I907.] THOMSON— PROGRESS OF THE ISTHMIAN CANAL. 125 



men. Specific subjects were selected, one for each committee, sub- 

 jects which related to the sanitation, plan of administration, food and 

 commissary work, housing, social and labor conditions, effects of 

 climate on Americans, efficiency of plant and progress of work. 

 Those serving on any particular committee wxre chosen in accor- 

 dance with their special aptitude or training in the subjects w'ith 

 which it w^as to deal. The chairmanship of one of these divisions 

 w^as entrusted to the present writer. Before the arrival at Colon, 

 the organization was in good working shape, and in some instances, 

 to assist the work, a further division into sub-committees was 

 made. 



Wireless communication with Colon permitted requests to be 

 forwarded to the effect that upon the arrival there, the canal officials 

 in charge of the particular phases of the work might meet the 

 respective committees prepared to furnish such information as might 

 be sought by them. To render this effective, the committee had, 

 beforehand, formulated a scheme of inquiry to be followed if pos- 

 sible, upon arrival at the Canal Zone. 



In the special message of the President to Congress on December 

 17, 1906, concerning the Panama Canal, which followed upon his 

 personal visit to the isthmus, he referred to the expected visit of 

 the commercial clubs, and promised that every facility would be 

 given them " to see all that is to be seen in the work which the 

 government is doing." He says further : '' 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, it will offer 

 as witnesses of the exact conditions men whose experience as busi- 

 ness men, and whose impartiality, will make the result of their 

 observations of value to the country as a whole." 



The journey from Porto Rico to Colon was through the com- 

 paratively calm and warm tropical sea, swarming with flying fish, 

 which rose in flocks as the steamer moved among them. The 

 weather conditions were good, and the temperature of the air, both 

 night and day, owing to the prevalent trade winds, was not warm 

 enough to cause any discomfort. A special train on the Panama 

 Railroad had been arranged for to meet the body on its arrival at 

 Colon, which took place on the morning of March i. Each car 



