The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-12-29
What the President saw At Panama.

4. 5. 3 Louisiana.
At Sea, Nov. 20. 1895.
DEAR KERMIT.
Our visit to Panama was most sue
cessful as well as most interesting
We were there three days and we
worked from morning TIL night. The
second day 1 was up at n quarter TO
6 and got 10 bed at a quarter to IL,
and l do not believe that In the in
tervening time, save when I was dres
ing, there were 20 consecutive min
uies when | was not busiiy at work
In some shape or form. For two days
there (were) uninterrupted trrUic
rains without q glimpse OF the SUM-,
and the Chagres river rose In a flood,
higher than any for IS years: 80 that
we saw the climate al It's worst. II
was Just what / desired TO do.
IL certainly adds to mes pleasure
to have rAad history and to appreciate
tho picturesque. when on wednesday
we approached the coast, and the
Ju-uglc-covered mountains looked
clearer and clearer until We could see
the surf beating on the shores. while
there was hardly a sign OF human
h8bitation. l kept thinking OF tho
four centuries OF Wild and bloody ro-
nance, mixed with abjcct %squalor and
suffering, which had made up the
history OF the isthmus until three
years ago. ] could see Balboa cross
ing at Darien. and the wars between
the spaniards ana the Indians. and the
settlement and the building up OF the
quaint walled Spanish towns: and tho
trade, across tho seas gy %galleon, and
over land by, pack-train and river
canoe, In GOLD and silver, In precious
stones: and then the advent OF h
buccaneers. and ~ the English sea
men, Of Drake aSd Frobisher and
eIAWa.R md RNnnN nHunW others and
the wild destruction they wrought
Then l thought Of the rebellion
against the Spanish dominion, ana n
uninterrupted and bioddy wsnrs that
followed, the last occurring when ] be-
came president; wars. he victorious
heroes OF which ave thelr pictures
frescoed on the quaint ROOM Of the
palace al Panama city, and in similar
palaces in ali capitals Of these strange
little half-caste civilizations. Mean
while the Panama railroad a heen
built by Americans over a halt cen-
tury ago. with appalling loss or ite'
30 that II is said. Of course with eAag-
geration. that every sleeper laid rep
resented the death OF a man. Then
tho French canal company started
work, and for two or three years ala
n good deal. until u became evident
that the task far exceeded its pow"rai
and then 30 miscalculntiCn and inef-
nciency was added the hidepuH greed
OF adventure, trying each To save
something from the general wreck,
n the company closed with intamy
and scandal
Now we have taken hold Of tho Job
We have difficulties with our own
people. OF course. 7 Invent a doubt
that ii will thko q little longer and
cost n little more than men nov az
preciate. but ! believe that the work
is being done with "a very high de-
gree both OF efficiency and honesty
and l am immensely struck hy the
character OF American employees VINO
are engaged. not merely In euprrin-
tending tho work. but la doing hll
the Jobs hat need skill and intelli-
Eoncc. TIE atcam shovnls. the art
trains. the machine shops, n b
like. are all filled with American en-
gineers. conductors. mHchinisis. boil
ormakefs. carpenters. From the TOP
10 the bottom these men are no handy
90 efficient so energetic, that % b. a
real pleasure TO look a. them SteNeu-,
the head enrinee Is a big fellow m
Of daring and good sense bury
power All OF ihrse men are quite as
formidable. and would. n h were nee
essary. do quite ~ much In battle az
Tho crews OF Drake and Morgan; hut
as II -. they arc doing a work OF IN