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ILLINOIS

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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2018SPECIAL MESSAGE

OF

THE^PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

CONCERNING

THE PANAMA CANAL

COMMUNICATED TO THE TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS

ON DECEMBER 17, 1906

(SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-NINTH CONGRESS)

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1906SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

\j>
¥

SPECIAL MESSAGE.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

In the month of November I visited the Isthmus of Panama,
going over the Canal Zone with considerable care; and also visited
the cities of Panama and Colon, which are not in the Zone or under
the United States flag, but as to which the United States Government,
through its agents, exercises control for certain sanitary purposes.

The U. S. S. Louisiana, on which I was, anchored off Colon
about half past 2 on Wednesday afternoon, November 14. I came
aboard her, after my stay on shore, at about half past 9 on Satur-
day evening, November 17. On Wednesday afternoon and evening
I received the President of Panama and his suite, and saw members
of the Canal Commission, and various other gentlemen, perfecting
the arrangement for my visit, so that every hour that I was ashore
could be employed to advantage. I was three days ashore—not a
sufficient length of time to allow of an exhaustive investigation of
the minutise of the work of any single department, still less to pass
judgment on the engineering problems, but enough to enable me to
get a clear idea of the salient features of the great work and of the
progress that has been made as regards the sanitation of the Zone,
Colon, and Panama, the caring for and housing of the employees,
and the actual digging of the canal. The Zone is a narrow strip
of land, and it can be inspected much as one can inspect 50 or 60
miles of a great railroad, at the point where it runs through moun-
tains or overcomes other natural obstacles.

I chose the month of November for my visit partly because it is
the rainiest month of the year, the month in which the work
goes forward at the greatest disadvantage, and one of the two

months which the medical department of the French Canal Com-
pany found most unhealthy.

Immediately after anchoring on the afternoon of Wednesday
there was a violent storm of wind and rain. From that time we
did not again see the sun until Saturday morning, the rain con-
tinuing almost steadily, but varying from a fine drizzle to a tor-
rential downpour. During that time, in fifteen minutes at Cristobal
1.05 inches of rain fell; from 1 to 3 a. m., November 16, 3.2 inches
fell; for the twenty-four hours ending noon, November 16, 4.68
inches fell, and for the six days ending noon, November 16, 10.24
inches fell. The Chagres rose in flood to a greater height than it
had attained during the last fifteen years, tearing out the track in
one place. It would have been impossible to see the work going on
under more unfavorable weather conditions. On Saturday, Novem-
ber 17, the sun shone now and then for a few minutes, although
the day was generally overcast and there were heavy showers at
intervals.

On Thursday morning we landed at about half past seven and
went slowly over the line of the Panama Railway, ending with an
expedition in a tug at the Pacific entrance of the
First Day Ashore, canal out to the islands where the dredging for
the canal will cease. We took our dinner at one
of the eating houses furnished by the Commission for the use of
the Government employees—no warning of our coming being given.
I inspected the Ancon Hospital, going through various wards both for
white patients and for colored patients. I inspected portions of the
constabulary (Zone police), examining the men individually. I also
examined certain of the schools and saw the school children, both
white and colored, speaking with certain of the teachers. In the
afternoon of this day I was formally received in Panama by President
Amador, who, together with the Government and all the people of
Panama, treated me with the most considerate courtesy, for which I
hereby extend my most earnest thanks. I was driven through
Panama and in a public square was formally received and welcomed
by the President and other members of the Government; and in the
evening I attended a dinner given by the President, and a reception,
which was also a Government function. I also drove through the
streets of Panama for the purpose of observing what had been done.
We slept at the Hotel Tivoli, at Ancon, which is on a hill directly
outside of the city of Panama, but in the Zone.CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL

STEAM DRILLS«^Jj^£	OBISPO CUT.

LSPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

On Friday morning we left the hotel at 7 o'clock and spent the
entire day going through the Culebra cut—the spot in which most
work will have to be done in any event. We
Second Day.	watched the different steam shovels working; we

saw the drilling and blasting; we saw many of the
dirt trains (of the two different types used), both carrying the earth
away from the steam shovels and depositing it on the dumps—some
of the dumps being run out in the jungle merely to get rid of
the earth, while in other cases they are being used for double
tracking the railway, and in preparing to build the great dams.. I
visited many of the different villages, inspecting thoroughly many
different buildings—the local receiving hospitals, the houses in
which the unmarried white workmen live, those in which the
immarried colored workmen live; also the quarters of the white
married employees and of the married colored employees; as well
as the commissary stores, the bath houses, the water-closets, the
cook sheds for the colored laborers, and the Government canteens,
or hotels, at which most of the white employees take their meals.
I went through the machine shops. During the day I talked with
scores of different men—superintendents and heads of departments,
divisions, and bureaus; steam-shovel men, machinists, conductors,
engineers, clerks, wives of the American employees, health officers,
colored laborers, colored attendants, and managers of the com-
missary stores where food is sold to the colored laborers; wives
of the colored employees who are married. In the evening I
had an interview with the British consul, Mr. Mallet, a gentle-
man who for many years has well and honorably represented
the British Government on the Isthmus of Panama and who has a
peculiar relation to our wrork because the bulk of the colored laborers
come from the British West Indies. I also saw the French consul,
Mr. Gey, a gentleman of equally long service and honorable record.
I saw the lieutenants, the chief executive and administrative officers,
under the engineering and sanitary departments. I also saw and had
long talks with two deputations—one of machinists and one repre-
senting the railway men of the dirt trains—listening to what they
had to say as to the rate of pay and various other matters and going
over, as much in detail as possible, all the different questions they
brought up. As to some matters I was able to meet their wishes;
as to others, I felt that what they requested could not be done con-
sistently with my duty to the United States Government as a whole;
as to yet others I reserved judgment.

On Saturday morning we started at 8 o'clock from the hotel. We
went through the Culebra cut, stopping off to see the marines, and
also to investigate certain towns; one, of white
Third Day.	employees, as to which in certain respects com-

plaint had been made to me; and another town
where I wanted to see certain houses of the colored employees. We
went over the site of the proposed Gatun dam, having on the first
day inspected the sites of the proposed La Boca and Sosa dams.
We went out on a little toy railway to the reservoir, which had
been built to supply the people of Colon with water for their
houses. There we took lunch at the engineers' mess. We then
went through the stores and shops of Cristobal, inspecting carefully
the houses of both the white and colored employees, married and
unmarried, together with the other buildings. We then went to
Colon and saw the fire department at work; in four minutes from
the signal the engines had come down to Front street, and twenty-
one 2 ^-inch hose pipes were raising streams of water about 75
feet high. We rode about Colon, through the various streets, paved
unpaved, and in process of paving, looking at the ditches, sewers,
curbing, and the lights. I then went over the Colon hospital in
order to compare it with the temporary town or field receiving
hospitals which I had already seen and inspected. I also inspected
some of the dwellings of the employees. In the evening I attended
a reception given by the American employees on the Isthmus,
which took place on one of the docks in Colon, and from there
went aboard the Louisiana.

Kach day from twelve to eighteen hours were spent in going over
and inspecting all there was to be seen, and in examining various
employees. Throughout my trip I was accompanied by the Surgeon-
General of the Navy, Doctor Rixey; by the Chairman of the Isthmian
Canal Commission, Mr. Shonts; by Chief Engineer Stevens; by Doctor
Gorgas, the chief sanitary officer of the Commission; by Mr. Bishop,
the Secretary of the Commission; by Mr. Ripley, the Principal
Assistant Engineer; by Mr. Jackson Smith, who has had practical
charge of collecting and handling the laboring force; by Mr. Bierd,
general manager of the railway, and by Mr. Rogers, the general
counsel of the Commission; and many other officials joined us from
time to time.

At the outset I wish to pay a tribute to the amount of work done
by the French Canal Company under very difficult circumstances.
Many of the buildings they put up were excellent and are still in

(3)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

ANOTHER VIEW OF STEAM DRILLS AT WORK IN BAS OBISPO CUT.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

use, though, naturally, the houses are now getting out of repair and
are being used as dwellings only until other houses can be built,
and much of the work they did in the Culebra cut, and some of the
work they did in digging has been of direct and real benefit. This
country has never made a better investment than the $40,000,000
which it paid to the French Company for work and betterments, in-
cluding especially the Panama Railroad.

An inspection on the ground at the height of the rainy season
served to convince me of the wisdom of Congress in refusing to
adopt either a high-level or a sea-level canal. There seems to be a
universal agreement among all people competent to judge that the
Panama route, the one actually chosen, is much superior to both
the Nicaragua and Darien routes.

The wisdom of the canal management has been shown in nothing
more clearly than in the way in which the foundations of the work
have been laid. To have yielded to the natiiral
b^n^Done	impatience of ill-informed outsiders and begun all

kinds of experiments in work prior to a thorough
sanitation of the Isthmus, and to a fairly satisfactory working out of
the problem of getting and keeping a sufficient labor supply, would
have been disastrous. The various preliminary measures had to be
taken first; and these could not be taken so as to allow us to begin
the real work of construction prior to January 1 of the present year.
It then became necessary to have the type of the canal decided,
and the only delay has been the necessary delay until the 29th day
of June, the date when the Congress definitely and wisely settled
that we should have an 85-foot level canal. Immediately after
that the work began in hard earnest and has been continued with
increasing vigor ever since; and it will continue so to progress in
the future. When the contracts are let the conditions will be
such as to insure a constantly increasing amount of performance.

The first great problem to be solved, upon- the solution of which
the success of the rest of the work depended, was the problem of
sanitation. This was from the outset under the
Sanitation	direction of Dr. W. C. Gorgas, who is to be made

a full member of the Commission, if the law as to
the composition of the Commission remains unchanged. It must
be remembered that his work was not mere sanitation as the term
is understood in our ordinary municipal work. Throughout the
Zone and in the two cities of Panama and Colon, in addition to the
sanitation work proper, he has had to do all the work that the

Marine-Hospital Service does as regards the Nation, that the health
department officers do in the various States and cities, and that
Colonel Waring did in New York when he cleaned its streets.
The results have been astounding. The Isthmus had been a by-
word for deadly unhealthfulness. Now, after two years of our
occupation the conditions as regards sickness and the death rate
compare favorably with reasonably healthy localities in the United
States. Especial care has been devoted to minimizing the risk due
to the presence of those species of mosquitoes which have been
found to propagate malarial and yellow fevers. In all the settle-
ments, the little temporary towns or cities composed of the
white and black employees, which grow up here and there in
the tropic jungle as the needs of the work dictate, the utmost
care is exercised to keep the conditions healthy. Everywhere
are to be seen the drainage ditches which in removing the water
have removed the breeding places of the mosquitoes, while the whole
jungle is cut away for a considerable space around the habitations,
thus destroying the places in which the mosquitoes take shelter.
These drainage ditches and clearings are in evidence in every settle-
ment, and, together with the invariable presence of mosquito screens
around the piazzas, and of mosquito doors to the houses, not to
speak of the careful fumigation that has gone on in all infected
houses^ doubtless explain the extraordinary absence of mosquitoes.
As a matter of fact, but a single mosquito, and this not of the
dangerous species, was seen by any member of our party dur-
ing my three days on the Isthmus. Equal care is taken by the
inspectors of the health department to secure cleanliness in the
houses and proper hygienic conditions of every kind. I inspected
between twenty and thirty water-closets, both those used by the
white employees and those used by the colored laborers. In almost
every case I found the conditions perfect. In but one case did I
find them really bad. In this case, affecting a settlement of unmar-
ried white employees, I found them very bad indeed, but the build-
ings were all inherited from the French Company and were being
used temporarily while other buildings were in the course of con-
struction; and right near the defective water-closet a new and excel-
lent closet with a good sewer pipe was in process of construction
and nearly finished. Nevertheless this did not excuse the fact that
the bad condition had been allowed to prevail. Temporary accom-
modations, even if only such as soldiers use when camped in the

(4)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

STEAM SHOVEL AT WORK IN BAS OBISPO CUT.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

field, should have been provided. Orders to this effect were issued.
I append the report of Doctor Gorgas on the incident. I was
struck, however, by the fact that in this instance, as in almost every
other where a complaint was made which proved to have any justi-
fication whatever, it appeared that steps had already been taken to
remedy the evil complained of, and that the trouble was mainly due
to the extreme difficulty, and often impossibility, of providing in
every place for the constant increase in the numbers of employees.
Generally the provision is made in advance, but it is not possible
that this should always be the case; when it is not there ensues a
period of time during which the conditions are unsatisfactory,
until a remedy can be provided; but I never found a case where the
remedy was not being provided as speedily as possible.

I inspected the large hospitals at Ancon aud Colon, which are
excellent examples of what tropical hospitals should be. I also
inspected the receiving hospitals in various settle-
Tr^atnienf11^	ments- ^ went through a number of the wards

in which the colored men are treated, a number of
those in which the white men are treated—Americans and Span-
iards. Both white men and black men are treated exactly alike,
and their treatment is as good as that which could be obtained
in our first-class hospitals at home. All the patients that I saw, with
one or two exceptions, were laborers or other employees on the
canal works and railways, most of them being colored men of the
ordinary laborer stamp. Not only are the men carefully cared for
whenever they apply for care, but so far as practicable a watch is
kept to see that if they need it they are sent to the hospitals,
whether they desire to go or not. From no responsible source did
any complaint come to me as to the management of the hospital
service, although occasionally a very ignorant West India negro
when he is first brought into the hospital becomes frightened by the
ordinary hospital routine.

Just at present the health showing on the Isthmus is remarkably
good—so much better than in most sections of the United States

that I do not believe that it can possibly continue

Health Showing	qU^e present average. Thus, early in the

Kemarkabiy Good. ^	r	° , i i <-/ • «.

present year a band ot several hundred Spaniards

were brought to the Isthmus as laborers, and additions to their
number have been made from time to time; yet since their arrival
in February last but one of those Spaniards thus brought over
to work on the canal has died of disease, and he of typhoid fever.

Two others were killed, one in a railroad accident, and one by
a dynamite explosion. There has been for the last six months
a well-nigh steady decline in the death rate for the population
of the Zone, this being largely due to the decrease in deaths
from pneumonia, which has been the most fatal disease on the Isth-
mus. In October there were ninety-nine deaths of every kind
among the employees of the Isthmus. There were then on the
rolls 5,500 whites, seven-eighths of them being Americans. Of
these whites but two died of disease, and as it happened neither
man was an American. Of the 6,000 white Americans, including
some 1,200 women and children, not a single death has occurred in
the past three months, whereas in an average city in the United
States the number of deaths for a similar number of people in that
time would have been about thirty from disease. This very remark-
able showing can not of course permanently obtain, but it certainly
goes to prove that if good care is taken the Isthmus is not a particu-
larly unhealthy place. In October, of the 19,000 negroes on the
roll 86 died from disease; pneumonia being the most destructive
disease, and malarial fever coming second. The difficulty of exer-
cising a thorough supervision over the colored laborers is of course
greater than is the case among the whites, and they are also less
competent to take care of themselves, which accounts for the fact
that their death rate is so much higher than that of the whites,
in spite of the fact that they have been used to similar climatic
conditions. Even among the colored employees it will be seen that
the death rate is not high.

In Panama and Colon the death rate has also been greatly reduced,
this being directly due to the vigorous work of the special brigade
of employees who have been inspecting houses
where the stegomyia mosquito is to be found, and
destroying its larvae and breeding places, and doing
similar work in exterminating the malarial mosquitoes—in short,
in performing all kinds of hygienic labor. A little over a year ago
all kinds of mosquitoes, including the two fatal species, were numer-
ous about the Culebra cut. In this cut during last October every
room of every house wras carefully examined, and only two mos-
quitoes, neither of them of the two fatal species, were found. Unfal-
tering energy in inspection and in disinfecting and in the work of
draining and of clearing brush are responsible for the change. I
append Doctor GorgasV report 011 the health conditions; also a letter

Diminution of
Mosquitoes.

(5)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

STEAM SHOVEL AT WORK IN CULEBRA CUT, WITH LARGE ROCK IN MOUTH OF SHOVEL.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

from Surgeon-General Rixey to Doctor Gorgas. The Surgeon-
General reported to me that the hygienic conditions on the Isthmus
were about as good as, for instance, those in the Norfolk Navy-Yard.

Corozal, some 4 miles from La Boca, was formerly one of the most
unsanitary places on the Isthmus, probably the most unsanitary.
There was a marsh with a pond in the middle. Doctor Gorgas had
both the marsh and pond drained and the brush cleared off, so that
now, when I went over the ground, it appeared like a smooth
meadow intersected by drainage ditches. The breeding places and
sheltering spots of the dangerous mosquitoes had been completely
destroyed. The result is that Corozal for the last six months
(like La Boca, which formerly also had a very unsanitary record),
shows one of the best sick rates in the Zone, having less than 1 per
cent a week admitted to the hospital. At Corozal there is a big
hotel filled with employees of the Isthmian Canal Commission,
some of them with their wives and families. Yet this healthy and
attractive spot was stigmatized as a "hog wallow" by one of the
least scrupulous and most foolish of the professional scandal-
mongers who from time to time have written about the Commis-
sion's work.

The sanitation work in the cities of Panama and Colon has been
just as important as in the Zone itself, and in many respects much

more difficult; because it was necessary to deal

Improvements in wJth the alreadv existing population, which natu-
Jranama and Colon.	-	. .	.

rally had scant sympathy with revolutionary

changes, the value of which they were for a long time not able to
perceive. In Colon the population consists largely of colored
laborers who, having come over from the West Indies to work on
the canal, abandon the work and either take to the brush or lie idle
in Colon itself; thus peopling Colon with the least desirable among
the imported laborers, for the good and steady men of course con-
tinue at the work. Yet astonishing progress has been made in both
cities. In Panama 90 per cent of the streets that are to be paved
at all are already paved with an excellent brick pavement laid in
heavy concrete, a few of the streets being still in process of paving.
The sewer and water services in the city are of the most modern
hygienic type, some of the service having just been completed.

In Colon the conditions are peculiar, and it is as regards Colon
that most of the very bitter complaint has been made. Colon is
built on a low coral island, covered at more or less shallow depths

with vegetable accumulations or mold, which affords sustenance
and strength to many varieties of low-lying tropical plants. One-
half of the surface of the island is covered with water at high tide,
the average height of the land being 1 y2 feet above low tide.
The slight undulations furnish shallow, natural reservoirs or fresh-
water breeding places for every variety of mosquito, and the ground
tends to be lowest in the middle. When the town was originally
built no attempt was made to fill the low ground, either in the streets
or on the building sites, so that the entire surface was practically a
quagmire; when the quagmire became impassable certain of the
streets were crudely improved by filling especially bad mud holes
with soft rock or other material. In September, 1905, a systematic
effort was begun to formulate a general plan for the proper sanita-
tion of the city; in February last temporary relief measures were
taken, while in July the prosecution of the work was begun in good
earnest. The results are already visible in the sewering, draining,
guttering and paving of the streets. Some four months will be
required before the work of sewerage and street improvement will
be completed, but the progress already made is very marked.
Ditches have been dug through the town, connecting the salt water
on both sides, and into these the ponds, which have served as
breeding places for the mosquitoes, are drained. These ditches
have answered their purpose, for they are probably the chief cause
of the astonishing diminution in the number of mosquitoes. More
ditches of the kind are being constructed.

It was not practicable, with the force at the Commission's dis-
posal, and in view of the need that the force should be used in the
larger town of Panama, to begin this work before
Colon Water	early last winter. Water mains were then laid in

the town and water was furnished to the people
early in March from a temporary reservoir. This reservoir proved
to be of insufficient capacity before the end of the dry season and the
shortage was made up by hauling water over the Panama railroad,
so that there was at all times an ample supply of the very best water.
Since that time the new reservoir back of Mount Hope has been
practically completed. I visited this reservoir. It is a lake over a
mile long and half a mile broad. It now carries some 500,000,000
gallons of first-class water. I forward herewith a photograph of this
lake, together with certain other photographs of what I saw while
I was on the Isthmus. Nothing but a cataclysm will hereafter

(6)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.



VIEW IN CULEBRA CUT. THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE TWO MEN ARE STANDING IS THAT REACHED BY THE FRENCH. THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE MOTOR CAR STANDS IS THE PRESENT AMERICAN LEVEL, 65 FEET BELOW.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

render it necessary in the dry season to haul water for the use of
Colon and Cristobal.

One of the most amusing (as well as dishonest) attacks made
upon the Commission was in connection with this reservoir. The
writer in question usually confined himself to vague general mendac-
ity ; but in this case he specifically stated that there was no water
in the vicinity fit for a reservoir (I drank it, and it was excellent),
and that this particular reservoir would never hold water anyway.
Accompanying this message, as I have said above, is a photograph of
the reservoir as I myself saw it, and as it has been in existence ever
since the article in question was published. With typical Ameri-
can humor, the engineering corps still at work at the reservoir have
christened a large boat which is now used on the reservoir by the
name of the individual who thus denied the possibility of the
reservoir's existence.

I rode through the streets of Colon, seeing them at the height of
the rainy season, after two days of almost unexampled downpour,
when they were at their very worst. Taken as a
Colon Pavements. whole, they were undoubtedly very bad; as bad as
Pennsylvania avenue in Washington before Grant's
Administration. Front street is already in thoroughly satisfactory
shape however. Some of the side streets are also in good condition.
In others the change in the streets is rapidly going on. Through
three-fourths of the town it is now possible to walk, even during the
period of tremendous rain, in low shoes without wetting one's feet,
owing to the rapidity with which the surface water is carried away
in the ditches. In the remaining one-fourth of the streets the mud
is very deep—about as deep as in the ordinary street of a low-lying
prairie river town of the same size in the United States during
early spring. All men to whom I spoke were a unit in saying that
the conditions of the Colon streets were 100 per cent better than
a year ago. The most superficial examination of the town shows
the progress that has been made and is being made in macadamizing
the streets. Complaint was made to me by an entirely reputable
man as to the character of some of the material used for repairing
certain streets. On investigation the complaint proved well founded,
but it also appeared that the use of the material in question had
been abandoned, the Commission after having tried it in one or two
streets finding it not appropriate.

The result of the investigation of this honest complaint was typ-

ical of what occurred when I investigated most of the other honest
complaints made to me. That is, where the complaints were not
.	made wantonly or maliciously, they almost always

WelfFounded proved due to failure to appreciate the fact that
time was necessary in the creation and com-
pletion of this Titanic work in a tropic wilderness. It is impossible
to avoid some mistakes in building a giant canal through jungle-
covered mountains and swamps, while at the same time sanitating
tropic cities, and providing for the feeding and general care of
from twenty to thirty thousand workers. The complaints brought
to me, either of insufficient provision in caring for some of the
laborers, or of failure to finish the pavements of Colon, or of failure
to supply water, or of failure to build wooden sidewalks for the use
of the laborers in the rainy season, on investigation proved, almost
without exception, to be due merely to the utter inability of the
Commission to do everything at once.

For instance, it was imperative that Panama, which had the highest
death rate and where the chance of a yellow fever epidemic was
strongest, should be cared for first; yet most of the complaints as to
the delay in taking care of Colon were due to the inability or un-
willingness to appreciate this simple fact. Again, as the thousands
of laborers are brought over and housed, it is not always possible at
the outset to supply wooden walks and bath houses, because other
more vital necessities have to be met; and in consequence, while
most of the settlements have good bath houses, and, to a large ex-
tent at least, wooden walks, there are plenty of settlements where
wooden walks have not yet been laid down, and I visited one where
the bath houses have not been provided. But in this very settlement
the frames of the bath houses are already up, and in every case the
utmost effort is being made to provide the wooden walks. Of
course, in some of the newest camps tents are used pending the build-
ing of houses. Where possible, I think detached houses would be
preferable to the semidetached houses now in general use.

Care and forethought have been exercised by the Commission,
and nothing has reflected more credit upon them than their refusal
either to go ahead too fast or to be deterred by the
Unjust Criticism. fear of criticism from not going ahead fast enough.

It is curious to note the fact that many of the most
severe critics of the Commission criticise them for precisely opposite
reasons, some complaining bitterly that the work is not in a more

(7)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

INSPECTING STEAM SHOVEL NEAR ENTRANCE TO CULEBRA CUT.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

advanced condition, while the others complain that it has been rushed
with such haste that there has been insufficient preparation for the
hygiene and comfort of the employees. As a matter of fact neither
criticism is just. It would have been impossible to go quicker than
the Commission has gone, for such quickness would have meant
insufficient preparation. On the other hand, to refuse to do anything
until every possible future contingency had been met would have
caused wholly unwarranted delay. The right course to follow was
exactly the course which has been followed. Every reasonable
preparation was made in advance, the hygienic conditions in especial
being made as nearly perfect as possible; while on the other hand
there has been no timid refusal to push forward the work because
of inability to anticipate every possible emergency, for, of course,
many defects can only be shown by the working of the system in
actual practice.

In addition to attending to the health of the employees, it is of
course necessary to provide for policing the Zone. This is done by
a police force which at present numbers over 200 men, under Cap-
tain Shanton. About one-fifth of the men are white and the others
black. In different places I questioned some twenty or thirty of
these men, taking them at random. They were a fine set, phys-
ically and in discipline. With one exception all the white men I
questioned had served in the American Army, usually in the Philip-
pines, and belonged to the best type of American soldier. Without
exception the black policemen whom I questioned had served either
in the British army or in the Jamaica or Barbados police. They
were evidently contented, and were doing their work well. Where
possible the policemen are used to control people of their own
color, but in any emergency no hesitation is felt in using them indis-
criminately.

Inasmuch as so many both of the white and colored employees
have brought their families with them, schools have been estab-
lished, the school service being under Mr. O'Connor. For the
white pupils white American teachers are employed; for the colored
pupils there are also some white American teachers, one Spanish
teacher, and one colored American teacher, most of them being
colored teachers from Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Lucia. The
schoolrooms were good,'and it was a pleasant thing to see the pride
that the teachers were taking in their work and their pupils.

There seemed to me to be too many saloons in the Zone; but

the new high-license law which goes into effect on January 1 next
will probably close four-fifths of them. Resolute and successful
efforts are being made to minimize and control the sale of liquor.

The cars on the passenger trains on the Isthmus are divided into
first and second class, the difference being marked in the price of
tickets. As a rule second-class passengers are colored and first-class
passengers white; but in every train which I saw there were a num-
ber of white second-class passengers, and on two of them there wrere
colored first-class passengers.

Next in importance to the problem of sanitation, and indeed now
of equal importance, is the problem of securing and caring for the
mechanics, laborers, and other employees who
Care of Employees, actually do the work on the canal and the rail-
road. This great task has been under the control
of Mr. Jackson Smith, and on the whole has been well done. At
present there are some 6,000 white employees and some 19,000
colored employees on the Isthmus. I went over the different places
where the different kinds of employees were working; I think I
saw representatives of every type both at their work and in their
homes; and I conversed with probably a couple of hundred of them
all told, choosing them at random from every class and including
those who came especially to present certain grievances. I found
that those who did not come specifically to present grievances almost
invariably expressed far greater content and satisfaction with the
conditions than did those who called to make complaint.

Nearly 5,000 of the white employees had come from the United
States. No man can see these young, vigorous men energetically
doing their duty without a thrill of pride in them as Americans.
They represent on the average a high class. Doubtless to Congress
the wages paid them will seem high, but as a matter of fact the only
general complaint which I found had any real basis among the com-
plaints made to me upon the Isthmus was that, owing to the peculiar
surroundings, the cost of living, and the distance from home, the
wages were really not as high as they should be. In fact, almost
every man I spoke to felt that he ought to be receiving more money—
a view, however, which the average man who stays at home in the
United States probably likewise holds as regards himself. I append
figures of the wages paid, so that the Congress can judge the matter*
for itself. Later I shall confer on the subject with certain repre-
sentative labor men here in the United States, as well as going over

(8)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

VIEW OF SECTION OF RAILWAY YARD AT LAS CASCADAS. THIS IS THE CLEARING HOUSE, ON THE ATLANTIC SIDE, FOR THE TRAINS OF SPOIL FROM THE CULEBRA CUT,SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

with Mr. Stevens, the comparative wages paid on the Zone and at
home; and I may then communicate my findings to the canal com-
mittees of the two Houses.

The white Americans are employed, some of them in office work,
but the majority in handling the great steam shovels, as engineers
and conductors on the dirt trains, as machinists in

^tSaTtory°°^ ^ £reat rePa^r shops, as carpenters and time-
keepers, superintendents, and foremen of divisions
and of gangs, and so 011 and so on. Many of them have brought
down their wives and families; and the children when not in school
are running about and behaving precisely as the American small
boy and small girl behave at home. The bachelors among the
employees live, sometimes in small separate houses, sometimes in
large houses; quarters being furnished free to all the men, married
and unmarried. Usually the bachelors sleep two in a rootn, as they
would do in this country. I found a few cases where three were in a
room; and I was told of, although I did not see, large rooms in which
four were sleeping; for it is not possible in what is really a vast
system of construction camps always to provide in advance as ample
house room as the Commission intend later to give. In one
case, where the house was an old French house with a leak in
the roof, I did not think the accommodations were good. But
in every other case among the scores of houses I entered at ran-
dom, the accommodations were good; every room was neat and
clean, usually having books, magazines, and small ornaments; and
in short just such a room as a self-respecting craftsman would
be glad to live in at home. The quarters for the married peo-
ple were even better. Doubtless there must be here and there
a married couple who, with or without reason, are not con-
tented with their house on the Isthmus; but I never happened to
strike such a couple. The wives of the steam-shovel men, engi-
neers, machinists, and carpenters into whose houses I went, all with
one accord expressed their pleasure in their home life and surround-
ings. Indeed I do not think they could have done otherwise. The
houses themselves were excellent—bathroom, sitting room, piazza,
and bedrooms being all that could be desired. In every house
which I happened to enter the mistress of the home was evidently a
good American housewife and helpmeet, who had given to the home
life that touch of attractiveness which, of course, the bachelor quar-
ters neither had nor could have.

The housewives purchase their supplies directly, or through their
husbands, from the commissary stores of the Commission. All to
whom I spoke agreed that the supplies were excel-
^^Supplics. jen^ anc[ ajj two stated that there was no com-
jyjeaj	plaint to be made; these two complained that the

prices were excessive as compared to the prices in
the States. On investigation I did not feel that this complaint was
well founded. The married men ate at home. The unmarried
men sometimes ate at private boarding houses, or private messes,
but more often, judging by the answers of those whom I ques-
tioned, at the Government canteens or hotels where the meal
costs 30 cents to each employee. This 30-cent meal struck me
as being as good a meal as we get in the United States at the
ordinary hotel in which a 50-cent meal is provided. Three-fourths of
the men whom I questioned stated that the meals furnished at these
government hotels were good, the remaining one-fourth that they were
not good. I myself took dinner at the La Boca government hotel, no
warning whatever having been given of my coming. There were
two rooms, as generally in these hotels. In one the employees were
allowed to dine without their coats, while in the other they had to
put them on. The 30-cent meal included soup, native beef (which
was good), mashed potatoes, peas, beets, chili con carne, plum pud-
ding, tea, coffee—each man having as much of each dish as he desired.
On the table there was a bottle of liquid quinine tonic, which two-
thirds of the guests, as I was informed, used every day. There were
neat tablecloths and napkins. The men, who were taking the meal
at or about the same time, included railroad men, machinists, ship-
wrights, and members of the office force. The rooms were clean,
comfortable, and airy, with mosquito screens around the outer
piazza. I was informed by some of those present that this hotel,
and also the other similar hotels, were every Saturday night turned
into clubhouses where the American officials, the school-teachers,
and various employees, appeared, bringing their wives, there
being dancing and singing. There was a piano in the room,
which I was informed was used for the music on these occasions.
My meal was excellent, and two newspaper correspondents who
had been on the Isthmus several days informed me that it
was precisely like the meals they had been getting elsewhere
at other Government hotels. One of the employees was a cousin of
one of the Secret-Service men who was with me, and he stated thatCONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

VIEW OF RAILWAY YARD AT PEDRO MIGUEL. THIS IS THE CLEARING HOUSE, ON THE PACIFIC SIDE, FOR TRAINS WITH SPOIL FROM THE CULEBRA CUT.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

the meals had always been good, but that after a time he grew
tired of them because they seemed so much alike.

I came to the conclusion that, speaking generally, there was no
warrant for complaint about the food. Doubtless it grows monoto-
nous after awhile. Any man accustomed to han-

No Cause for dling large masses of men knows that some of
Complaint About ,	A * n ■,

pOQ(j	them, even though otherwise very good men, are

sure to grumble about something, and usually
about their food. Schoolboys, college boys, and boarders in board-
ing houses make similar complaints; so do soldiers and sailors. On
this very trip, on one of the warships, a seaman came to complain
to the second watch officer about the quality of the cocoa at the sea-
men's mess, saying that it was not sweet enough; it was pointed
out to him that there was sugar on the table and he could always
put it in, to which he responded that that was the cook's business
and not his! I think that the complaint as to the food on the Isth-
mus has but little more foundation than that of the sailor in ques-
tion. Moreover, I was given to understand that one real cause of
complaint was that at the Government hotels no liquor is served,
and some of the drinking men, therefore, refused to go to them. The
number of men using the Government hotels is steadily increasing.

Of the nineteen or twenty thousand day laborers employed on the
canal, a few hundred are Spaniards. These do excellent work.

Their foremen told me that they did twice as well
as the West India laborers. They keep healthy
and no difficulty is experienced with them in any
way. Some Italian laborers are also employed in connection with
the drilling. As might be expected, with labor as high priced as
at present in the United States, it has not so far proved prac-
ticable to get any ordinary laborers from the United States. The
American wage-workers on the Isthmus are the highly paid skilled
mechanics of the types mentioned previously. A steady effort is
being made to secure Italians, and especially to procure more Span-
iards, because of the very satisfactory results that have come from
their employment; and their numbers will be increased as far as pos-
sible. It has not proved possible, however, to get them in anything
like the numbers needed for the work, and from present appearances
we shall in the main have to rely, for the ordinary unskilled work,
partly upon colored laborers from the West Indies, partly upon Chi-
nese labor. It certainly ought to be unnecessary to point out that the

Chinese and Other
Labor.

American workingman in the United States has no concern what-
ever in the question as to whether the rough work on the Isthmus,
which is performed by aliens in any event, is done by aliens from
one country with a black skin or by aliens from another country
with a yellow skin. Our business is to dig the canal as efficiently
and as quickly as possible; provided always that nothing is done
that is inhumane to any laborers, and nothing that interferes with
the wages of or lowers the standard of living of our own workmen.
Having in view this principle, I have arranged to try several thou-
sand Chinese laborers. This is desirable both because we must
try to find out what laborers are most efficient, and, furthermore,
because we should not leave ourselves at the mercy of any one type of
foreign labor. At present the great bulk of the unskilled labor on
the Isthmus is done by West India negroes, chiefly from Jamaica,
Barbados, and the other English possessions. One of the governors
of the lands in question has shown an unfriendly disposition to our
work, and has thrown obstacles in the way of our getting the labor
needed; and it is highly undesirable to give any outsiders the
impression, however ill founded, that they are indispensable and can
dictate terms to us.

The West India laborers are fairly, but only fairly, satisfactory.
Some of the men do very well indeed; the better class, who are to
be found as foremen, as skilled mechanics, as

!md^he!rQuarters policemen, are good men; and many of the ordi-
nary day laborers are also good. But thousands
of those who are brought over under contract (at our expense)
go off into the jungle to live, or loaf around Colon, or work so
badly after the first three or four days as to cause a serious dimi-
nution of the amount of labor performed on Friday and Saturday of
each week. I questioned many of these Jamaica laborers as to the
conditions of their work and what, if any, changes they wished.
I received many complaints from them, but as regards most of these
complaints they themselves contradicted one another. In all cases
where the complaint was as to their treatment by any individual it
proved on examination that this individual was himself a West
India man of color, either a policeman, a storekeeper, or an assist-
ant storekeeper. Doubtless there must be many complaints against
Americans; but those to whom I spoke did not happen to make any
such complaint to me. There was no complaint of the housing;
I saw but one set of quarters for colored laborers which I thought

(10)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

STONE CRUSHER AT WORK AT BAS OBISPO.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

poor, and this was in an old French house. The barracks for
unmarried men are roomy, well ventilated, and clean, with canvas
bunks for each man, and a kind of false attic at the top, where
the trunks and other belongings of the different men are kept.
The clothes are hung on clotheslines, nothing being allowed to
be kept on the floor. In each of these big rooms there were tables
and lamps, and usually a few books or papers, and in almost every
room there was a Bible; the books being the property of the labor-
ers themselves. The cleanliness of the quarters is secured by daily
inspection. The quarters for the married negro laborers were good.
They were neatly kept, and in almost every case the men living
in them, whose wives or daughters did the cooking for them,
were far better satisfied and of a higher grade than the ordinary
bachelor negroes. Not only were the quarters in which these
negro laborers were living much superior to those in which I am
informed they live at home, but they were much superior to the
huts to be seen in the jungles of Panama itself, beside the railroad
tracks, in which the lower class of native Panamans live, as well as
the negro workmen when they leave the employ of the canal and
go into the jungles. A single glance at the two sets of buildings is
enough to show the great superiority in point of comfort, cleanliness,
and healthfulness of the Government houses as compared with the
native houses.

The negroes generally do their own cooking, the bachelors cooking
in sheds provided by the Government and using their own pots.

In the different camps there was a wide variation

Negroes Do their «n character Gf these cooking sheds. In some,
Own Cooking.	®	'

where the camps were completed, the kitchen or

cooking sheds, as well as the bathrooms and water-closets, were all

in excellent trim, while there were board sidewalks leading from

building to building. In other camps the kitchens or cook sheds

had not been floored, and the sidewalks had not been put down,

while in one camp the bath houses were not yet up. In each case,

however, every effort was being made to hurry on the construction,

and I do not believe that the delays had been greater than were

inevitable in such work. The laborers are accustomed to do their

own cooking; but there was much complaint, especially among

the bachelors, as to the quantity, and some as to the quality, of the

food they got from the commissary department, especially as regards

yams. On the other hand, the married men and their wives, and

the more advanced among the bachelors, almost invariably expressed
themselves as entirely satisfied with their treatment at the com-
missary stores; except that they stated that they generally could
not get yams there, and had to purchase them outside. The chief
complaint was that the prices were too high. It is unavoidable
that the prices should be higher than in their own homes; and after
careful investigation I came to the conclusion that the chief trouble
lay in the fact that the yams, plantains, and the like are rather per-
ishable food, and are very bulky compared to the amount of nourish-
ment they contain, so that it is costly to import them in large
quantities and difficult to keep them. Nevertheless, I felt that an
effort should be made to secure them a more ample supply of their
favorite food, and so directed; and I believe that ultimately the Gov-
ernment must itself feed them. I am having this matter looked into.

The superintendent having immediate charge of one gang of men
at the Colon reservoir stated that he endeavored to get them to sub-
stitute beans and other nourishing food for the stringy, watery
yams, because the men keep their strength and health better on the
more nourishing food. Inasmuch, however, as they are accustomed
to yams it is difficult to get them to eat the more strengthening food,
and some time elapses before they grow accustomed to it. At this
reservoir there has been a curious experience. It is off in the jungle
by itself at the end of a couple of miles of a little toy railroad. In
order to get the laborers there, they were given free food (and of
course free lodgings); and yet it proved difficult to keep them, because
they wished to be where they could reach the dramshop and places
of amusement.

I was struck by the superior comfort and respectability of the
lives of the married men. It would, in my opinion, be a most
admirable thing if a much larger number of the men had their
wives, for with their advent all complaints about the food and cook-
ing are almost sure to cease.

I had an interview with Mr. Mallet, the British consul, to find
out if there was any just cause for complaint as to the treatment of
the West India negroes. He informed me most emphatically that
there was not, and authorized me to give his statement publicity.
He said that not only was the condition of the laborers far better
than had been the case under the old French Company, but that
year by year the condition was improving under our own regime.
He stated that complaints were continually brought to him, and that

(ii)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

DISPLAY OF AMERICAN FLAG ACROSS THE CUT, AWAITING APPROACH OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TRAIN.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

he always investigated them; and that for the last six months he
had failed to find a single complaint of a serious nature that con-
tained any justification whatever.

One of the greatest needs at present is to provide amusements
both for the white men and the black. The Young Men's Christian
Association is trying to do good work and should

Recreation and	evely way encouraged. But the Govern-

Amusement.	1-.11	•	1

ment should do the main work. I have specific-
ally called the attention of the Commission to this matter; and
something has been accomplished already. Anything done for the
welfare of the men adds to their efficiency and money devoted to
that purpose is therefore properly to be considered as spent in build-
ing the canal. It is imperatively necessary to provide ample recre-
ation and amusement if the men are to be kept well and healthy. I
call the special attention of Congress to this need.

This gathering, distributing, and caring for the great force of
laborers is one of the giant features of the work. That friction
will from time to time occur in connection therewith is inevitable.
The astonishing thing is that the work has been performed so well
and that the machinery runs so smoothly. From my own experience
I am able to say that more care had been exercised in housing,
feeding, and generally paying heed to the needs of the skilled
mechanics and ordinary laborers in the work on this canal than is
the case in the construction of new railroads or in any other similar
private or public work in the United States proper; and it is the
testimony of all people competent to speak that on no other similar
work anywhere in the Tropics—indeed, as far as I know, anywhere
else—has there been such forethought and such success achieved in
providing for the needs of the men who do the work.

I have now dealt with the hygienic conditions which make it
possible to employ a great force of laborers, and with the task of
gathering, housing, and feeding these laborers. There remains
to consider the actual work which has to be done; the work because
of which these laborers are gathered together—the work of con-
structing the canal. This is under the direct control of the Chief
Engineer, Mr. Stevens, who has already shown admirable results,
and whom we can safely trust to achieve similar results in the
future.

Our people found on the Isthmus a certain amount of old French
material and equipment wrhich could be used. Some of it, in addi-

tion, could be sold as scrap iron. Some could be used for furnish-
ing the foundation for filling in. For much no possible use could
be devised that would not cost more than it would bring in.

The work is now going on with a vigor and efficiency pleasant to
witness. The three big problems of the canal are the La Boca dams,

the Gatun dam, and the Culebra cut. The Cule-

Work of	CU£ musf- |3e ma(}e anyhow; but of course

Construction.	111

changes as to the dams, or at least as to the locks

adjacent to the dams, may still occur. The La Boca dams offer
no particular problem, the bottom material being so good that
there is a practical certainty, not merely as to what can be
achieved, but as to the time of achievement. The Gatun dam
offers the most serious problem which we have to solve; and yet
the ablest men on the Isthmus believe that this problem is certain
of solution along the lines proposed; although, of course, it necessi-
tates great toil, energy, and intelligence, and although equally, of
course, there will be some little risk in connection with the work.
If the huge earth dam now contemplated is thrown across from
one foothill to the other we will have what is practically a low,
broad, mountain ridge behind which will rise the inland lake.
This artificial mountain will probably show less seepage, that is,
will have greater restraining capacity than the average natural
mountain range. - The exact locality of the locks at this dam—as
at the other dams—is now being determined. In April next Sec-
retary Taft, with three of the ablest engineers of the country—
Messrs. Noble, Stearns, and Ripley—will visit the Isthmus, and
the three engineers will make the final and conclusive examina-
tions as to the exact site for each lock. Meanwhile the work is
going ahead without a break.

The Culebra cut does not offer such great risks; that is, the dam-
age liable to occur from occasional land slips will not represent what
may be called major disasters. The work will merely call for intel-
ligence, perseverance, and executive capacity. It is, however, the
work upon which most labor will have to-be spent. The dams will
be composed of the earth taken out of the cut and very possibly the
building of the locks and dams will take even longer than the cut-
ting in Culebra itself.

The main work is now being done in the Culebra cut. It was
striking and impressive to see the huge steam shovels in full play,
the dumping trains carrying away the rock and earth they dis-

(12)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

fc



REVIEW OF MARINES AT CAMP ELLIOTT. THE BAND IS PLAYING THE "STAR SPANGLED BANNER."SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

lodged. The implements of French excavating machinery, which
often stand a little way from the line of work, though of excellent
construction, look like the veriest toys when com-
In Culebra Cut. pared with these new steam shovels, just as the
French dumping cars seem like toy cars when
compared with the long trains of huge cars, dumped by steam
plows, which are now in use. This represents the enormous
advance that has been made in machinery during the past quarter
of a century. No doubt a quarter of a century hence this new
machiney, of which we are now so proud, will similarly seem out of
date, but it is certainly serving its purpose well now. The old
French cars had to be entirely discarded. We still have in use a
few of the more modern, but not most modern, cars, which hold but
12 yards of earth. They can be employed on certain lines with sharp
curves. But the recent cars hold from 25 to 30 yards apiece, and
instead of the old clumsy methods of unloading them, a steam plow
is drawn from end to end of the whole vestibuled train, thus im-
mensely economizing labor. In the rainy season the steam shovels
can do but little in dirt, but they work steadily in rock and in the
harder ground. There were some 25 at work during the time I was
on the Isthmus, and their tremendous power and efficiency were
most impressive.

As soon as the type of canal was decided this work began in good
earnest. The rainy season will shortly be over and then there will
be an immense increase in the amount taken out;
New Records for ^ut even during the last three months, in the rainy

r YrftVfthon

season, steady progress is shown by the figures: In
August, 242,000 cubic yards; in September, 291,000 cubic yards,
and in October, 325,000 cubic yards. In October new records
were established for the output of individual shovels as well as
for the tonnage haul of individual locomotives. I hope to see the
growth of a healthy spirit of emulation between the different
shovel and locomotive crews, just such a spirit as has grown on
our battle ships between the different gun crews in matters of marks-
manship. Passing through the cut the amount of new work can be
seen at a glance. In one place the entire side of a hill had been
taken out recently by 27 tons of dynamite, which were exploded at
one blast. At another place I was given a Presidential salute of
21 charges of dynamite. On the top notch of the Culebra cut the
prism is now as wide as it will be; all told, the canal bed at this

point has now been sunk about 200 feet below what it originally
was. It will have to be sunk about 130 feet farther. Throughout
the cut the drilling, blasting, shoveling, and hauling are going on
with constantly increasing energy, the huge shovels being pressed
up, as if they were mountain howitzers, into the most unlikely look-
ing places, where they eat their way into the hillsides.

The most advanced methods, not only in construction, but in
railroad management, have been applied in the Zone, with corre-
sponding economies in time and cost. This has
Railway ^	been shown in the handling of the tonnage from

ships into cars, and from cars into ships on the
Panama Railroad, where, thanks largely to the efficiency of Gen-
eral Manager Bierd, the saving in time and cost, has been note-
worthy. My examination tended to show that some of the depart-
ments had (doubtless necessarily) become overdeveloped, and could
now be reduced or subordinated without impairment of efficiency
and with a saving of cost. The Chairman of the Commission,
Mr. Shonts, has all matters of this kind constantly in view, and
is now reorganizing the government of the Zone, so as to make the
form of administration both more flexible and less expensive, sub-
ordinating everything to direct efficiency with a view to the wrork of
the Canal Commission. From time to time changes of this kind will
undoubtedly have to be made, for it must be remembered that in this
giant work of construction, it is continually necessary to develop
departments or bureaus, which are vital for the time being, but
which soon become useless; just as it will be continually necessary
to put up buildings, and even to erect towns, which in ten years
will once more give place to jungle, or will then be at the bottom
of the great lakes at the ends of the canal.

It is not only natural, but inevitable, that a work as gigantic as

this which has been undertaken on the Isthmus should arouse every

species of hostility and criticism. The conditions

Critics and	are SQ new an(j so trying, and the work so vast,

Doubting Thomases. ^ ^	^ abgolutely Qut of the question

that mistakes should not be made. Checks will occur. Unfore-
seen difficulties will arise. From time to time seemingly well-
settled plans will have to be changed. At present 25,000 men
are engaged on the task. After a while the number will be
doubled. In such a multitude it is inevitable that there should
be here and there a scoundrel. Very many of the poorer class of

(13)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

VIEW OF RAILWAY YARD AT CRISTOBAL.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

laborers lack the mental development to protect themselves against
either the rascality of others or their own folly, and it is not pos-
sible for human wisdom to devise a plan by which they can invari-
ably be protected. In a place which has been for ages a byword for
unhealthfulness, and with so large a congregation of strangers sud-
denly put down and set to hard work there will now and then be
outbreaks of disease. There will now and then be shortcomings
in administration; there will be unlooked-for accidents to delay
the excavation of the cut or the building of the dams and locks.
Each such incident will be entirely natural, and, even though
serious, no one of them will mean more than a little extra delay or
trouble. Yet each, when discovered by sensation mongers and
retailed to timid folk of little faith, will serve as an excuse for the
belief that the whole work is being badly managed. Experiments
will continually be tried in housing, in hygiene, in street repairing, in
dredging, and in digging earth and rock. Now and then an experi-
ment will be a failure; and among those who hear of it, a certain pro-
portion of doubting Thomases will at once believe that the whole
work is a failure. Doubtless here and there some minor rascality
will be uncovered; but as to this, I have to say that after the most
painstaking inquiry I have been unable to find a single reputable
. person who had so much as heard of any serious accusations affect-
ing the honesty of the Commission or of any responsible officer under
it. I append a letter dealing with the most serious charge, that of
the ownership of lots in Colon; the charge was not advanced by a
reputable man, and is utterly baseless. It is not too much to say
that the whole atmosphere of the Commission breathes honesty as
it breathes efficiency and energy. Above all, the work has been
kept absolutely clear of politics. I have never heard even a sugges-
tion of spoils politics in connection with it.

I have investigated every complaint brought to me for which
there seemed to be any shadow of foundation. In two or three
cases, all of which I have indicated in the course of this message, I
came to the conclusion that there was foundation for the complaint,
and that the methods of the Commission in the respect complained
of could be bettered. In the other instances the complaints proved
absolutely baseless, save in two or three instances where they
referred to mistakes which the Commission had already itself found
out and corrected.

So much for honest criticism. There remains an immense

Slanderers and
Libelers.

amount of as reckless slander as has ever been published. Where
the slanderers are of foreign origin I have no concern with them.

Where they are Americans, I feel for them the
heartiest contempt and indignation; because, in a
spirit of wanton dishonesty and malice, they
are trying to interfere with, and hamper the execution of, the
greatest work of the kind ever attempted, and are seeking to
bring to naught the efforts of their countrymen to put to the credit
of America one of the giant feats of the ages. The outrageous
accusations of these slanderers constitute a gross libel upon a body
of public servants who, for trained intelligence, expert ability, high
character and devotion to duty, have never been excelled anywhere.
There is not a man among those directing the work on the Isthmus
who has obtained his position on any other basis than merit alone,
and not one who has used his position in any way for his own per-
sonal or pecuniary advantage.

After most careful consideration we have decided to let out most
of the work by contract, if we can come to satisfactory terms with
the contractors. The whole work is of a kind
Plan to Build by suited to the peculiar genius of our people; and
. our people have developed the type of contractor
best fitted to grapple with it. It is of course much better to do
the work in large part by contract than to do it all by the
Government, provided it is possible on the one hand to secure to
the contractor a sufficient remuneration to make it worth while for
responsible contractors of the best kind to undertake the work; and
provided on the other hand it can be done on terms which will not
give an excessive profit to the contractor at the expense of the Gov-
ernment. After much consideration the plan already promulgated
by the Secretary of War was adopted. This plan 111 its essential
features was drafted, after careful and thorough study and considera-
tion, by the Chief Engineer, Mr. Stevens, who, while in the employ-
ment of Mr. Hill, the president of the Great Northern Railroad, had
personal experience of this very type of contract. Mr. Stevens then
submitted the plan to the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Shonts,
who went carefully over it with Mr. Rogers, the legal adviser
of the Commission, to see that all legal difficulties were met.
He then submitted copies of the plan to both Secretary Taft
and myself. Secretary Taft submitted it to some of the best coun-
sel at the New York bar, and afterwards I went over it very care-

(14)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

THE CANAL COMMISSION'S MOUNT HOPE STORE, THE LARGEST ON THE ISTHMUS, THROUGH WHICH ALL SUPPLIES FOR THE ISTHMUS ARE DISTRIBUTED.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

fully with Mr. Taft and Mr. Shonts, and we laid the plan in its
general features before Mr. Root. My conclusion is that it com-
bines the maximum of advantage with the minimum of disadvan-
tage. Under it a premium will be put upon the speedy and
economical construction of the canal, and a penalty imposed on
delay and waste. The plan as promulgated is tentative; doubtless
it will have to be changed in some respects before we can come to
a satisfactory agreement with responsible contractors—perhaps even
after the bids have been received; and of course it is possible that
we can not come to an agreement, in which case the Government
will do the work itself. Meanwhile the work on the Isthmus is
progressing steadily and without any let-up.

A seven-headed commission is of course a clumsy executive
instrument. We should have but one cotnmis-
A Single	sioner, with such heads of departments and other

De^red^°ner	officers under him as we may find necessary.

We should be expressly permitted to employ the
best engineers in the country as consulting engineers.

I accompany this paper with a map showing substantially what
the canal will be like when it is finished. When the Culebra cut
has been made and the dams built (if they are built as at present
proposed) there will then be at both the Pacific and Atlantic ends
of the canal, two great fresh-water lakes, connected by a broad
channel running at the bottom of a ravine, across the backbone of
the Western Hemisphere. Those best informed believe that the
work will be completed in about eight years; but it is never safe
to prophesy about such a work as this, especially in the Tropics.

I am informed that representatives of the commercial clubs of
four cities—Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis—the member-
ship of which includes most of the leading business men of those
cities, expect to visit the Isthmus for the purpose of examining the
work of construction of the canal. I am glad to hear it, and I shall
direct that every facility be given them to see all that is to be seen
in the work which the Government is doing. Such interest as a
visit like this would indicate will have a good effect upon the men
who are doing the work, on one hand, while on the other hand it

will offer as witnesses of the exact conditions men whose experience
as business men and whose impartiality will make the result of
their observations of value to the country as a whole.

Of the success of the enterprise I am as well convinced as one can
be of any enterprise that is human. It is a stupendous work upon
which our fellow-countrymen are engaged down there on the Isth-
mus, and while we should hold them to a strict

Confident of	accountability for the way in which they per-

Ultimate Success. r .	i u .	•	r 1

torm it, we should yet recognize, with frank

generosity, the epic nature of the task on which they are engaged
and its world-wide importance. They are doing something which
will redound immeasurably to the credit of America, which
will benefit all the world, and which will last for ages to come.
Under Mr. Shonts and Mr. Stevens and Doctor Gorgas this
work has started with every omen of good fortune. They and
their worthy associates, from the highest to the lowest, are
entitled to the same credit that we would give to the picked
men of a victorious army; for this conquest of peace will, in its
great and far-reaching effect, stand as among the very greatest
conquests, whether of peace or of war, which have ever been won
by any of the peoples of mankind. A badge is to be given to
every American citizen who for a specified time has taken part
in this work; for participation in it will hereafter be held to reflect
honor upon the man participating just as it reflects honor upon a
soldier to have belonged to a mighty army in a great war for right-
eousness. Our fellow-countrymen on the Isthmus are working for
our interest and for the national renown in the same spirit and with
the same efficiency that the men of the Army and Navy work in
time of war. It behooves us in our turn to do all we can to hold up
their hands and to aid them in every way to bring their great work
to a triumphant conclusion.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

The White House,

December //, ipo6.

(15)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

MESS HALL AT CULEBRA, IN WHICH MEN ARE PERMITTED TO EAT WITHOUT THEIR COATS.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.



I

J

COLON RESERVOIR, ONE MILE BACK OF MOUNT HOPE, WHICH SUPPLIES COLON AND CRISTOBAL WITH WATER. HAS CAPACITY OF 508,000,000 GALLONS AND IS NOW FULL. DIMENSIONS, ONE AND ONE-HALF MILES LONG

BY ONE-HALF MILE WIDE. PICTURE SHOWS ABOUT THREE-FIFTHS OF THE RESERVOIR.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Appendix i.

Address of President Roosevelt to the employees of the Isthmian
Canal Commission, at Colon, Panama, November //, 1906.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It was without precedent for a President to leave the United
States, but this work is without precedent. You are doing the big-
gest thing of the kind that has ever been done, and I wanted to see
how you were doing it. I am profoundly thankful that I shall be
able to take back to the United States the message that the nation's
picked sons are carrying themselves so well here that I can abso-
lutely guarantee the success of the mighty work which they are
doing. It is not an easy work. Mighty few things that are worth
doing are easy. Sometimes it is rough on the men and just a
little rougher on the women. It has pleased me particularly to
see, as I have met the wives who have come down here with
their husbands, the way in which they have turned in to make the
best of everything and to help the men do their work well.

I want to say this word to you men, right through, to all of you,
who are engaged in the work of digging this canal, whether you are
here as superintendent, foreman, chief clerk, machinist, conductor,
engineer, steam-shovel man—and he is the American who is setting
the mark for the rest of you to live up to, by the way—whoever you
are, if you are doing your duty you are putting your country under
an obligation to you just as a soldier who does his work well in a
great war puts the country under an obligation to him. As I have seen
you at work, seen what you have done and are doing, noted the spirit
with which you are approaching the task yet to be done, I have felt
just exactly as I should feel if I saw the picked men of my country
engaged in some great war. I am weighing my words when I say
that you here who do your work well in bringing to completion this

great enterprise will stand exactly as the soldiers of a few, and only
a few, of the most famous armies of all the nations stand in history.
This is one of the great works of the world; it is a greater work than
you yourselves at the moment realize. Some of you, a good many
of you, are sons of men who fought in the civil war. When your
fathers were in the fighting, they thought a good deal of the fact
that the blanket was too heavy by noon and not quite heavy
enough by night, that the pork was not as good as it might be,
and the hard-tack was sometimes insufficient in amount, and
that they were not always satisfied with the way in which the
regiments were led. Those were the things they talked about a
good deal of the time. But when the war was done—when they
came home, when they looked at what had been accomplished, all
those things sank into insignificance, and the great fact remained
that they had played their part like men among men; that they had
borne themselves so that when people asked what they had done of
worth in those great years all they had to say was that they had
served decently and faithfully in the great armies. So you men
here, in the future, each man of you will have the right to feel, if
he has done his duty and a little more than his duty right up to the
handle in the work here on the Isthmus, that he has made his coun-
try his debtor; that he has done more than his full share in adding
renown to the nation under whose flag this canal is being built.

(A voice in the audience: "How about Mr. Bigelow?")

Why, gentlemen, there never was a great feat done yet that there
were not some men evil enough, small enough, or foolish enough to
wish to try to interfere with it and to sneer at those who are actually
doing the work. From time to time little men will come along to
find fault with what you have done, to say that something could
have been done better, that there has been some mistake, some short-
coming, that things are not really managed in the best of all possible
manners, in the best of all possible worlds. They will have their
say, and they will go down stream like bubbles, they will vanish;
but the work you have done will remain for the ages. It is the man
who does the job who counts, not the little scolding critic who thinks
how it ought to have been done.

I go back a better American, a prouder American, because of
what I have seen the pick of American manhood doing here on the
Isthmus. You will have hard times. Each of you will sometimes
think that he is misunderstood by some one above him. That is a

(16)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL

RECEIVING HOSPITAL AT EMPIRE.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

common experience of all of us, gentlemen. Now and then you
will feel as if the people at home were indifferent and did not realize
what you were doing. Do not make a mistake; they do realize it,
and they will realize it more and more clearly as the years go by.
I can not overstate the intensity of the feeling I have (and therein
I merely typify the sentiment of the average man of our country)
as to the vital importance of the task that you are doing; and
to each of you who does his share of that task there will come
in the end the proud assurance of vital duty well done. This
assurance can come to but a limited number of men in each genera-
tion; and you are to be congratulated that you are among that lim-
ited number. I do not pity you because you have before you a hard
task. I would feel ashamed of you if I thought you wanted pity.
I admire you. I wish that any one of my boys was old enough to
take part in the work. I feel that to each of you has come an
opportunity such as is vouchsafed to but few in each generation. I
shall see if it is not possible to provide for some little memorial,
some mark, some badge, which will always distinguish the man who
for a certain space of time has done his work well on this Isthmus,
just as the button of the Grand Army distinguishes the man who
did his work well in the civil war. Another thing. In the Grand
Army the spirit that appeals to me most is the spirit of full and
frank comradeship among its members. Whether a man was a
lieutenant-general of the Army of the United States, or whether
he was the youngest recruit whose age would permit him to serve
in the ranks, makes 110 difference; if he did his duty well he is
a comrade to his fellows, and acclaimed as such in a spirit of full
equality in every Grand Army post. The point is not the position,
but the way in which the man handled himself in the position. So
here, whatever the work, whether it be that of chief engineer, assist-
ant engineer, machinist, foreman, or steam-shovel man, the only
question that need be asked is, did the man do it well? And to do
it well, gentlemen, you must do just a little more than merely earn
the salary. Each man must have in him the feeling that, besides
getting what he is rightfully entitled to for his work, that aside and
above that must come the feeling of triumph at being associated in
the work itself, must come the appreciation of what a tremendous
work it is, of what a splendid opportunity is offered to any man who
takes part in it. As I came up the line through the Culebra cut yes-

terday, on one of the steam shovels they had out the legend, u We
will do our best to help you dig it." I liked to look at that motto.
That is the right spirit. Another man called out to me as the train
passed, " We are going to put it through." That is the spirit I like
to see, and it is the spirit that you have in you.

In any army there are some men who, to use a homely phrase,
can't stand the pace. So, here on their Isthmus, there is an occasional
man who means well, but who does not know how; there is an occa-
sional man who does not mean well at all; and when a man of
either type gets out and goes home it is much more comfortable for
him not to say that he failed, but that somebody else was not really
a good man. There will always be a certain percentage of men in
any work who for one cause or another become disgruntled, become
sulky, and then try to run down the work and run down those who
are doing it; and they are the natural and legitimate sources
of the misinformation and slander of the yellow writers, of the
men who preach the gospel of despair, whether in magazine
or in newspaper. If there is any veteran of the civil war here
he will tell you there were "coffee coolers" in those days,
too; there are some of them to be found everywhere and at
all times. These men, as they go home beaten, will give a totally
wrong impression of the rest of the men down here, a totally
wrong impression, not to their countrymen as a whole, but to
a few people of little faith who measure the standard of you
who succeed in doing the work by the standard of those
who fail in the effort to do the work. We can disregard them.
No man can see as I have seen the character of the men engaged
in doing this work and not glow with pride to think that they
are representatives of his country. No man can see them and fail
to realize that our honor and interest are safe in their hands—are
safe in your hands.

In closing, all I have to say is this: You are doing a work the
like of which has not before been seen in the ages, a work that shall
last through the ages to come, and I pledge you, as President of the
United States, and speaking for the people of the United States,
every ounce of support and help and assistance that it is in my
power to give you, so that we together, you backed by the people
of the United States, may speedily bring this greatest of works to a
triumphant conclusion.

(17)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

TENT STREET IN TEMPORARY CAMP AT GATUN.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Appendix 2.

Isthmian Canal Zone,

Department of Health,

Office of Chief Sanitary Officer,

Ancon, C. Z., November 23, ipo6.

Mr. William Loeb,

Secretary to the President,

White House, Washington, C.

Dear Sir: In accordance with the direction of President Roose-
velt, I herewith forward report concerning the disposal of night soil
on the Zone. The report covers the territory from La Boca to Gatun,
bnt does not include the cities of Colon and Panama. I had a care-
ful inspection made on a fixed day of all the closets in this territory.
The reports of inspectors are herewith appended and will explain
themselves.

You will note that we have three methods of disposing of night
soil: First, water-closets, which discharge into regular sewerage sys-
tems; second, pit closets, constructed according to a standard plan
and made fly proof; third, bucket closets. Eventually the disposal
of night soil will be entirely by water, wherever we have a water
supply and a sewerage system, and this condition will exist nearly
everywhere on the Isthmus.

We have two styles of water-closets—the ordinary porcelain flush
closet for the white and married quarters and the range closet
for the laborers' barracks. The range closet consists of a trough
capable of seating about 17 men, which is automatically flushed
sufficiently often to keep it clean. You will see that already a
large majority of the white quarters and family quarters have been
supplied with water-closets. Pit closets are used as a temporary
means of disposal wherever possible until water and sewerage sys-
tems can be installed, and where for local reasons they were not
objectionable. The pit closet is made by digging an ordinary pit
and placing over it a fly-proof closet. Bucket closets are used
where for various reasons the other two systems can not be used; for
instance, where the ground is of such a character that the subsoil
water is high and a pit would rapidly fill with water, or where the
pit closet would be especially inconvenient. The bucket closet is
constructed by placing a galvanized-iron bucket in a fly-proof box

arranged in a convenient building. The bucket is emptied and
cleaned nightly.

Of course, with the ordinary machinery, and the very unreliable
labor we have to deal with, and the shortage of labor that frequently
exists, it is bound to occur that now and then a bucket will not be
emptied, but this very rarely occurs. You will see from the report
that on this particular inspection not a single bucket was found
unemptied, though it does occur every now and then. The system,
I think, is a very safe, good, and sanitary system, and no sanitary
harm is caused from these occasional accidents.

The system of emptying buckets is as follows: The area is
divided up into sections so that 2 negro scavengers are assigned
from 50 to 80 buckets, according to distance from point of disposal.
According to area every 6 scavengers have a negro foreman who
supervises them. These negro foremen are under white inspectors.
Each white inspector is required to go about his district and inspect
every closet once daily. This white inspector makes a daily report
to the chief inspector of the district regarding the condition of the
pit and pail closets. All pit and pail closets are cleaned and washed
daily.

Upon our taking over the buildings from the French, we found
the bucket system installed in the hospitals, the public buildings,
and the better class of white houses. In the barracks and other
buildings no provision was made for the disposal of night soil.
The individuals were expected to care for themselves in this respect
and used the neighboring jungle for this purpose.

From my personal knowledge and frequent inspections (for the
past two years I have been out at least twice a week inspecting this
and other sanitary matters, and every time I go out I inspect some
closets) I am confident that the disposal of night soil is wrell looked
after, and that the general conditions in this respect are entirely
sanitary. The conditions as found according to the inclosed report,
I think, will bear me out in this statement.

In the particular case at house No. 51, at Empire, where the
President found the buckets filled, upon investigation I find that
the buckets had not been emptied the previous night. The foreman
stated that they had been. He acknowledged afterwards that he
was lying. This building contained 24 white employees and had 5
buckets, which is an ample allowance. In my recommendation, I
have advised 1 bucket to 10 men. This I have found sufficient.

(18)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

MESS TENT IN THE TEMPORARY CAMP AT GATUN.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

There had never been any complaint of insanitary conditions of this
closet from anybody concerned, either to the inspector or to anyone
else in authority. The white foreman in charge of the negro fore-
man in this district, and who has been in charge of this district about
three weeks, tells me that this is the first time since he has been in
charge that this particular closet had not been emptied during the
night. The President will remember that during the preceding
night there had been an unusual rainfall, such as had not occurred
on the Isthmus before in several years.

\ As the President ordered, 6 additional buckets have already been
installed. Sewerage connections are being made, and within a few
days water-closets will be in this house.

Very respectfully,	W. C. Gorgas,

Chief Sanitary Officer.

Appendix 3.

[Personal.]

Colon, September /j, 1906.

Mr. Jno. F. Stevens,

Vice-President, Culebra, Canal Zone.

Dear Sir: Referring to and answering your personal letter of
September 6, on the subject of the Panama Railroad lands and the
selling or leasing of them to officials of the railroad company or the
Canal Commission:

A little time has been required to check up all of the leases now
outstanding, hence the delay. But I now beg to advise that—

First. No lands belonging to the Panama Railroad have been
sold to any official of either the Commission or the railroad com-
pany, or to any employee of either of them. The only land or
lots of any description sold by the railroad company were sold many
years ago—one lot to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, upon
which their office stands; a sea frontage of half a lot to the Royal
Mail Steam Packet Company, upon which their office stands and
to which their pier adjoins, and one lot upon which is located
the residence of their general agent in Colon.

The Panamanian Government owns 88 lots on Manzanillo Island
which they own and reserved to themselves when the other lands
were transferred to the railroad company by the Colombian Gov-
ernment.

In Panama a large number of lots in past years have been sold,
exchanged, and transferred, but no such sale or transfer of property
has been made by the railroad company during your administration
as vice-president of the railroad, or, in fact, none in recent years.

Second. As to any lands or property of any description on the
Isthmus leased to officials of either the Commission or the railroad
by the Panama Railroad, I have to advise you that there are only
two such lots. These are two Bolivar street lots that were leased
to Mr. Yung, our present land agent, about seven months ago.
These are in no way choice lots and have no particular value.
They are lots located in what is known as the "Fire Zone"—
a strip of land bordering the company's docks and houses and
commissary to protect the property in event of fire in adjacent
buildings.

No buildings have ever been erected on these lots or in this uFire
Zone" in recent years, and when the lots were leased to Mr. Yung
it was with the understanding that he should not build upon them
until such time as ample fire protection, in the way of water supply,
etc., was furnished and had in Colon. Mr. Yung has paid his rental
regularly in advance on these lots, but has never received one dollar
of income from them and will not receive any such income until he
is permitted to build on them.

Mr. Yung is one of the oldest employees in the service of this
company—having been in its employ for nineteen years—and he
was given the two lots in question under the same terms and for the
same rental that any other person would lease them, but they were
leased to him principally as a reward for his long years of service
with the company.

Third. As to the employees of the Commission or railroad leasing
lots from the company, I beg to advise you that the following
employees now hold leases for certain lots in Colon:

John Gregory, former foreman of the blacksmith shops of the
Panama Railroad, has lease for one lot which Mr. Gregory leased
from the railroad some ten years ago. Mr. Gregory is not and has
not been in the service of the Panama Railroad for the past seven
months.

H. E. Koch, one of our train conductors, has a lease for one lot
located on Bolivar street, and on this lot he has erected a dwelling
house. The lot was leased to Mr. Koch four years ago. Koch has
been in the service of the Panama Railroad Company for the past

(19)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

SM 555 555 3£5|

HOUSES IN THE NEW VILLAGE OF GATUN.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

ten years, serving, respectively, as locomotive engineer, master
mechanic, and now as conductor. The lot in question was leased
by the Panama Railroad Company to a gentlemen by the name
of Canavaggio, and the lease was purchased by Mr. Koch from
Canavaggio, the same being transferred by the Panama Railroad
Company.

W. S. O'Brien, also a train conductor, also has a lease to one lot
on Bolivar street, upon which a dwelling and business house has
been located by Mr. O'Brien. This lot was leased by the railroad
company to a Mrs. de Cooke some ten years ago, and the lease was
bought by Conductor O'Brien from Mrs. de Cooke, the same being
transferred by the Panama Railroad Company after Mr. O'Brien
purchased the same. This lot was purchased by Mr. O'Brien a
little over a year ago and before the time of your administration as
vice-president.

C. S. Clark, also a train conductor, has a lease for five lots on
Bolivar street. The lease on these lots was purchased by Mr. Clark
from a Mr. de Leon in 1903—the lease being transferred in the
proper manner by the Panama Railroad Company.

J. E. Stevens, also a train conductor, has a lease for one lot on
Bolivar street, upon which he has erected a dwelling house. This
lot was leased by the railroad company to a Mrs. de Cooke, and the
lease Stevens now holds was purchased from Mrs. de Cooke, and
the lease was properly transferred to Stevens in October, 1905, by
the railroad company.

In Panama there is not a lot leased to or held by any white employee
or official—such lot being situated in the business portion of the city.

You will note by the above that none of these lots, with the
exceptions of the one held by Mr. Gregory and the two held by
Mr. Yung, were ever leased directly to an employee of the Panama
Railroad Company. In all other cases the employee holding the
lease purchased same from the original holder. In this connection
I beg to advise you that these employees paid for these lots prices
ranging from $100 to $1,000 gold, which will convey to you an
idea of their value.

As to other lots leased to employees: We have in Colon and
Panama leased about 40 lots, that is, of the small outlying lots, to
colored employees, switchmen, clerks, brakemen, yardmen, and col-
ored employees of this class. Upon these lots they have built their
little homes, and they pay to the railroad company an average

yearly rental of $9 gold. This will also give you an idea of the
value of these lots.

Along the line of the road in the various villages there is not one
lot leased to an official or white employee. There are a few of
these lots, however, that have been leased to colored employees who
work for the railroad company from time to time, and who are,
generally speaking, treated or considered as nonemployees.

By the above statement you will note that during the administra-
tion of the present officials, or, in fact, any official since the owner-
ship of the United States Government on the Isthmus, but two lots
have ever been leased to an official or white employee.

The lots leased to colored employees are transferred to them from
time to time, as they desire to build their little homes.

The above is a true statement of the facts, as wrill be shown at
any time by the records, of our land office and the register of such
leases.

Trusting this will serve your purposes, I remain,

Yours, very truly,

W. G. Bierd, General Manager.

The following is the scale of wages paid by the Isthmian Canal
Commission in the department of engineering and construction to
men in various outdoor employments, including mechanical and
building trades, railroad and engineering positions on the Isthmus,
with brief statements of the qualifications required in each case:

Foreman (not special). — #125 per month. Experience 111 handling men and mate-
rial on construction work.

Dump joreman.—$100 per month. Experience with skeleton track on construc-
tion.

Municipal foreman.—$100 to $150 per month. Experience in laying iron and
vitrified pipe lines and in concrete work and road construction.

Rock foreman.—$ 100 to $150 per month. Experience with various classes of
explosives and in directing machine drill work 111 heavy cuts 011 railroads.

Track foreman. — $100 to $ 150 per month. Experience in laying and surfacing new
track, with knowledge of details of work and capacity to instruct laborers in doing
work, as well as managing them. Only construction men wanted.

Wrecking foreman.—$125 to $150 per month. Experience in picking up wrecks,
assembling wrecking tools and outfit, and directing wrork.

General foreman.—$150 per month.

In all above classes, experience in directing subforemen.

Rodman.—$83.33 Per month. Must have actual experience of at least one year as
such 011 railroad or other heavy construction wTork; must be active and have equiva-
lent to high school or technical education, and not over 30 years of age.

(20)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

CULEBRA—MARRIED QUARTERS.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Levelman.—$125 per month. Must be technical graduate in civil engineering, and
have actual experience as such on large construction works.

Transitman.—$150 per month. Must be technical graduate in civil engineering,
and have considerable practical experience as such on railroad or other large con-
struction works.

Bricklayer.—72 cents per hour. Must have experience as such and able to lay
a lead, or corner, or jamb, plumb and true to line, and to lay not less than 200
bricks per hour, in a workmanlike manner.

Copper and tinsmith combined. —65 cents per hour. Must have experience in
general tinning and coppersmithing work in locomotive and tin shops, such as roof-
ing, guttering and making of cans, oilers, ventilators, etc., and making and placing
copper pipes on locomotives.

Iron worker.—56 cents per hour. Must have experience in bending angle iron, lin-
ing boats, and doing all kinds of erection work on boat hulls, and able to do all
kinds of sheet metal work.

Molder.—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in locomotive and general
foundry work in both green and dry sand, and in core making for both brass and
iron.

Painter [house).—65 cents per hour. Must have good experience as brush men
and in mixing colors. Persons having experience in handling a gang of painters
preferred.

Painter [locomotive).—56 cents per hour. Must have experience in lettering,
striping, and varnishing in both locomotive and coach work.

Pipe jitter.—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in locomotive and car, steam,
and air piping, and in handling, working, and bending all kinds of wrought-iron
pipes from smallest size to 10 inches in diameter.

Plumber.—75 cents per hour. Must have experience as such and capable of get-
ting up and connecting all kinds of sanitary fixtures, putting in roughing work,
wiping joints in workmanlike manner.

Car inspector and repairer.—44 and 56 cents per hour. Must have at least one
year's experience as such ill railroad service. A person experienced in repairs to
both steel and wooden cars preferred.

Carpenter [bridge and dock).—56 cents per hour. Must have good experience as
such in railroad bridge or other bridge and dock work, in which heavy timbers are
used.

Carpenter [car).—65 cents per hour. Must have at least two years' experience as
such during last four years either in railroad car repair shops or regular car con-
struction plants. A person experienced in repairs to both steel and wooden cars
preferred. Only first-class high-grade men wanted.

Carpenter [house).— 65 cents per hour. Must have experience in framing, be able
to fit, hang, and trim doors and windows, build stairways, and be expert with use of
common tools. Must be competent to build frame houses from plans, etc.

Carpenter [ship).—56 cents per hour. Must have experience as such in hull and
boat construction and finishing of vessels.

Coach cabinetmaker.—56 cents per hour. Must have experience as such in regular
coach shop.

Pattern maker.—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in making light and
heavy patterns on machinery, including gearing, locomotive, and car work.

Planing mill machine hand.—56 cents per hour. Must have experience in run-
ning heavy woodworking machinery, such as planers, surfacers, matchers, headers,
rip and cut-off sawrs, mortising and boring machines, in general car work.

Condtictor.—$170 per month. Must have actual experience as such in construction

and work-train work; must be able to pass standard rule and efficiency examination;
clearance papers from American surface steam railroad required.

Crane man [steam shovel).—$185 per month. Must have actual experience as such
in handling American-built steam shovels.

Drill rumier.—$125 per month. Must have actual experience on railroad or
other heavy excavation work, with steam or air drills, where down holes are used
for a depth of between 20 and 30 feet.

Powder man.—$ 125 per month. Must have actual experience in directing drilling
and blasting and handling explosives on railroad or other large construction work.

Telegraph operator.—$83.33 Per month. Must have actual experience as railroad
operator; must be capable operator with good clerical ability.

Timekeeper.—$100 per month. Must have actual experience as such on large con-
struction work, be quick and accurate at figures, able to write rapidly and neatly
and legibly; must be physically sound and have perfect eyesight; knowledge of
bookkeeping desirable.

Trainman.—$100 per month. Must have actual experience as such on surface
American steam railroads; able to pass standard rule examination; clearance papers
required.

Engineer [locomotive).—$180 per month. Must have experience in construction
and work-train work; able to stand efficiency examination on machinery and air as
well as on standard train rules. Clearance papers required.

Engineer (marine).—$135 per month. Must have United States marine license not
lower than that of second assistant engineer.

Engineer [steam shovel).—$210 per month. Must have experience as such in
handling American-built steam shovels.

Eireman [locomotive).—$75 to $83.33 Per month. Must have experience as such
on American surface steam railroad in firing bituminous coal and working injectors.

Eweman [steam shovel).—$83.33 Per month. Must have experience as such in
handling American-built steam shovels.

Blacksmith.—65 cents per hour. (Horseshoers are not wanted.)

General: Experience in general railway work, and with Bradley and other small
steam hammers.

Heavy fire: Experience w7ith heavy forgings, use of cranes and power hammers.

Machine: Experience with bolt-heading and bulldozing machines.

Springmaker: Experience in flat spring work for locomotive driving wheels, also
spiral springs.

Tool dresser: Experience in forging tools for lathes and other machines, in tem-
pering, cutting and forging tools, and knowledge of classes of steel up to high-
speed steel.

Tool sharpener: Experience in sharpening tools for rock w7ork, particularly steel
drills.

Blacksmith's helper: Forty-four cents per hour. Experience as helper to any class
of mechanic, as above set forth.

Boiler maker.—65 cents per hour.

General: Capable of doing all-round locomotive boiler work, including flanging,
putting on patches, making steam-tight joints, and doing chipping and calking.
Marine or structural men not wanted.

Sheet-iron worker.—56 cents per hour. Experienced in locomotive front-end
work and used to working black iron up to No. 10 gage, converting it into cans,
pans, stacks, up to 12 inches diameter, and other work of a similar nature.

Boiler-maker"s helper.—44 cents per hour. Experience as helper to any class of
mechanic above mentioned.

(21)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

CULEBRA—DINING ROOM IN MARRIED QUARTERS.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Axle turner.—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in turning and fitting
driving-wheel and car axles.

Cair-wheel borer. —44 cents per hour. Must have experience in operating car-wheel
boring machines and in boring wheels either to gauge or to fit old axles to pressure fit.

Machinist (air-brake).—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in repairs and
application of locomotive air and drive brakes and car air-brake equipment.

Machinist (brass lathe).—65 cents per hour. Must have good experience in oper-
ating Fox Monitor and Universal Turret lathes, and other machines of like nature,
on locomotive and steam-appliance work.

Machinist (drill press).—44 cents per hour. Must have experience in running
radial and upright drills in general locomotive and car work; able to set up work to
lines and bring it up true and accurate.

Machinist (floor).—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in all kinds of loco-
motive floor and bench work.

Machinist (general).—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in floor and
machine, and running repair work.

Machinist (helper).—44 cents per hour. Must have experience as such of at least
one year during last three years in railroad roundhouse or floor work.

Machinist (machine).—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in all kinds of
locomotive work on lathes, planers, boring mills, shapers, and other machines in
railroad shops.

Machinist (marine).—65 cents per hour. Must have experience in erecting and
repairing marine engines, lining shafts and bearings, and doing machine and bench
work in connection with such repairs.

Machinist (tool room).—65 cents per hour. Must have experience on bench and
machine work and in making dies, taps, reamers, and other small tools, and car-
ing for same in tool-room work.

Appendix 5.

Isthmian Canal Zone,

Department of Health,

Office of Chief Sanitary Officer,

Ancon, C. Z., November 20,1906.

Mr. William Loeb,

Secretary to the President, Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir: I herewith forward certain statistics covering the first
ten months of the year 1906, which President Roosevelt, on his
recent visit to Panama, directed me to compile.

You will note in these statistics the small death rate among our
white population as compared with our negro population, the total
death rate among the whites for the ten months being but 17.41
per thousand. Also the small number of deaths from disease
among our American employees. With an average of 4,000 Ameri-
cans during the ten months, we had but 16 deaths from disease, a
rate for the year of 4.8 per thousand.

Our sick rate for the ten months has averaged 28 per thousand—
that is, out of our 26,000 employees we had, out of every thousand,
28 excused from work on account of sickness every day in the ten
months. This is very small and would compare favorably with a
similar body of men laboring in the Temperate Zone.

It is rather singular that the disease which caused the greatest
number of deaths among our employees was pneumonia, with 372
deaths. Pneumonia is not ordinarily looked upon as a tropical
disease. Next is malaria, a tropical disease, with 186 deaths. Next
dysentery, another tropical disease, with 62 deaths, and fourth,
traumatisms, with 44 deaths. The very large number of trauma-
tisms is due principally to railroad accidents.

I also inclose a short account describing an attack made by an
alligator upon one of our nurses while he was in bathing near Mira-
flores Hospital. The President requested me to send him this
account.

Very respectfully,	M. C. Gorgas,

Chief Sanitary Officer.

On the evening of March 28, 1906, at about 5.30p.m., Mr. William N. Pettit and
Mr. Frank Graham, nurses of this hospital, were bathing in the Rio Grande River
about 250 yards from this institution. The current at this point is quite swift, and
to escape its force they entered a small cove. A few minutes after entering Mr.
Pettit,who was floating by the aid of a log of wood, felt both legs seized by some-
thing below the water. He shouted for assistance and his companion immediately
swam to his aid. The water at this point is about 6 or 7 feet deep, and by the time
Mr. Graham reached him Mr. Pettit was all but pulled under. Mr. Graham suc-
ceeded in dragging his companion to the near-by bank, and in the commotion that
was caused the alligator loosened its hold. After leaving the water it was found
that Mr. Pettit had sustained injuries to both legs, consisting of three deep punc-
tured wounds on the outer side of the right foot and three punctured wounds and
two long lacerated wounds on the left leg. Mr. Pettit was brought to this hospital
and treated, and on the following morning w7as sent in to Ancon Hospital.

The wounds, though severe, healed by first intention, and there has been no
impairment of the limbs.

Isthmian Canai, Commission,

Ancon Hospital,

Canal Zone, Isthmus of Panama, November 19, 1906.
The Superintendent, Ancon Hospital.

Sir: I have the honor to report the case of William M. Pettit from the history, as
follows:

While bathing in the Rio Grande near Miraflores, March 28, 1906, he was attacked
by an unseen animal beneath the water. He was assisted by a man on the bank

(22)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

CULEBRA—ROOM IN BACHELOR QUARTERS.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

and got away after quite a struggle. He received a lacerated wound of the left calf
about the size of a hand palm, also three punctured wounds in right heel anterior
to the tendon achilles about one-fourth to three-eighths inch in size. Both feet were
very sore and showed the effects of a severe sprain. He was transferred to Taboga
April 10, 1906.

Very respectfully,

A. B. Herrick, Chief of Clinic.

General Statistics.

Table showing population, number of employees, deaths and death rates.

[The population of the cities of Panama, Colon, and Cristobal, and the Canal Zone is estimated
from the results of a recent census. These figures include employees and civil population. The
deaths credited to the Canal Zone include those of employees who died in the territorial limits of
the Zone.]

January, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ............................................................

Panama, Colon, and Zone..........................................

February, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ............................................................

Panama, Colon, and Canal Zone..................................

March, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany .............................................................

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.......................................................

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company........................................................

Panama, Colon, and Canal Zone...................................

April, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ..............................................................

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company................. ................................._......

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.........................................................

Panama, Colon, and Canal Zone .................................

May, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.......................................................

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company........................................................

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company........................................................

Panama................................... .......................

Colon and Cristobal...............................................

Canal Zone..........................-..............................j

June, 1906:	,	I

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad |

Company.............. ..................................._.......

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.........................................................

Silver "employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company......................................... ............

Panama.............................................................

Colon and Cristobal..................... ..........................

Canal Zone..........................................................

Julv, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ..............................................................

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad
Company..........................................................

Popula-
tion.

22,000
46, 249

23,135
49,95i

25, 002
4, 377

20, 625
5i,577

27, 219

4,918

22,301
53,671

26,136
5,o94

21,042
26,000
13, 000
21,000

4,975

23,035

26,199
13,o99
21,161

28,041,
5,052

Deaths
during
month.

74
178

56
176

78

183

68
6

62
157

54
5

49
114
40
109

97

94
87
83
147

151
13

Annual
average
per 1,000
for the
month.

40.36
46.18

29.09
42.24

37-44
27.41

39.61
42.57

30.00
14.64

33-36

34-91

24-79

11. 78

27.94
52.61
36.92
62.28

41-55

7-23

48.96
39-84
76.03
83-36

64. 71

30.87

Table showing population, number of employees, deaths and death rates—Continued.

July, 1906—Continued.

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.........................................................

Panama.............................................................

Colon and Cristobal......................... .....................

Canal Zone.........-................................................

August 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ..............................................................

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company..........................................................

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company..........................................................

Panama............................................................

Colon and Cristobal.................................................

Canal Zone..........................................................

September, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ..............................................................

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company........................................................

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company............................................. .........

Panama ............................................................

Colon and Cristobal.................................................

Canal Zone.........................................................

Popula-
tion.

22,909
26,199
13, 578
35,ooo

29,555
5,269

24,286
26,400
14,078
35,500

28, 264

5,603

22,661
26, 500
14,379
36,079

Deaths
during
month.

138
hi
88
223

153

145

122
70
214

135
7

128
100
70
180

Total population (Panama, Canal Zone, and Colon).

76,959

October, 1906:

Employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Com-
pany ............................................. ..............

Gold employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.........................................................

Silver employees of the Canal Commission and Panama Railroad

Company.........................................................

Panama............................................................

Colon and Cristobal.................................................

Canal Zone......................................................

Total population (Panama, Canal Zone, and Colon).

-5- 445

5,520

19,925
26, 700
14, 710

36,680

99

7

92

76
128

78,090 j

Annual
average
per 1,000
for the
month.

72.03
50.84
77- 77
76.45

62.12

18. 22

71.60
55-45
60.00
72.33

57- 34
15.00

67.81
45. 28
58.33
60.00

54.54

46.68
15- 27

55-20

44- 04
62.04

41.85

46.40

Average number employees for ten months........................................................................................................26, 280

Average number of deaths per month......................................................................................................................96.5

Annual death rate per thousand..............................................................................................................................44-°3

Average number gold employees for eight months........................................................................................5,101

Average number of deaths per month....................................................................................................................7.4

Annual death rate per thousand............................................................................................................................I7-41

Average number silver employees for eight months......................................................................................22,108

Average number of deaths per month............................... ....................................................97

Annual death rate per thousand..............................................................................................52-9°

Deaths, by color, for total population of the Zone.

White:

Male..............................................315

Female..........................................102

Black:

Male..............................................1, 849

Female..........................................686

Chinese:

Male..............................................52

Female.................................5

Color not known :

Male.........

Sex unknown .

2

19

Total ................... 3,030

(23)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

RIO GRANDE—NEGRO QUARTERS.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Deaths, by nationalities, for total population of the Zone.

Africa..........

Antigua.........

Australia........

Austria.........

Barbados........

Bolivia.........

Brazil...........

British Guiana.. .

Canada .........

China...........

Chile...........

Colombia.......

Costa Rica......

Cuba...........

Cura9ao.........

Demerara......

Denmark.......

Dominica.......

East Indies......

Ecuador ........

England........

France..........

French Guiana . .
Fortune Islands .

Greece.........

Germany.......

Grenada.......

Guadaloupe.....

Guatemala......

Haiti...........

Holland........

Honduras.......

i

39
i

3

424
1

1

3

2

57

3

206
17
6

6
12
20
29

1

5

2

3
36

4

2

7

3
1

India......................................................1

Ireland..................................................1

Italy......................................................10

Jamaica ................................................504

Japan..........

Martinique......

Mexico.........

Montserrat......

Nicaragua......

Panama........

Peru.........

Philippines.....

Porto Rico......

Russia..........

San Salvador
Santo Domingo. .

Scotland........

Spain...........

Sweden.........

Switzerland.....

St. Kitts........

St. Lucia........

St. Thomas......

St. Vincent......

Trinidad........

Unknown .......

United States. ...

Venezuela.......

Watling's Island.
West Indies.....

Grand total.

1

112
11

10

5

1, 010

11
1

1

2

6
1
1

37
1
1

14
81
5

7
9

46

55

12
1

161
3> °3°

Deaths, by ages, for total population of the Zone.

From 60 to 70 years. .
From 70 to 80 years. .
From 80 to 90 years. .
From 90 to 100 years.

Ages unknown.................. 132

Under 1 year.................... 339

From 1 to 4 years.............. 153

From 4 to 10 years.............. 75

From 10 to 20 years.............. 202

From 20 to 30 years.............. 799

From 30 to 40 years.............. 516

From 40 to 50 years.............. 408

From 50 to 60 years............. 239

Deaths of Isthmian Canal Commission and Panama Railroad employees,

nationality.

93
53
18

3

Total .

3> °3°

Antigua..............................................37

Australia............................................1

Austria..................................................2

Barbados..............................................362

British Guiana....................................1

Canada . . .............................................2

Colombia..............................................20

Costa Rica .

Cuba......

Demerara ..
Denmark . .
Dominica ..
East Indies
England . . .

by

1

3

4
1

1

2
7

Deaths of Isthmian Canal Commission and Panama Railroad employees, by

nationality—Continued.

France..................................................9

Germany......................'.	2

Greece....................................................2

Grenada................................................27

Guadeloupe..........................................2

Haiti............................4

Holland................................................1

Ireland..................................................1

Italy......................................................2

Jamaica................................................197

Martinique............................................68

Montserrat............................................7

Nicaragua............................................1

Panama................................................21

San Salvador.

Scotland.....

Spain........

St. Kitts.....

St. Lucia ....
St. Thomas . .
St. Vincent . .

Trinidad.....

United States
Venezuela ...
West Indies..
Not stated . ..

2
1

9
10
29

3

4

5
34

4

64
12

Total.................... 965

Causes of death of employees of Commission and Panama Railroad Company.

Accidental traumatisms. .

Alcoholism.............

Anemia.................

Aneurism...............

Ankylostomiasis.........

Arthritis...............

Beriberi................

Brain, tumor of.........

Broncho pneumonia.....

Bronchitis, acute........

Bright's disease..........

Burns..................

Cellulitis...............

Debility................

Drowning:

Accidental..........

Suicide by..........

Dysentery . ..: .........

Empyema ..............

Enteritis, acute.........

Epilepsy................

Fever:

Hemoglobinuric.....

Malaria.............

Typhoid...........

Filiriasis................

Gangrene...............

Heart, organic disease of.
Hemorrhage:

Stab wound.........

Cerebral........

Hepatitis, acute.........

Hernia, strangulated.....

44
3
1
1
7
3
6

1
18

2

26
2
2

1

2

1

62

3

2
1

9

186

32

1
1
12

1

3
1
1

Liver:

Abscess of.......

Cancer of........

Cirrhosis of......

Lung:

Congestion of ....

Gangrene of.....

CEdema of.......

Tuberculosis of...
Mastoid, abscess of ...
Meningitis:

Simple..........

Cerebro-spinal . ..
Pneumococcic.. ..

Myocarditis..........

Nephritis, acute......

Paralysis.............

Pericarditis..........

Peritonitis...........

Pleurisy.............

Pneumonia..........

Poisoning, accidental.

Pyemia..............

Rheumatism.........

Septicaemia..........

Skull, fracture of.....

Spleen, abscess of ....
Stomach, cancer of . ..

Suicide..............

Tetanus..............

Tongue, cancer of ... .

Uremia..............

Not stated...........

5
1

4

1

6
1

36

1

12

9

2
2

23

1

8
11

1

372

2

5
2

7
1

1

2
2
1
1
1
9

Total..................... 965

(24)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

STREET-PAVING SCENE IN PANAMA, IN WHICH AN OLD AND MUDDY THOROUGHFARE IS BEING SUPPLIED WITH A VITRIFIED BRICK PAVEMENT LAID UPON CONCRETE.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

List of deaths of white employees on the Isth mus, giving name, nationality, occupation, length of time on the Isthmus, age, and cause of death.

Nationality.

Occupation.

January:

Anderson, John................................... Canada.

Diaz, Martias.................................... Spain..........

Donahue, James..................................I United States .

Jackson, John.................................... Australia......

Laino, Nicola..................................... Italy..........

Petersen, P. E....................................j Denmark.....

Shields, S. H......................................j United States .

Spencer, Albert.......................................do.........

Tray, James...................................i.....do ........

Vautrin, Victor......... ..........................| France........

Wilson, Ed. J......................................! United States .

Clerk.................................

Engineering department............

.....do................................

.....do..............................

Materials and supplies department ,

Engineering department...........

Miner...............................

Engineering department............

.....do................................

Watchman .. ........................

Policeman ,

Spain...................... Panama Railroad.........

Martinique.................| Engineering department.

England................... Labor and quarters.......

Building and construction .
Engineer department ... .

Miner......................

Engineer department.....

Machinist.................

Health department.......

Engineering department.
Machinist.

Zelaya, J. W
Cognelin, Louis
February:

Allen, Percy----

Devoe, Wm. F.....................................j Venezuela

Hutchinson, E. F.................................! America.....

Murphy, Wm.....................................j England.....

Navio, "Fred.......................................1 Colombia ...

Stamata,Juan.....................................j Greece.......

March:

Cover, Chas.....................................! United States

Duque, Nerico......... .......................... Colombia ....

Fernandez, Ramon.......................... .... Spain........

Grattis, Robert.................................... United States

Hurst, Fred.......................................j.....do...................... Mining department

Joyeux, Vanderal.................................j France.......

La Boice, Steuacha...............................! Austria.......

Piatt, G. H.......................................I United States

Rodriquez, J. R.................................. j Cuba.........

Robertson, Chas................................J United States

April:	|

Baath, Charles...................................j Germany.....

Cloyd, S. O......................................j United States

Ebaro, Pedro ....

Gutterez, Mario..

Martin, James P .

Miner, Charles...

May:

Anderson, John .

Geny, Theophilis

(?)

(?)

Engineering and construction.
Maintenance and supplies department

Track employee........................

Plumber..............................

........ Sanitary department................

....... Police sergeant......................

Spain ...................... Excavation department............

Colombia.................. Engineering and construction.......

United States.............. Storekeeper, material and supplies .

••••do......................;	(?)

United States.............. Clerk.......................

France..................... Meteorological department

Kremer, Edward.................................I United States.............. Building contractor........

Patton, David..................................... ....do.....................1 Carpenter..................

Slattery, Thomas.................. ..............1.....do......................j Machinist..................

June:

Basta, Pedro.......

Kennedy, Edw.....

Masterson, Dickson
July:

Dunn, R. T........

Lawrence, Fred....

Morgan, David A ..

Poinboeuf, C. A____

Ramsey, J. P.......

Salerno, Camelo ...

Small, Henry......

vSmith, Elmer C..................................' America

Smith, H. E.......................................!.....do

August:	|

Calender, George................................j France...................j" Engineering department

Frye, Charles.....................................I United States..............I Mining department......

Fontenal, Edward................................i Spain......................j Engineering department

Knaust, Franz ...................................j Germany . ................' Machinist

Nelson, Gilbert B
Retty, Alfonse ...

Scott, Robt. F ....

vSevarry, Miguel..

September:

Currie, Eben.....

Faherty, Thomas
Gale, Milword ...

Milliery, J. F____

Nash, William ...

Scrutis, Eftimo...

Walker, George I
October:

Garcia, Simon

Austria.....................'	Mining department..............

Jamaica....................j	Policeman.........................

Scotland...................!	Foreman municipal engineering..

America ......................................Engineer Panama R. R............

England.................................Machinist........................

America................................Engineering department.........

France........................................Engineering and construction ....

Barbados........................do..............................

Italy ..............................................Sanitary department..............

Jamaica...................;	(?)

..............i	Assistant engineer................

..............!	Panama R. R .....................

United States............................Panama R. R. steamship Alliatica .

France..........................................Building construction..............

United States..............1	General traction foreman.........

Spain ............................................Engineering department.........

Time on Isthmus. Age.

2	j^ears

6	years____

3	months..

8	months..
2 months..
Unknown.

7	years

2 months ..
Unknown.

9	months ..

10	weeks ..
6 months..

4	months..

7 weeks ..,

(?)

5 months.
4 months ..
Lifetime ..
2 years____

6 months..

2	years____

35 days ....
16 months.

3	weeks ...

(?)

3 months ..

1	j'ear.....

2	months ..

3	months. .

5	months ..

6	months .

J?)

3	weeks ...
2 months..

4	months..

5 months .
14 years ..
7 months.
4 months.
3 years ...

3 months ..

2 years____

16 months.

(?)

2 years

(?)

8 months..

1 year.....

6 months ..

(?)

25 months.

(?)

23 months .
4 mouths..

6	months..

(?)
&J

8 months..

7	months. .

United States.............. Engineer, Panama Railroad..............................................................................27 days ....

.....do..........................do.................................................. ...........; * (?)

Jamaica... ................ Building construction..........................................................................................8 months..

Holland................... Track foreman....................................................1 15 months.

United States.............. Engineer, Panama Railroad..............................................................................27 days____

Greece..................... Engineer department......................................... .	8 months..

United States.............. Engineer, Panama Railroad..............................................................................4 months..

Colombia................... Government and sanitation............................................................................6 months ..

Lopez, Pegerto....................................; Spain...................... Track department............................................................................................7 months ..

Nester, Charles....................................j United States.............' Powder man..............................................................................................................(?)

O'Brien, Lawrence................................j.....do......................; Mechanical department.................................. ................(?)

Rivero, Saturnino................................| Spain.....................i Maintenance of way..........................................................................................(?)

Vasquez, Antonio.................................j Venezuela.................. Government and sanitation..............................................................................18 months .

Wells, Chas. F.....................................| England................... Sanitary inspector..................................................................................................1 year.....

55
44
40
46
54

25

28
53
(?)
65

28

27

28

32
50
36

26

29
42

36

33
61
45

42

34

33

(?)

48
45
41

24

21
3-

36
(?)

43

34
38
28

52
(?)

47

38
(?)

49
56

32
(?)

53
(?)

Cause of death.

Poisoning by chloride, accidental.
Lobar pneumonia.

Tumor of brain.

Malarial fever.

Broncho-pneumonia.

Alcoholism.

Railroad accident.

Malarial fever.

Lobar pneumonia.

Cerebral hemorrhage.

Amoebic dysentery.

Lobar pneumonia.

Do.

Broncho-pneumonia.

Malarial fever.

Malaria.

Crushed thigh and foot (shock >.
Pyaemia.

Malaria, hsemoglobinuria.

Pneumonia.

Malarial fever.

Do.

Alcoholism.

Shock following explosion.

Debility.

Malarial fever.

Amoebic dysentery:

Drowning."

Dysentery.

Pneumonia.

Do.

Typhoid fever.

Amoebic dysentery.

Railroad accident.

Chronic dysentery.

Lobar pneumonia.

Organic disease of heart.

Malarial fever.

Amoebic dysentery.

Lobar pneumonia.

Malarial fever.

Do.

Meningitis.

Drowning.

Lobar pneumonia.

Alcoholism and malarial fever
Acute peritonitis.

Hsemoglobinuric fever.

Lobar pneumonia.

Organic disease of heart.

Malarial fever.

Drowning (Panama R. R.) accident.

Pneumonia.

Burns.

Dysentery.

Burns.

Myocarditis (chronic).

Cerebral hemorrhage.

Railroad accident.

Dventerv.

Railroad accident.

Do.

Pneumonia.

Railroad accident.

Do.

Pneumonia.

Railroad accident.

19	j Pneumonia.

75	| Railroad accident.

50	Do.

71	j Alcoholism.

21	j Dynamite explosion.

56	| Dysentery.

39	I Railroad accident.

Americans from disease, 12.

(25)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

BANKING COMPANY.

COLON—FRONT STREET, SHOWING COMPLETED PAVEMENT FROM PANAMA RAILROAD STATION.SPECIAL MESSAGE- OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Causes of death.

[Panama, Colon, Canal Zone, including employees of the Isthmian Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Company, from January i, 1906, to October 31, 1906.]

Classification.

Typhoid fever.................

Relapsing fever................

Malarial fever...................

Malarial fever estivo autumnal.

Malarial cachexia...............

Haemoglobinuric fever..........

Smallpox,......................

Diphtheria and croup...........

Influenza.......................

Dysentery.......................

Amoebic dysentery.............

Yellow fever.....................

leprosy.........................

I. General diseases.

Beriberi .

Erysipelas.........................................................

Purulent infection and septicaemia..............................

Tuberculosis of the lungs...........................................

Abdominal tuberculosis.............................................

Tuberculosis of other organs......................................

General tuberculosis................................................

Syphilis.............................................................

Cancer and other malignant tumors of the bucal cavity...........

Cancer and other malignant tumors of stomach and liver.........

Cancer and other malignant tumors of the female genital organs .

Cancer and other malignant tumors of organs not specified.......

Other tumors........................................................

Acute articular rheumatism.......................................

Chronic rheumatism and gout......................................

Diabetes............................................................

Anaemia, chlorosis...................................................

Other general diseases..............................................

Acute and chronic rheumatism.....................................

II. Diseases of the nervous system and organs of special sense.

Simple meningitis..................................................................................

Epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis...............................................................

Pneumococcus meningitis...................*.......................................................

Congestion and hemorrhage of the brain.........................................................

General paralysis................................................. .................................

Epilepsy.

Convulsions (nonpuerperal 5 years and over) ..

Convulsions (under 5 years).....................

Tetanus.........................................

Other diseases of the nervous system...........

Diseases of the ear............. ...............

Pericarditis.....................................

Acute endocarditis..............................

Organic disease of the heart..................

Angina pectoris................................

Diseases of the arteries (atheroma, aneurism) .

Hemorrhages...................................

Other diseases of the circulatory system.......

III. Diseases of the circulatory system.

Acute bronchitis.....

Broncho-pneumonia .

Pneumonia..........

Pleurisy .

IV. Diseases of the respiratory system.

Congestion and apoplexy of the lungs. ...............................................

Gangrene of the lungs................................................................

Other diseases of the respiratory system, phthisis excepted.........................

V. Diseases of the digestive system.

Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)................................................

Chronic diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)...... .................................

Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)................................ ............

Intestinal parasites...................................................................

Uncinariasis........... .......................................................... ....

Hernia and intestinal obstruction.....................................................

Other diseases of the intestines................................ ......................

Cirrhosis of the liver............................................... ...................

Other diseases of the liver.............................................................

Diseases of the spleen................................................................

Simple peritonitis..............................................................

Other diseases of the digestive system, cancer and tuberculosis excepted............

Appendicitis.......................................................................

(26)

7
141

26

54

Colon and
Cristobal.

108
3

Ancon
hospital.

23

33

Line
hospitals.

.7.i
4 :

18
152

Colon
hospital.

9 !

133;

8
17

138
3 I

145

3
17

4

l7

3

5
4
34

15
3

5

6
3

Total.

3

123
37
1
3
53
1

42

239

33
16

3

32

11

4

5
3i

67

1
6
9

13

25

586
3

i

16

95

6
69
7

15

29CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

COLON—GANG ON SEWER CONSTRUCTION.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Causes of death—Continued.

[Panama, Colon, Canal Zone, including employees of the Isthmian Canal Commission and Panama Railroad Company, from January i, 1906, to October 31, 1906.]

Classification.

VI. Diseases of the genito-urinary system and its adnexa.

Acute nephritis.............................

Bright's disease.............................

Other diseases of the kidneys and adnexa .

Diseases of the bladder.....................

Uterine tumors (noncancerous).............

VII. The puerperal state.

Accidents of pregnancy...................

Puerperal hemorrhage....................

Puerperal albuminuria and convulsions.

VIII. Diseases of the skin and cellular tissue.

Gangrene.....................................................................................

Acute abscess, phlegmon....................................................................

IX. Diseases of the organs of locomotion.

Nontuberculous diseases of the bones.....................................................

Arthritis and other diseases of the joints, tuberculosis and rheumatism excepted.........

Congenital malformations................

Other diseases peculiar to early infancy.
Senile debility............................

X.	Malformations.

XI.	Early infancy.
XII. Old age.

XIII. External causes.

Suicide by hanging or strangulation............

Suicide by drowning...........................

Other suicides.................................

Fractures.......................................

Other accidental traumatisms............. .....

Burns and scalds................................

Sunstroke......................................

Electric shock..................................

Accidental drowning............................

Inanition (starvation)...........................

Absorbtion of deleterious gases (nonsuicidal)..
Other acute poisoning (including alcoholism) .
Other external violence........................

XIV. Ill-defined diseases.

Dropsy....................................

Sudden death.............................

Cause of death unspecified or ill-defined .

Total................................

Colon and

18

25 :

4 |

950

Ancon I L,ine
hospital, j hospitals.

359

Colon
hospital.

Total.

352

14

1

39

504

53
76

9
81

19

5

6
16
14

(27)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

Monthly report of hospitals, 1906.

	Patients in hospital first of month.				Admitted during month.				Died during month. !				Discharged during month.				Patients	in hospital end of month.		
Hospital.	Canal employees.	Railroad employees.	Nonemployees.	15 0	Canal employees.	Railroad employees.	Nonemployees.	15 0	Canal employees.	1  Railroad employees.  I	x  V  V >>  0  a; 0	15 0 H	Canal employees.	: Railroad employees.	Nonemployees.	15  0 u*	Canal employees.  1	1 Railroad employees.  |	Nonemployees.	15 0 H
January:	177 126	11	69 34  65  0	257  191 182	786 490 333 107 219	4i 156  1	121	!  ! 948	25  16	2	5	32  29 *5 1	730 i 487  328 j  104  199	40 144 1	: I23 82	; 893 713 344  ! 113  ! 207	208 ;	10	62	280
		3i 7					100	i 746  ! 352 i 116		3	. 10						! 113	40 6	42  65  0	195 175 21
							18 1		11	1	3				15  1		I io4 ; ! 21			
	19 22	0		19  26		8			1	0	0			8				0		
						1	4	224	6	0	1 .	7		2	6		1 36	0	0	36
																				
Total............................................	454	50	171	675	i,935	207	244	2,386	59	6	19	84	1,848	195	227	2, 270	482 I	56	169	707
February:		10	62		810	48	122  87	980  1 483  348  1 97  219	14  12	4	3	21	75i  3°° ! 290 97 i  193.!	34 118	119 76 1 0	904  494 3M 98 196	1 | 253 85 99 17  ! 48	20	62	335 161
	"3 104	40 6 0	42 65  0	195 175		112				2	9	23  12 2						32 15 1	; 44  83  0	
Miraflores.........................................					295 93 209	34  3	19  1		10 0	2 1	0  1			23  1						197 18
	36		0	36		2	8		4	0	2	6		1	2			1	4	53
																				
Total............................................	482	56	169	707	1, 691	199	237	2,127	40	9	15	64	1,631 ;	177	198	2, 006	: 502	69	193	764
																				
March:  Ancon.............................................	253 85 99	20	62 j	335 161	801	36 95  35 3	"3  9A	950 546 387  i IOI	20	2	10	! 32  23 21	778 1 289 !	38 91 32  1	97 74 11	9r3 454  365  98 320 102	256 l 142  102	16	68	1  1 34o 230 i 198
Colon.............................................		32 15 1	44  83  0		357 336				11	4	8							32 16	56 80	
Miraflores........................................				197 18					11	2	8		322  97 1 310 99 ■							
Gorgona ..........................................	17 48				98		0		0	0	0	! 0			0		! 18:	3 0	0	21
Culebra............................................		1	4	53 0	33o 116	1	4	335 120	13  2	0	0	! 13 2		2	8		55  ! x5 ,		0	55 16
Umpire...........................................	0	0	0			2	2			0	0			2	1			0	1	
							!													
Total.............................................	502	69	193	764	2,038	172	229	2, 439	57	8	26	91	1,895	166	191	2, 252	588	67	205	860
																				
April:  Ancon.............................................	256 142 102	16	68	34o | 230 198 21	716 165  82	57 70 10	75 78	848 313 112	24  9	1	4	29 25 14  I	762 223 ; 146 ; 100 !	5i  66	91  88	! 904  | 377 j 168	186	21	48 34 1 i 89	255 ; 141
Colon..............................................		32  16	56							4	12						75 1 31  | 18	32  8		
Miraflores..........................................			80				20		7	2	5			16	! 6					| 128
Gorgona ..........................................	18	3	0		100	5	1	106	0	1	0			5	1	106		2	0	20
Culebra............................................	55 15	0	0	55 16	237 92	2	1	240 96	14  3	0	0	14 3	241 ]  IOO ;	2	1	244 j 105	! 36 4	0	1	37 4
Empire............................................		0	1			2	2			0	0			2	3			0	0	
																				
Total...........................................	588	67 21	205 48	860	i,392  i, 071 205 18	146  67 58 9  5	177  94 75  ; 39 1	i,7i5 I *,232  338 66	57  23  10	8	21	86	1,572  9IO I99 33 94 138 115	142 56  61	190  84 60 18	I, 904  ! 1,050 j 320 60	350  324 ; 7i 16	63 28	172  50 40 99 0	585  402  135 123 18
May:  Ancon.............................................	186			! 255 141 ! 128						4	8	35  1 24 11								
Colon..............................................	75 3i 18	32 8	34 89							5	9							24 1  8		
Miraflores..........................................									0	0	11			9						
Gorgona ..........................................		2	0  1	20	94  : 135 122			j 100	2	0	1	3		5	0	99 141 116	16	2 |		
Culebra............................................	36  4	0		i 37 4		1	3	1 139 ! 123	8	0	0	8		0	3		! 25  9	1	1	27
Empire.......................................		0	0			0	1		2	0	0	2 1		0	1			0 !	Q	9
																				
Total............................................	35o	63	172	! 585	j 1.645	140	213	; 1,998	45	9	29	83	1,489	I3I	; 166	1, 786	461  j----	63 1	I90 '	7i4
																				
June:  Ancon..............................................	324  7i 16	28	50  40 99 0	402  135  123 18	I, 218  792 181	83  148 27 11	117 135 40 0	1,418 1,075 248  I 132 205  167	39  27  2	2	7	48	1, 173 663 116	66	97 100	1.336  880	; 330 173 79	43 50 20 ;	63 57	436 280
Colon .............................................		24  8								5	18	50  I9 : 2 !		117 15 11						
Miraflores.........................................										0	17  0				15 0	146 120			107  0	206
Gorgona ...........................................	16	2			121				1	1			109  165:  160				27 48	I		28
Culebra..........................................	25  9	1	1	27	199 166	5	1		11	0	1	12 i		3	1	169  160		3 1	0	51 13
Empire..........................................		0	0	9		0	1		2	0	1	3 '		0	0		!3	0	0	
																				
Total............................................	461	63	■ 190	714	i 2,677	274	294	3, 245	82	8	44	134	2,386	212	213	2,811	670	IX7	227	1,014
																				
July:  Ancon............................................	330 173 79 27 48	43 50 20 1	63 57 107 0	436 280	i 1,405  854 242 I 140  ! 307 301 99 381	69 183  11	112	1,586 1, 272 281	72  24  10	2	11	85	1,340 738 228 ;	80	113  166	: i,533 1,087	323 :  265  83	30  46 5	5i  10S	404 419 182
Colon..............................................							235 28			4	18	46 20		183 26						
Miraflores.........................................				206 28						0	10				3i 1	285 153 279 297 84			94 1	
Gorgona .........................................						13  2	4	157 316 1 308 104 422	3	0	2	5	140 ! 271	12			24  63  ! 14 16	2		27
Culebra......................................		3	0	51					21	0	1	22		3	5  6			2	1	66
Empire...........................................	13  0	0	0	13  0		0	7		9	0	1	10	291 80	0				0	0	14 17
Bas Obispo.........................................		0	0			4	1		3	0	0	3		3	1			1	0	
Tabernilla.........................................	0	0	0	0		32	9			0	0	17	309	27	6	342	55	5	3	63
																				
Total..............................................	670	117	227	1,014	3, 729	3H	403	4,446	159	6 1	43	208	3. 397	334	329	4, 060	843	91	258	1, 192
																				

(28)SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Monthly report of hospitals, 1906— Continued.

August:

Ancon......

Colon......

Miraflores..
Gorgona ..
Culebra
Empire
Bas Obispo .
Tabernilla .
Taboga.....

Total.

Hospital.

September:

Ancon........

Colon.........

Miraflores____

Gorgona .....

Culebra......

Empire......

Bas Obispo ...
Tabernilla ...

Taboga.......

I^as Cascadas.

Total.

October:

Ancon.........

Colon.........

Miraflores_____

Gorgona .....

Culebra......

Empire......

Bas Obispo —
Tabernilla —
I,as Cascadas.

Paraiso.......

Taboga.......

Total.......

Patients in hospital first of
month.

323

265

83

24

63
14

16
55
48

891

357
226
88
28
54
14
20
56

25

265
231
60
20
34
13
16

708

a

a

96

51

108

94

260

404
419
182

27
66
14
17

63

55

493
346
194

29

55
14
21
61

27

Admitted during month.

1,170
897
236
x57
342
335
114
426
166

7i

188

3- 843

379

708
716
154
136
236
267
129
212

125

161

1,240 | 2,844

397 !
350 !
168 ;
20 j
34 |
13

32

1,081

624
17
134
189
65
78
94
103

85

133
2,361

146

100
hi
4

274

120
188
26

358

92
141
18

4

5

6
4

295

no
45
5

1,361

1,273
266
188
348
337
126

485

196

4,580

1,003
193
140
241
273
137
265

152
165

Died during month.

Discharged during month.

J36

3,451

1,028
845
66
139
189
66
83

141

113
87
164

115

3i

25

4

1	j

9 !

3

2

4
4

3

P*
£

55	3	11 !	69
18	5	19 !	42
12	0	8 !	20
5	0	1 j	6
23	0	0	23
4	0	0 I	4
9	0	o !	9
10	2	0	12
0	0	0	0 !

918
219
148
328
331

101

415

189

39

185 j 3,73o

o !

758
686
170
139
239
265
129
245
123
135

34

T57

138

46	76 j
181	205 i
2	13 j
31	1 |
6	2
0	2!
11	1
57 1	3!
18 i	J7 j

1,203

1,304 !
234

180
336 j
333 j
TI3 !
475 I
224

Patients in hospital end of
month.

o
P.

1,203

1,304 !
234

180
336 j
333 j
TI3 !
475 I
224

357	52	84	493
226	48	72	346
88	7	99 1	194
28	0	1	29
54	0	1 1	55
14	0	0	14
20	0	1 1	21
56	5 !	0	61
25	1 !	1	27
868	"3	259	1, 240

70
133
16

140 !
13 j

11

6 !
4 I

287

629
49
139
182

71
81

106
no

72
127

2, 370

93 !
128

7 I

6 1
44 I

920
959
199
143

243

271
134
298
147
139

265	61	7i	397
231 ,	56 :	63	350
60	12 ;	96	16S
20 ;	0 ;	0	20
34 1	0 !	0	34
*3 ,	0 j	0	13
16	3 j	1 1	20
21	5 '	0	26
27	3 i	2	32
21	0	0	21

708

99;

233 1,081

981	1__________	641	67	400
856	201 ;		54	289
78	24 i	8	108	140
142	14	0	1	15
182	32	0	0	32
72	4	0	0	4
9°	n	0	0	11
150	I 5 !	8	0	13
120	1 10	0	0	i 10
73	! 10	0	0	10
'59	33	1	3	37
,903	613	115	233	961

99;

RECAPITULATION.

Month.	Total num- ber of em- ployees re- maining in hospitals.	Total number of employees con- stantly sick in hospitals dur- ing month.	Average number sick daily in hospitals per thousand.	Total number of employees con- stantly sick in sick camps dur- ing month.	Average number sick daily in sick camps per thousand.	J Total number of employees con- stantly sick in hospitals and sick camps dur- ing month.	Total average number sick daily in hospi- tals and sick camps per thousand.  I
January ....	482 502  : 655  413 524  807 935 976 848 728 •	503-10  472. 00 491.27 420. 60 388.60 687.99 888.52 995- 74 821.88 719. 30	22.86 20.40  19-65  15- 42 14.86 24- 57 31.68 33- 72 29.09 28. 20				
February.							
March							
							
May...................  June...................  Tuly ...................  August.................  September.............  October................  Avprocrp .				77.20 169.69 219.41 ! 264.83 243.10 138. 35	2.95 6.06 7.82 8-95 8.65  5-42	465.80 857.68 1, 107.93 1,260.57 1,064.98 1 857.65	17.81 30.63 39- 50 42.67 37-74 !  33-62 s
							2S. 05
							

RECAPITULATION.

(29)CONCERNING

Appendix 6.

[Personal.]

U. S. S. Louisiana,
At Sea, November 20, 1906.

My Dear Doctor Gorgas:

Following our most interesting three days' association on the Isth-
mus, I am writing you more fully than I had time to express per-
sonally my impressions of your great work. If you find any of my
suggestions of service, I shall be amply repaid for my trouble; if
not, the wastebasket may receive this letter, and there will be no
harm done.

My wish is to give all that in me lies, however little it may be,
to the end that this great work may be brought to a successful com-
pletion at as early a date as possible. The work done by the sani-
tary department is most encouraging—the practical elimination of
the mosquito-borne diseases; the clear showing that the climate is
more satisfactory for the wThite men than the colored, and this would
not be the case if the colored men had even the knowledge of per-
sonal hygiene that our negroes have; the water and food supply most
satisfactory, only requiring that energetic supervision that it requires
everywhere in tropical countries. What else is required? In my
opinion the reply is personal hygiene backed up by eternal vigilance
to prevent infection from near-by infected parts, and the carrying on
of the good work of clearing up and keeping clean with thorough
drainage, and upon no condition allowing a body of men to be
brought together and quartered without suitable provisions having
been made beforehand.

The worst showing in your department was from want of such
provision, which, as suggested by the President, might be as tem-
porary as you please, but certainly such provisions should have been
ample. I have had similar conditions to contend with at naval
stations, and at my last visit to the Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.,
the sanitary conditions were found distinctly bad, and the accom-
modations for men, when ships in commission were in dry
dock, were not sufficient. The attention of the commandant had
been called to the threatening danger of epidemic diseases, and
Yards and Docks, on the recommendation of the Bureau of Medi-
cine and Surgery, has done some work, and the conditions are
better, but they are still unsatisfactory and will require further action

PANAMA CANAL.

on my part. The sanitary conditions on the Canal Zone are on the
whole more satisfactory than they were at Norfolk Naval Station
on the occasion of my last visit, and seeing your work on the Isth-
mus has stimulated me to accomplish necessary improvements. I
shall quote the Isthmus to the Department as an example of what
can be accomplished.

Your October report is most interesting. Of the 5,500 whites on
the rolls there were only two deaths from disease, whereas of the
19,000 negroes there were 96 deaths, or in a population of negroes
a little less than three and one-half times that of the whites there
were 48 times the number of deaths. This is an enormous differ-
ence, and is due to the way the negro cares for himself.

My visit with the President clearly demonstrates how these negroes
live, and I am of the opinion that here lies your principal work—to
convince the Commission that their mode of living should be kept
under observation and altered at any cost. The preparation of their
food in the Tropics in filthy vessels, over a few coals, in mud holes,
and their custom of having in many instances only a single suit of
clothes in which they work during the day and sleep at night,
leaves no hope of improvement until some means are provided for
compulsory personal hygiene. How to accomplish this is like
teaching the hog to change his beloved hog wallow. The necessity
is great that ample and effective labor be provided, and men living as
some of these Barbados and Jamaica negroes live can not be but
expensive even if they worked for nothing. Just to refer to your
October report of deaths among the employees of the Canal Com-
mission and the Panama Railroad Company—of the total of deaths
of 99, 48 were Barbados and 19 Jamaica negroes, and all other
employees gave only 32 deaths. Every sick man is an expense, and
the number is undoubtedly as great in proportion as the number of
deaths. The remedy for this should be, in my opinion, to provide
suitable negro eating houses, and the pay to be so much and board,
no option being given to the laborer. This would seem to be a
hardship where there were families, but it is more than offset by the
improvement which would follow in effective work. The impor-
tance of dry clothes when sleeping should be drilled into them by
their immediate gang boss. If they can not be taught, then one
should look elsewhere for labor, preferably from our own people,
and I believe that when they know the exact conditions which
prevail in the Zone there wTill be plenty of those to do the wTork.SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

In fact, I believe that in less than a year the work on this enter-
prise will be sought for even more than the work now seeks the
laborer. Why should not this be so? The sanitary problem is
solved, and the health conditions for the white and others who
are willing to live in a civilized way will remain as good if not
better than in most sections of the United States. The bachelor
laboring men get 50 per cent more pay, will be provided a comfort-
able lodging place and adequate and well-cooked food; the man with
a family has a comfortable home for his wife and children, with white
and colored schools and no rent to pay. What else does a man
want who must earn his bread by the sweat of his brow? What an
opportunity for the Southern negro! In my opinion, if they only
knew what opportunities there are on the Isthmus, labor could be
obtained in scores from the Southern States, many of them immune
to danger from the mosquito-borne disease.

The President's visit and interest will bring this more clearly
before the people, and I hope and believe that there will be a rush
for work on the canal by the better class of laboring men, but do
not let them find such accommodations as the worst you showed
us—a leaky roof, a dirty canvas bunk, and walls not whitewashed.
Such conditions are unnecessary and are easily and cheaply reme-
died, and does away with furnishing the croaker and mischief-maker
even a semblance of a basis of a bad report.

The remarkable showing that in a comnninity of 6,000 Ameri-
cans, composed of women and children, none died in September or
October is wonderful, and goes to prove that the Canal Zone in
health conditions is more than the equal of other localities in any
climate.

Following the President in an inspection, the most searching and
painstaking I have ever witnessed, into every phase of this greatest
work of building this waterway from ocean to ocean, I was con-
cerned in all that specifically pertained to my profession, and I
made up my mind to give you my impressions for your personal con-
sideration. My pride in our profession and my desire to do my mite
to the great work must be my excuse for writing you thus fully, but
I am doing as I would be done by.

Yours, sincerely,

P. M. Rixey.

Dr. W. C. Gorgas,

Colonel, Medical Corps,

Chief Sanitary Officer, Colon, Panama,

Appendix 7.

Isthmian Canal Affairs,

Office of Administration, Panama Canal Building,

Washington, D. C, December 5, ipo6.
My Dear Mr. President:

I have before me your letters of November 27 and December 3,
relating, in general, to the labor situation on the Isthmus, and more
particularly to the care of the negro laborers.

With reference to your suggestion that it would be wise to make
all the preparation in advance of the arrival of the men, it may be
stated that it has been the general underlying policy to provide
quarters before the arrival of the laborers; but during the period
when the force was being assembled it occurred that the number of
laborers did, in some instances, exceed the number of quarters of a
proper hygienic character. Instructions have now, however, been
issued that even if such action shall have the effect of at times
reducing the labor force below the desired minimum, no laborers
shall be brought in until quarters of a proper character have first
been provided.

With reference to your second suggestion or inquiry as to whether
or not we are pretty nearly in condition to make an effort to bring
our labor down to the Isthmus, my impression is that the sanitary
conditions are such on the Isthmus that we would be warranted in
extending an invitation for unskilled labor from the United States.

The report of the chief sanitary officer for the month of October
shows a continually decreasing death rate among both the Americans
and the negro employees. During that month of the 5,500 whites on
the rolls only two died from disease, and of the 19,000 negroes 86 died
from disease. Among the 6,000 Americans on the Isthmus, includ-
ing women and children, no death from disease occurred during the
three months preceding October 30. Further, with a general
average of 300 unskilled laborers native of Spain on the Isthmus
since March 1, only one has died from disease. With such a sat-
isfactory showing as is afforded by the actual statistics for the past
few months, I am inclined to the opinion that we would be war-
ranted in extending invitations for unskilled labor from the United
States, dependent, however, upon the execution of the policy out-
lined in the foregoing paragraph, that proper quarters be first
provided.

(31)CONCERNING THE PANAMA CANAL.

With reference to the feeding of the colored laborers and to the
suggestions relating thereto in your letters, that we get up Govern-
ment messes, importing, if necessary, man and wife from the West
India Islands to do the cooking and caring for the messes, and
forcing the negroes to eat at the messes, I beg to say that instruc-
tions were issued while you were 011 the Isthmus not only to install
sufficient facilities for the furnishing of cooked meals at 10 cents
each, but that a ration be offered for sale in the commissary stores,
the constituent parts of which shall be the same as the cooked
meal, the price fixed to be equivalent to that of the cooked meal
less the cost of preparing and serving the same. The inauguration
of this policy was announced by posting in all commissaries and
labor camps the schedule of such ration and that it was now avail-
able for purchase.

In this connection it may be stated that, as a means of more
effectively providing proper nourishment to its unskilled labor, the
Commission, several months ago, authorized the chief engineer, in
future employments of labor, to adopt the policy of fixing the wage
with the understanding that a certain amount was to be deducted
for meals to be furnished by the Commission. The chief engineer
was authorized to put this policy in effect at such time as was deemed
best. Since that time the Commission has further discussed the
feasibility of adopting the policy of fixing the wage at a certain figure
and furnishing meals free, without further payment, such meals to
be a part of the total wage earned by the laborer. It is the inten-
tion, on January 15, to put in effect a new wage scale for the
present 20-cents-per-hour laborers, under which the daily wage shall
include subsistence. The construction of kitchens for feeding all
bachelor employees is being pushed to the utmost. Your suggestion
that it might be well to bring man and wife from the West India
Islands to do the cooking and caring for the messes, will be care-
fully gone into, and it is very probable that it can be adopted, and
that it will prove to be a step in the right direction.

With respect to your request that a report be made relative to a
more ample supply of yams for the colored laborers, I beg to say
that while you were on the Isthmus purchase orders were placed by
cable for an increased supply of yams and other West Indian prod-
ucts, and that meantime the Subsistence Department has been able
to meet the demands for this class of food stuff with what it was
able to command and obtain on the Isthmus.

With respect to your statement that the very large sick rate
among the negroes seems to show that an effort should be made
to teach them some of the principles of personal hygiene—notably,
having one suit of underclothing to work in and another to sleep
in—and your inquiry whether or not a plan embodying this feature
can be formulated and an effort made to operate it, I beg to say that
some time ago, because of the prevalence of pneumonia among the
negroes, the question arose of furnishing this class of labor on
arrival with a suit of underclothing and a light blanket. It was
the consensus of opinion that such a policy, if possible of proper
execution, would bring desirable results, but it was not felt that the
Commission was authorized to furnish this extra suit of clothing
gratis. Furthermore, such action would possibly be the first step
toward clothing the employees. We were not in a position to force
the twenty or twenty-five thousand negro laborers already on the
Isthmus to purchase such additional clothing, although it might be
made a condition in future labor contracts.

It has been ascertained that a large percentage of the arriving
laborers are already supplied with a change of underclothing, and
do change their clothes frequently, and it must be admitted that if
all of them were supplied with such extra suit, it would be extremely
difficult to enforce changes of clothing at proper intervals if the
laborers were not inclined so to do after being advised of the bene-
ficial effects thereof.

This matter will, however, be taken up de novo, with a view of
instilling in laborers the general principles of personal hygiene, and
of seeing if a plan can not be formulated, with the cooperation of
the laborers, to accomplish the end desired.

With respect to your inquiry as to what has been and is being
done in the very important matter of providing recreation and amuse-
ment for the men, I beg to say that the Commission has made some
progress in its efforts to provide means of amusement and recreation
for its employees, but not so much as would have been the case had
it not been for the continued stress of work of more vital importance,
such as the creation of proper housing and feeding facilities. The
Commission has authorized the construction of clubhouses at a cost
not to exceed $7,500 each, and four are now in process of construc-
tion—at Culebra, Empire, Gorgona, and Cristobal. Two of these, at
Culebra and Empire, will be ready for use early in 1907. The four
structures are alike in design. They provide a front building of

(32)SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

two stories connected with a rear building of one story. The front
building, which will be 133 feet by 45 feet, will contain a social
parlor, a card room, a billiard and a writing room on the first floor,
and an assembly hall, 67 feet by 27 feet, free from any columns to
break the dancing space, on the second floor. The rear building,
which will be 100 feet by 28 feet, will contain double bowling alleys
100 feet long, a gymnasium 52 feet long, shower baths, and over a
hundred single lockers.

A comprehensive plan has been devised whereby the Commission,
working in conjunction with the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion, will manage these and other similar buildings in the chief
labor centers. Each club will have a board of directors selected
from its own membership; but all clubs will be under the control,
so far as broad principles are concerned, of a general board to be
selected by the Commission. Authority has been given by the
Commission for the construction of a suitable number of appro-

priate buildings to accommodate properly those who wish to attend
religious services, such buildings to be available for all denomina-
tions and creeds. It is contemplated to erect at such points, as
necessities seem to require, plain, two-storied buildings, the upper
floors to be fitted up as lodge rooms for the various orders and
societies formed, or to be formed, among the employees, and the first
floors to be used for religious purposes. The use of the buildings
for lodge and religious purposes is to be regulated by means of allot-
ment or mutual agreement as to time.

There is also a well-organized and equipped musical band on the
Isthmus, which gives concerts alternately at various points.

Very truly, yours,

T. P. Shonts,

Chairman.

The President,

Washington.

(33)

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LOCK CANAL PROJECT.

MAP

SHOWING LINE OF PROPOSED LOCK CANAL
WITH SUMMIT ELEVATION AT 85 FEET.
1906.





vm^iL
!irr^SS

Venado

Kilometers.

lara >!■

Line of Canal.

irt' ^R^ncho del Tigro.



Panama Railroad, proposed location.

'Rancho CamAcI

Indicates shallow water with less depth
than in adjacent canal.

Indicates navigable water more than 41 feet
deep for Atlantic entrance and more than
45 feet deep from Gatun to Pacific terminal
referred to mean tides or mean lake levels.

Topography is taken from a map published by the New Panama Canal Co.
Scale 1/60.000. except the Harbors of Panama and Colon, which are reduced
from Charts made by the U. 8. Navy in 1900 and by the U. S. Coast and
Geodetic Survey in 1905, respectively, and the Chagres River above Gamboa,
which was surveyed by the Isthmian Canal Commission in 1906. Contours
are in meters. Soundings are referred to Mean Tide.ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION
PANAMA CANAL

LOCK CANAL PROJECT.

MAP

SHOWING LINE OF PROPOSED LOCK CANAL
WITH SUMMIT ELEVATION AT 85 FEET

1906

DOC

El Vigi

Statute Miles

LasCampanas

Kilometers

NOTE

Line of Canal

Panama Railroad/present location

Panama Railroad, proposed location

Dams

Indicates Land



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JUtiuc BI EN & CO. N.Y.



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