The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1914-04-23
Glimpses Of a Trip
to the Panama Canal
By HON. THOMAS F. MARSHALL

Under our treaty, the cities of Colon,
on the Atlantic, and Panama on the
Pacific side, are just outside of the
Canal Zone, but these cities are under
police and sanitary supervision of the
United States. Without this, construc-
tion Of the canal would have been i'm
possible, as these cities were extremely
filthy and unhealtful. The narrow,
filthy streets have been paved, sewer
age and pure water provided, and the
low places have been filled up and
beautified, and 80 much has been done
along these lines that the cities are
now healthful and slightly places.
Immediately adjoining the city Of
Colon, which belongs to Panama, and
separated by a line only, &c the town Of
Christobol, which is in the Canal Zone,
and under the United States. Like
wise, the town Of Ancon joins the city
Of Panama, and is in the Canal Zone,
and under the United States control.
In wandering around these cities it is
hard to tell when you are in the Zone
or in the Republic Of Panama. The
cities Of Colon and Panama are es-
sentially Spanish and Panamaian, but
the inhabitants of both cities are badly
mixed. Probably Colon is inhabited by
more different nationalities than any
other city.
We noted a marked improvement in
the cleanliness of the people since our
former visit. There are children in
countless numbers, mostly Jamaican
negroes, in scanty attire, or none at
all.
Cost of the Canal.
The cost Of the canal, in round num-
bers, is $375, ,00O, 900. The estimated
excavation of dirt by the United States
is ower 1so, ,000, 600 cubic yards. Con-
crete used, over 5000, 900 cubic yards,
requiring 100000 barrels of cement.
Higher Wages Paid Americans
When we were first there, there
were over $4,000 men employed,
! largely Jamaican negroes. This force
was increased at one time to 10000
people. The American and other high
/ class labor employed on the canal are
paid in gold, and the wages range
about one-third higher than they are
in the United States The wages Of
the Jamaican negroes and others en-
ployed in manual labor are all paid in
silver, issued by the Panamaian gov
ernment ian issue is made especially
for this purpose.) Two dollars in sill
yer equals one dollar in gold. In one
store everything will be marked in
silver, and in another in gold.
Canal About Completed
The canal is practically completed
The work being done now is in the
nature of finishing touches. cleaning
away the debris, levelling, smoothing
and beautifying. Aside from this
considerable work is being done in the
great slide in the Culebra Cut. More
than two-thirds Of this has been re.
moved, and the canal is now navigable
AS a precautionary move, the hill al
the danger point is being sluiced away
by hydraulic process into the valley or
the opposite side from the canal. This
will relieve the pressure and it is be.
lieved will prevent future slides.
Much work is also being done prep
aratory to operating the Panama Rail
road by electricity and to lighting thu
locks, towns and the route of the cana'
1t will be understood that an enormou,
power is being developed at the Gatul
dam and locks.
Compared to the busy times on tn,
canal, when we were there first, i
seems very quiet there now. On ou
first visit we saw the entire route o
the canal take on the activity and nois
of great manufacturing city stretches
out for forty miles. Immense worl
shops, giant cranes, the greatest com
pressed air plant in the world, extend
ing along the entire distance, operat
ing hundreds of drills, massive ma
chinery of all kinds, miles Of iro
pipes, vast stores Of merchandise an
material, professions Of trains bac
and forth through Culebra Cut, gian
bakeries and refrigerating plants i
operation. There was incessant pound
ing Of hundreds of compressed al
drills, continuous blasting, clashing q
train bells and shrieking of stear
whistles and Glamour Of steam shovel,
1t was certainly a thrilling scene.
Some Measurements
The length Of the canal from dee
, Continued on Last Page