Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
How Coethals Built the Panama Canal

that's happened several times before"
The Irishman got few we'll chosen
words Of advice.
What was said in that room wos
sacred confidential. He never used !,
to pump information from one man
about another. He knew that much
trouble is imaginary and that safety
valve was needed for the thousands
working In the sun and rain Wher;
nerves are raw and troubles magnify.
If a man really worker he had
friend in Col. Goethals, no matter what
his other failings. He ran secret serv-
ice men off the Zone for molesting
those who had made some little slip in
the States. but who were making good
on the Zone.
But when there was cause for stern
ness, the colonel was steel A man was
once laid off for an infraction Of the
rules The next day his co-workers did
not report for work. Their leader tele-
phoned the colonel:
Put that man back to work or We
will tie up the job, colonel"
The colonel'S answer was to the point.
There will be boat at Cristobal to-
morrow morning at 9. Each and every
one who doesn't show up for work will
make that boat. Good by" And bang
went the receiver. Not q man was at
the dock they were working double
speed to make up for lost time. The
time he saw him. He never held a
grudge against any man for an hour.
What the colonel said he meant
What he asked for. he got 1t didn't
take us long TO find that out.
One day he ordered that house be
built by certain date. Later he heard
that construction was moving along sc
slowly that it would never be completed
on time. His eyes flashed. Hopping into
his yellow car. he drove over TO the
site of the house
Il want this house done by September
IS" he said to the foreman.
A series &C excuses and explanations
were interrupted by the colonel
Please understand me- he declared
Il said want this house done by Sep
/ TENDER Is"
Well. we'll do the best We can" came
! the surly answer
! Tapping the man gently on the shoul-
der. the colonel looked him straight In
the eye.
Il am afraid that you have not un.
derstood me yet. ! said that / wanted
this house finished on September IS"
1t was completed on time.
y y
! Among many worries that beset the
colonel as he began TO see the compile
ton OF the ditch we're the visiting dele
cations OF Congressman. who were in.
clined 70 expect special privileges
one committee made an appointment
n hn nnN~ Il
the Panama depot al am Now. the
colonel was crank on promptness To-
promptly at s O'Clock ne turned 10 the
! conductor and ordered:
/ Give the bell"
But. colonel, there isn't a soul or,
board. the conductor began.
Give the bell.'
About 10 comply. the conductor espied
TWO Representatives and their wives
coming down the hill from the hotel.
Here they come now" he said.
Give the bell!" repeated the colonel.
And this time the conductor ooeveG.
1t was not until three hours later tina,
ne congressional party caught up with
tne colonel at Gatun locks They had
taken regular train. One look at the
coionefs face and none OF the Rep
resentatlves said anything about the in
or apologies from the colonel.
Early in life the colonel had shown
that spark OF genius that was to fare
/ so brightly during those seven years at
Panama. Born in Brooklyn in ls4s. the
/ son OF Dutch immigrants. he showed
such promise In the public schools that
his principal urged his appointment to
the United States Military Academy.
| He was graduated second in his class
At West Point, completed a special
course in engineering and began rapid
rise which carried him quickly to the
fore
Soon he was considered the engineer
ing brains OF the Army general staff.
and in 1907 when President Roosevelt,
called upon Secretary OF War Taft 10
nominate man To take charge of the
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