wretched condition of the railroad aft
er nfty years OF noncompetitiOn. the
long distance from the base Of sup
plies, the miserable living accommoda.
lions In Colon aud Panama. where
there were no sewers. no wGter and
unpnved streets. into which were
thrown al refuse and garbage. and the
yexatious red tape that surrounded all
| government enterprises. made situa-
ton that weaklings no sooner touched
than they returned precipitately to the
United States
To take care OF the increasing num-
Der OF workers that every ship was
bringing to the canal zone was the
most pressing problem. The interest
! OF the whole world had been stfmu-
| lated by the rejuyenation Of the canal
project by the Americans. with the re-
suit that restless spirits everywhere
began bending their steps toward Pan
ANA. Aien OF excellent character In
the United States also came. attracted
BY the pay and the romantic nature Of
the undertaking.
The houses left BY the French were
| inhabited by natives or buried In the
jungle growth. They necessarily wero
run down. but could be made habitable
once the carpenters and lumber to do
| the work were at hand. These. how
ever. Ike everything else. were 1000
| miles away with spider web OF red
tape over them that paralyzed speedy
Wallace repaired 35T OF these houses
| and built forty-elght new ones. stIll
leaving the problem Of housing EN-
! ployees unsolYed During that time
more than 1900 workers came to the
canal zone. but the migration back 10
the United States or adjacent islands
and countries WAS heavy.
Colonel Gorgas had urged the prompt
sanitation OF Colon and Panama. and
early In the American occupation the
construction OF sewers. waterw0rks
and paved streets was begun The
Americans advanced the money for
| these improvements on q plan Of taxes
that Mt the end OF ffty years from
their completion win repay the United
States and turn them over to the re-
spective cities.
One Of the dredges left by the
French was found to be. after twenty
years. In excellent condition and was
put to work In Colon harbor. The
twenty miles OF track in the Culebra
cut accustomed derailments and wrecks
with exaspersting frequency until re-
} laid with heavier rails, aud this mile
age was increased by an addition Of
fifteen miles during the first year. Ma
chine shops existed at Colon. Mata-
chin and Gorgona. where. when the
Jungle had been cut away. facilities
were found for repairing machinery
and rolling stock.
~ WalInce made his headquarters
ID Panama In a building thai formerly
had been occupied By the French d.
Ereetof general The dlsbursing officer.
Isanltary officer, engineering parties
Land clerical forces were eentered In
Panama. but site for an American
administrative town was selected at
the foot OF Ancon hill, just outside OF
IfPanama.
7 French towns at CuIebra. Empire and
Gorgona were rehabilitated and sys-
TENS OF sewers and waterworks begun.
| There were settlements at Matachin.
Bias Obispo and Colon. Aecommoda-
/ tons were OF the crudest description.
Powder boxes served for morris chairs,
furniture was scanty and Of ancient
6eslens tropical Insects made life mis-
krf. sserrHnts were worse than Indif-
| fefent. there were no baths. no running
water In the houses and that which
was used sometimes was caught from
roofs on which the buzzards roasted.
the native foods had to be enten. and
Ice was d luxury that only occasional
| ~ could be obtained from the railroad
lee factory at Colon.
Each ship that brought workers to
| the canal zone invariably carried the
same or others back. Yet q percentage
stuck and accepted the undesirable
conditions graeefully. A few had VI
sion enough to see that our great gov
eminent would rectify everything II
only given time. Others realized that
the canal never would be built II the
workers expected soft conditions right
at the start. ana they accepted their
sacrifices Of comfort MS a national ne
| cessity.
IT. he conffnuadl