(As published in La Provincia)

Celebration for the Construction Staff

The day before yesterday, the 28th—after a portion of our issue’s print run had already been completed, which prevented us from mentioning it then—a lunch was held at the Hotel Colón. The Hotel Company had the gallantry to offer this event to the Construction Staff, who were represented by their director, Mr. J. P. Santamaría, the assistant Mr. Andrés Mora, the electrical engineer Mr. Church , and the foremen and a great number of laborers from the various trades involved in the project.

As the corks of the sparkling wine popped for the toasts, Mr. Santamaría began by honoring Mr. Sundheim. He expressed a sense of “true admiration, respect, and gratitude” for Mr. Sundheim, a man who sees his bold ideas realized—not as one achieves a victory in war, which brings enthusiasm through a trail of blood and tears, but rather the opposite: by employing a considerable number of men. He noted that these workers, wielding everything from the pickaxe to the theodolite, provide their families with well-being—the fruit of labor and of peace. He likewise toasted all the foremen and labourers who had shared the hardships of construction with him, both those present and those who could not attend.

This toast was followed by one from our friend Matías López, who toasted Mr. Sundheim and Company. Mr. J. Santamaría and Mr. Andrés Mora were also toasted, with various foremen and workers offering similar sentiments. Of particular note was Mr. Camba, who, with an easy manner and “telegraphic style,” drew well-deserved applause.

The lunch concluded at three o’clock and was so lively that it seems the epilogue took place at Casa de Rica, where a few more bottles were reportedly “put out of action.”