Silvermen Generation

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Video Shorts

The Building of the Panama Canal

(Carving the Earth in two)

Like the Panama Railroad and the French’s failed attempt to build a canal in Panama, the U.S. government decided in 1904 to import thousands of laborers from the WI to build the Panama Canal. These men had demonstrated their willingness to migrate in large numbers and to work under hostile and demanding conditions of the Tropics

When these men arrived in 1904 from the West Indies, mainly from Barbados this time, no special accommodations were made for them. They arrived in the Colon/Cristobal ports and were put to work right away clearing the jungles by hand. However, the jungle was home to a savage variety of insects, especially mosquitoes that carried tropical diseases. The men were dropping like flies and dying in rapid fashion from yellow fever and malaria.

Their living conditions were primitive at best. Most quarters available for occupation were the abandoned shacks in isolated areas that were left by the French Co. They also would build themselves shacks near villages along the canal and Rail Road lines such as Gamboa, Red Tank, Paraiso and Pedro Miguel. Swamps were in the center of most towns/villages infested with all kinds of slimy things and overpopulated by wild, green weeds. Strategically placed planks represented the only walkway and road in and around town.

Their unequal treatment was largely determined by the white’s concept of Negro inferiority.

The men began an all-out assault on the deadly diseases by cleaning up the garbage and debris from the surrounding areas. Ditches were cleared of standing water where mosquitoes tend to breed. Swamps, ponds and puddles were sprayed with disinfecting oil. Streets were torn up for building new sewers. Sidewalks were paved for the first time. The contrast proved to be dramatic. Piped water was provided.

When that task was completed, the labor force was off to the Culebra Cut where the hardest work and most difficult task of building the canal were. By noon the temperature in the bottom of the cut would reach 110 degrees.

These men hauled boxes full of dynamites down the cut. They drilled holes for the dynamites to blast the cut. Some men will dye from flying rocks. On occasions accidents will happen as dynamites will exploded prematurely killing some of the men. The men would fill the dirt trains with the rocks from the blast to be carried for dumping at sea.

Avalanches also occurred now and then crushing steam shovels and destroying train tracks. The men will have to clean up the mess and start the digging all over again.

Once most of the digging was done the men started building the huge locks. They used tons of concrete and steel in building this monumental structure to raise and lower ship from ocean to ocean. Many were also killed by accidents building the locks.

Once the locks were completed the men then blew up the Gatun Dyke in order to let the water into the locks from the Chagres River. When the locks were filled, they looked on and admire their accomplishment. They watched as the first boat transit the canal on a trial run and were proud of their fete. They had built what was then considered the eight wonder of the world.

They would rejoice and celebrate their accomplishments. 25 thousand men had died building the project. Many would stay and make Panama, particularly Colon, their home.

Deplorable living conditions for the WIs during construction of Panama Canal

The "Gold" employees' live style

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Forging the Chain of Black History