136 THOMSON— PROGRESS OF THE ISTHMIAN CANAL. [April 19, 



There were, on March i, according to information, between 

 25,000 and 30,000 men at work on the isthmus and the amount of 

 material removed in cubic yards in the month preceding had been 

 exceeded, so that it was thought that the figure of 1,000,000 cubic 

 yards per month could soon be maintained. 



The work itself was found to be proceeding steadily, backed by 

 energy and earnestness of purpose of the men who were in charge. 

 The general impression gained by the visiting body was that, with 

 an organization such as existed under Mr. Stevens and with the 

 improved living conditions enabling suitable labor to be secured and 

 retained, and with modern machinery of great capacity, the prog- 

 ress in building the canal can be expected to continue steadily and 

 perhaps further improvements in detail will be made. Everything 

 depends upon maintaining an efficient organization which shall pre- 

 serve the high working standard which has done so much within the 

 past year. There is need of rational diversion and entertainment 

 for the men employed. Schools have already been established for 

 the children of the settlements, and it is believed are under the 

 care of competent teachers. Athletic exercises and games, such 

 as baseball, are resorted to for amusement and the climate is not 

 such as to forbid moderate exertion out of doors even as pastime. 

 While the annual rainfall at Colon is very high, ranging upto about 

 140 inches per annum, at Panama on the other hand it is said to be 

 only about one third as great or about what we have along the 

 Atlantic seaboard. 



On leaving Colon for the return journey, the eight committees 

 before referred to, utilized some of the time in preparing reports 

 which were submitted for discussion to the whole body at meet- 

 ings held for that purpose. The final result was the preparation 

 and adoption of a combined report commending the work witnessed 

 at the zone and the conditions which rendered it possible. 



It may be too early to make predictions, for there may arise at 

 any time serious obstacles and setbacks, but if conditions continue 

 as favorable as they now appear to be, the completion of the great 

 work, so important especially to the United States, should be pos- 

 sible within eight or at most ten years. The result of the inspec- 



