The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-20


beginning Of a new era of life here.
Hardships of Early Years.
1t Is difficult for many Of us now to
realize the conditions of living which
prevailed on the zone during the first
three years of American occupancy.
1 myself was a newcomer seven years
ago, so that I cannot speak from ex-
perience of the difficulties of those
first years, but I shall never forget
the look of delighted anticipation and
satisfaction which lit the faces on an
audience which crowded the former
hall and verandas to their capacity
when the chairman Of that meeting
arose to announce the building off,
cially open for use. Until that mo-
ment,. life after working hours had
been hard and dull and monotonous.
There had been NJ books, no pictures,
no music to speak of. no theatres, no
shows; nothing but the work and then
night darkness, inconsistencies n de-
spair,, or else resort to various kinds
of d~ebauchery which are best left for
ever forgotten in the oblivion which
fortunately settles over those early
days.
Notable GatherIn9'
It was a notable gathering which
met here to celebrate the opening of
the Culebra clubhouse. 1t was just a.
few weeks after the commission, head
ed by Colonel Goethals as chairman,
had taken charge of matters on the
Canal Zone, and the whole commits
sion were present: Colonel Goethals,
Colonel now Surgeon General Gorgas
the lamented Colonel Gaillard, Colonel
Sibert, Mr.. Rosseau, Mr.. Jackson
Smith, and Senator Blackburn. Sen
ator Blackburn spoke or behalf Of the
commission that night and his charm
ing, graceful, and forceful ~eloquence
brought the audience to it's feet again
and again..
Praises Secretaries
But there was another group of men
present who, though then unknown ex-
cept among their own immediate as
s~ociates, were yet destined to make
a permanent and a noteworthy contrl-
| button to the welfare of the people
of the Canal community; for when the
international Committee of the Young
Mems Christian Association was call
ed upon to choose men fitted to be the
pioneers as well as the leaders of it's
work here it chose five intelltg-
ent, strong, capable, tactful and sin
cerely devoted young men, men SKILL
ed to cope with any condition which
might arise in this new and unt1red
field. And MI. A. Bruce Minear as
general secretary. Mr.. Bailey as sec
rotary here at Culebra. MI. McTyler
at Empire. MI. Wolf at Gorgona, and
Mr.. Stickel at Cristobal, set In mo-
ton agencies and influences which
have operated for the good Of the men
of the zone even to this day. These
men believe that it was their business
| and their right, Is secretaries OF the
| clubhouse organization to contribute to
the good of the whole community; to
it's physical, its moral, it's social, its
intellectual and moral values, and that
belief was the motive power Of the
efficient work they did while here to
make the Canal Zone a more decent
place to live in, a better place to work
in. To these pioneer secretaries their
secretarial successors, this organiza-
ton, and indeed every one living in
the Canal Zone 1--WE a debt Of sincere
and grateful remembrance.
Seven Strenuous Years. 81
These seven years of the life Of this
organization have been seven strenu-
GUS years in this community. They
have been crowded with achievement
They have brought the canal construc-
tion almost to a close and the accom-.
| plishments Of these seven years have
proved, as perhaps 1t was never de-
monstrated to so large a degree be-
fore, that determined will and intelli'
gent effort. when applied by an organ
ization characterized by a highly de-
veIoped moral, can overcome the mos
obstinate natural forces, however hos
tile those natural forces may seem II
be. And it is this, which We may tern
moral energy, which has been perhaps
the final and the supreme instrument
tally operating to transform the ag'
dream of an Isthmian waterway int
a visible reality; for, with the Unite'
, States ready to put out money almos
: without stint, with the great advance
Of recent years in preventive medicini
: and sanitation, with the great moderl
development Of applied mechanics, tn
completion of the canal became large
ly a question of men, of their ability
their force, their character. And, not
J withstanding a leadership notabl
skilled and successful, the canal enter
: prise would have been a failure ha,
there not been present in the grea
: rank and file of the American workers
J in addition to professional and mocha
) meal skill, a large capacity for sus
: tanned effort, patience and enduranc
; in the face of hard circumstances, an
loyalty to ideals and to leaders. Thes
qualities, men and women, emanat
J from character. They are essential
: moral in their nature. And becaus
J these qualities have been the CROWN
: characteristics of this canal organiza
tion therefore the name of the Panam
3 Canal has come to stand before all tn
: world as the synonym for eficier
: public service.
: JungIes Transformed
! AS for myself, when I think of th
. amazing history of these years, of tn
~terrors Of the jungle and swamp thu
8 have been set at bay, of the work dor
Z in tropical sun and under torrents
: rains, OF the mountains that have bee
{ laid low and the mountains that hay
been builded where before were wood
: ed valley and winding stream; whe
: i recall what was and look upon wht
Z now is. ! take off my hat to ever
: Canal digger OF you all.
. Influence at Work.
: Many influences have worked tc
!. gether to create the moral and II
3 spirit which has animated the can:
!. workers during these years. mis-
: not the place nor Is there need her
= to speak of the primary influence; 1
. a leadership which by its own examp
of t~ireless devotion and unfiaggin
9 zeal has set SO high q standard OF ca