CLUB WORK FOR MEN ON THE CANAL ZONE CONDUCTED BY THE Young Men’s Christian Association FOR THE ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION 1“ Digitfzed by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/clubworkformenonOOunse A Typical Y. M. C. A. Club House Club Work for Men on the Canal Zone Conducted by the Young Men’s Christian Association for the Isthmian Canal Commission NINETEEN ELEVEN The International Committee Young Men’s Christian Associations 124 East 28th Street, New York CLUB WORK FOR MEN ON THE CANAL ZONE The Isthmian Canal Commission has constructed and fully equipped for the use of the white employees on the Pan- ama Canal, seven magnificent Club- houses, and placed them in charge of the Young Men’s Christian Association for operation. These Clubs are located as follows: 1. Porto Bello, twenty miles down the Caribbean coast from Colon, where is located the great rock crushing plant, which furnishes rock for the Gatun locks and the Toro Point break- water ; 2. Cristobal, the American port on the Caribbean and where are located the quartermaster’s stores, subsistence department offices and the offices of the Panama R. R. Co. ; 3. Gatun, at which point are being constructed the great dam and the three locks at the Atlantic end of the Canal ; 4. Gorgona, where the large shops are located; 5. Empire, the town of shops, head- quarters of the Central Division Engi- 5 Reading Room — Gorgona Veranda neer, and where the Examiner of Ac- counts and Disbursing Officer are located; 6. Culebra, headquarters of the Chairman and Chief Engineer, the headquarters for designing engineer work and the quartermaster’s depart- ment. 7. Corozal, the headquarters of the Pacific Division Engineer. These seven buildings are especially designed and constructed for the tropics, being entirely screened, cool and airy, and surrounded by wide verandas. Y. M. C. A. Club House, Empire The buildings are provided with pool and billiard rooms, bowling alleys ( excepting Corozal and Porto Bello), libraries of from 500 to 1000 volumes, small game room for checkers, chess, etc., reading room, where can be found from fifty to seventy-five of the latest and best newspapers, maga- zines and periodicals, barber shops and shoe-shine stands where the best ser- vice can be had at moderate prices ; gymnasiums, locker rooms and shower baths ; entertainment halls, refresh- ment counters, where ice cream, soft Bowling Alleys, Gatun Y. M. C. A. Club House, Porto Bello drinks, and short order luncheons can be had, and a spacious lobby, where is located the secretary’s office, phono- graph, cigar and candy stand and where good fellowship always abounds. The International Committee of Young Men’s Christian Associations has sent trained secretaries and physi- cal directors to conduct this great club work, and as a result of their supervi- sion and with the loyal cooperation of local committees, every activity com- Reading Room, Porto Bello 8 Lobby and Office, Gatun mon to the Young Men’s Christian Association is in successful opera- tion. The membership is over 2000. Chess, pool and billiards, bowling games and tournaments are among the most attractive social features. Con- cert companies and lecturers are brought from the States. Local dra- matic, vaudeville and minstrel com- panies are organized. Gymnasium classes, basket ball and indoor base ball leagues are conducted by the Reading Room, Gatun !) Y. M. C. A. Club House, Cristobal physical departments, and about two or three times each year outdoor ath- letic meets are run off. Bible clubs, discussion clubs, Life Problem clubs and mid-week and Sunday religious services are conducted for those inter- ested in that line of work. The monthly attendance at the build- ings averages about 75,000, while the number of bowling games will average about 7,000 per month and the billiard and pool games about 20,000. The to- Camera Club, Cristobal 10 Y. M. C. A. Club House, Gorgona tal monthly attendance at gymnasiums averages about 1,900, and about 125 are enrolled in dramatic clubs, about sixty in camera clubs, with about 200 men serving on committees. The expense of operating these buildings is borne jointly by the Asso- ciation membership and by the Isth- mian Canal Commission. The Y. M. C. A. membership dues, payable in ad- vance are: $10.00 annually, $6.00 semi- annually, $4.00 quarterly. New employees and all visiting the Canal Zone are most cordially invited to visit the club houses and make themselves known to the secretaries, who will endeavor to show every pos- sible attention and courtesy. 11 CUT ACROSS A SONG OF THE PANAMA CANAL Says New York to Yokohama, To Calcutta and Bombay, To Peking, Manila, Bangkok, Sydney, Shanghai, Mandalay: “ I am building you a channel Safe and easy — I’m the boss! It’s a short and simple journey. Come and see me: cut across!” This the call of San Francisco To Berlin and Liverpool, To Vienna, Cairo, London, Naples, Paris, and Stamboul: “ I am making you a roadway. It’s a modern mighty foss; And the distance now is — nothing. Come and see me: cut across!” Uncle Sam says to the nations. Nations big and nations small: “ I am keeping open house now. And invite you to a call. For the world is growing narrow. And an ocean but a toss. When our ships can pierce an isthmus. Come and see me: cut across!” And the nations sing in chorus. Sing a song of happy peace: “ Now we are so close together. It is time that wars should cease. Fighting is a wretched business; Loss, and loss, and only loss. Let us live as friends and neighbors, — Visit often, — cut across!” Amos R. Wells, in The Youth’s Companion. 13