1907.] THOMSON— PROGRESS OF THE ISTHMIAN CANAL. 135 



it is said that the wisdom of this arrangement is easily seen in the 

 work accompHshed. 



In Colonel Gorgas's February report to the Department of 

 Health of the Isthmian Canal Commission, in relation to the screen- 

 ing of houses, occur statements to show how little the efforts in 

 their behalf are appreciated by the negro employes. He says : " Un- 

 fortunately for the colored employees, as well as for others, the 

 metallic screening on the buildings occupied by them is roughly 

 treated and abused by them and has to be protected and watched." 

 Again : " The white European laborer works much harder and more 

 continuously than the colored employee. Aside from the clerical 

 force, the white employee is exposed to the same conditions as the 

 colored employees. . . . The sleeping quarters of the colored laborer 

 and those of the white laborer are similar in every respect." 



The President in his message before mentioned has referred to 

 the fact that the colored laborer after having been brought to the 

 zone at government expense, frequently escapes from control and 

 resolves himself into a loafer at Colon or a jungle dweller occupying 

 unsanitary unscreened shacks. This constitutes a most undesirable 

 element, and even a menace from the ease of propagation of disease 

 among such a class. Hence there is an increasing tendency to 

 utilize desirable white labor in greater amount, and this may eventu- 

 ally result in a much increased proportion of whites to blacks in 

 the zone, a proportion which has been approximately one to four 

 hitherto. 



Concerning the actual work of canal construction already accom- 

 plished under the present regime it may be said that only within 

 the past few months has a real beginning been made. There was 

 needed a season of preparation, arranging for sanitation, organizing 

 the working forces, constructing buildings, storehouses, gathering 

 supplies, and machinery. This period may now be said to have been 

 succeeded by the opening of another one to be devoted to the shift- 

 ing of huge volumes of earth and rock ; the real construction period, 

 the work accomplished in which depends directly on the maintenance 

 of the conditions which have been so far established, and the large 

 cost of which should be balanced by the reduction of time and ex- 

 pense for the actual construction of the canal proper. 



