The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-01-08
CHAPTER XIII.
Labor.


~ opening of the Panama canal,
will be the most truly interna-
tiOnal exposition ever held in this
country or any other.
Not only is the object of the exposi-
ton international in interest. but there
is not nation under the sun. possibly.
which has not contributed some Of its
citizens to the construction force Of
the canal. In the census of the canal
zone taken in February, 1912. forty
natiOnalities are listed.
At the beginning Of the American
occupation, in 1904. there were 746
men employed Oh the canal. Accord
ing to the quartermaster's department.
the highest force of record since then
was in April. 1918. when the payrolls
showed 44,G61 employees.
The percentage Of Americans in the
total working force usually has been
one-sixth or one-seventh. Their work
Is Of supervisory character. or
skilled labor. such as mechanics. car
penters. plumbers. masons. electricians.
. locomotive and marine engineers. rail-
road conductors. time inspectors. fire.
men. policemen. all branches Of civil
administration, Office forces. sanitary
and hospital officers. foremen. civil en-
gineers. and the like.
LabOrerS did not come to the canal
zone In sufficient numbers during the
early years. necessitating recruiting
offices in Europe. the West Indies and
the United States. A total of $4,000
men were imported under contract
with the commission from 1904 to
1910
Spain furnished the largest number
of European laborers to the canal un-
til the government of that country in
zoos forbid further emigration to Pan
anna. Out of a total of 1877 Euro
pean laborers imported to 1910, S,222
were Spaniards. and the others came
principally from Italy. France and Ar
menia.
The colored labor predominates in
the canal zone and was obtained in the
islands Of the West Indies. Barbados
furnished the largest number. l9,44S
The largest immigration for one year
was in 1907. when l4.942 laborers were
imported.
The color fine has been drawn in the
canal zone by dividing the employees
into gold and "silver" men In the
first category are the Americans and
", },.,x nj Nd
ed laborers Wages are paid in silver
to the Iaborers. and salaries to the
Americans are paid in gold. This dis
tinctiOn is not hard and fast one.
and the idea was adopted as the best
means for the government to draw the
color line. Second class coaches are
provided on the trains. special win
dows in the postotfices. special clerks
III the commissary and separate eating
places for the silver employees.
Many labor saving devices have
been born Of necessity in the canal
! zone. The honor for inventing the
| greatest Of these belongs to W. 6.
! Bierd. formerly general manager of the
| Panama railroad and the man who
most largely was responsible for bring
ing that archaic system from chaos
| to order under Chief Engineer Ste
vens. He originated track shifter
which does the work of 500 men in
ore day and requires only nine men to
5perate 1t.
Strikes have never been successful in
/ the canal zone. In 1904 President RoOse-
velt gave the commission the power to
expel anybody from the canal zone
who. in itS discretion. was not neces-
sary to the work Of building the canal
or .was objectionable for any reason.
No such power resides in any Ameri-
ran state executive. but the supreme
rourt held that the canal zone was
not under the constitution and was
subject to the regulation of a military
reservation
The canal employees are the most
panlpered set Of workers in the world
an eight hour day with two hour in
Permission ut noon. first class board
cheaper than in the United States. free
quarters. free medical service on full
pay. nine holidays on pay, reduced
railroad rates. wages and salaries from