104 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ALBANY MEETING 



rely in large measure on his counsel. It is not generally known that he 

 planned several of the earlier expeditions and would undoubtedly have 

 been placed in charge of the Alaska work in 1898 had he not then been 

 in Nicaragua. 



Work in Nicaragua 



Hayes's next assignment was to carry him into an entirely new field 

 of research, both geographically and geologically — the latter because it 

 was the application of geology to engineering problems, then a compara- 

 tively new field on this continent. ^ATien the Nicaragua Canal Commis- 

 sion was organized the president, Adm. John G. Walker, requested Dr. 

 Arnold Hague to recommend a geologist. Doctor Hague, after taking 

 into consideration the character of the investigations, recommended Hayes 

 as the best man for the position. A conference between Hayes aud Ad- 

 miral Walker soon settled the matter, and Hayes was detailed to the 

 position in December, 1897. 



It was characteristic of the man that he should make no protest against 

 the assignment, though it necessitated his leaving home when one of his 

 children was but a day old. Throughout his career he allowed no per- 

 sonal sacrifice to interfere with the carrying out of his official duty. 



Hayes's field orders from the Commission charged him both with the 

 fluty of making the borings necessary to the engineering works and also 

 of making general physiographic studies. This work made a strong 

 appeal to Hayes, both because it called into play for the first time his 

 latent executive ability and because it afi'orded opportunity to utilize his 

 mechanical bent of mind. Above all, he welcomed the assignment be- 

 cause the field presented a fascinating physiographic problem. His first 

 duties were remote from the field-work of his previous experiences. The 

 organization of drilling parties, distribution of supplies, and the design- 

 ing of drilling equipment were both absorbing and difficult, specially 

 since on landing in Graytown he became ill with fever. In spite of this, 

 within ten days of the time of landing he was engaged in building his 

 first camp and in selecting the site for his first drilling operations. His 

 journal records the daily routine, moving men and supplies, build iug 

 camps, and other varied duties. With it all are recorded geologic obser- 

 vations. Hayes also found time to note many facts relating to the land, 

 its vegetation, animal life, and people. The incessant rains constituted 

 another hindrance to progress, but a careful search of the circumstantial 

 account of the daily routine utterly fails to reveal any note of discourage- 

 ment. Here, as in all other phases of his varied career, Hayes showed 

 that buoyancy and enthusiasm which carried him through all difficulties. 



