Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-31

to $500. not Including the Panama rail-
road. Municipal improvements in Co
Ion and Panama ard certain canal zone
towns were well under way Effective
progress had been made in the work OF
surveying the canal route. In making
borings for lock sites and In other
engineering prelimiharies As noted,
74l.G44 yards had been excavated and
nine steam shoyels were at work. The
forty eight new structures housed the
employees, except those who provided
shelter for themselves In Colon and
Panama There was no commissary
and no hotels,
An executive order had made the
civil service cover the canal zone on
Nov. Is. 1904. but both Mr.. Wallace
and Mr.. Stevens protested so earnestly
against the restrictions of this order
that on Jan. Il. 1906. President Roose-
welt removed all employees except
clerks from the scope Of the act. thus
allowing Mr. Stevens to employ any
one he saw fit on any terms be chose.
The eight hour day restriction likewise
was lifted, bnt agitation in the Unit
ed States caused the president later to
reimpose both limitations. with what
ever increase In time and cost of con-
structing the canal they might involve.
The Americans had been In Panama
more than year, and still the type OF
canal to be built was undecided. In
the meantime Mr. Stevens rapidly was
rounding into shape an organization OF
workers, getting suitable quarters
erected for the employees. who were
coming in large numbers. organizing
the commissary and hotel systems. Sc
curing mechanical equipment and
bringing the transportation facilities
to satisfactory standard. Governor
Magoon simultaneously was organize
ing a civil government along the lines
blazed by Governor Davis. Police.
courts. schools. fire departments. post
offices. recreation clubhouses, church
es-in short. duplicating on scale
suitable to the canal zone the ciFiliza-
ton of the United States.
BY June, 1906, the end Of his first
year as chief engineer, Mr.. Stevens
had made remarkable showing In
every phase of the work. There were
thirty-nine steam shovels at work as
against nine in 1905. The working
force had increased to 23,901. Of whom
1894 were Americans. But as show
ing how closely his efforts were con-
centrated on preparatory work the to-
tai excavation for the year was only
/ ,499,5 G2 yards. the highest figures for
one month being in March, 1906. when
2391 7S yards were removed.
Colonel Gorgas and his sanitary de
partment got on top OF the yellow
fever epidemic in September. 1905. and
in general so dominated the hitherto
unhealthful isthmus that even the hos
tile press began to show u change In
heart on this score. with the result that
the immigration Of workers largely in
creased. Recruiting agencies already
had been opened In the West Indies.
Europe and the principal American cit
les. More than 1900 men were i'm
ported in 1906 on contract with the
commission. The common labor was
estimated by Mr.. Stevens to be about
SO per cent as efIicient as similar Amer
ican labor. II was not until 1906 that
the wives and families Of the Ameri-
cans began coming to the canal zone
In considerable numbers. although
there had been a heroic band Of them
throughout the trying days before the
tropical terrors had been conquered
Early in his connection with the
canal Mr.. Stevens discovered that
practically all the material in the Guile
bra cut would have to be blasted be-
fore it could be handled by the steam
shoyels. He had to be careful In Sc
lecting dumps so as to insure that they
would not become an obstruction to
any type Of canal or route that might
be selected.
The high wages and salaries for
which the canal zone is noted original
ed under Mr.. Stevens. So bad a name
had been given the isthmus In the past
that extra inducements had to be made
to attract workers. free quarters. pay
from 80 per cent to 60 per cent higher
than I'm the United States and rate
Of $50 from New York to Colon on
steamers operated by the government.
with other perquisites. being some Of
the advertised attractions. Besides. in
the latter part Of sIr. Stevens regime.
the United States was enjoying unex-
ampIed prosperity. the naImy days be-
fore the panic Of 1907 Mechanics and
all kinds OF workers could obtain en-
ployment Mt home at high wages and
would not come to Panama unless for
the unusual inducements enumerated.
and. in addition, vacations with full
pay. sick leave on pay and cheap food
and other necessaries.
Although the French had abandoned
the idea OF sea level canal In favor
OF lock type. there still was a good
deal of life In the idea among the
American people. For one thing. a sea
level canal was so much more easily
grasped by the popular mind. and then
- Ia ho.