The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06

Romantic Story of millionaire Contractor
on the Panama Coast

on the Rana1na COaSG.
Panama Correspondence Colonial Standard
People are trying hard to make themselves be-
lieve that the times getting better, or, at
least, that they will get better very shortly.
Since it is now certain, they say. that the canal
company will obtain the proceeds OF the
100000. 600 loan, much talked of, as matter
OF course there will follow new boom-in fact,
a very boomerang of boom-in business of all
sorts. Money is found TO be plentiful and
everybody will therefore prosper and be happy.
We shall see.
Meanwhile there is no denying that Colon, in
fact the whole isthmus, is suffering from
severe fit of dependency. Perhaps it may be
partly ascribedto the weather; for notwithstand-
ing old DIR. Johnson's vigorous protest that no
man of sense should ever allow his spirits to be
affected by so trivial matter as rain or shine,
heat or cold, good weather or bad yet it is my
belief, after considerable time for observation,
that most people are less cheerful when
gloomy thunder cloud is hanging around two
thirds OF the time, ready and willing and
positively anxious to inaugurate the deluge
How can they do otherwise than feel that
their stock of daily hope and sunshine is abund-
antly watered to say the leastg Contractors, for
instance, who have large numbers of men at
work, must wish that a kind Providence had so
arranged the celestial water works that large
share of that most precious fluid which now falls
here. say nine -tenths, had been bestowed upon
less favored places. 1t is perfect embarrass-
mont of riches
mere Is one OF Lne great enterprises connected
with the canal, however, that heeds not sun nor
rain 1t is beyond and above sach accidents and
approaches in its operations theindependent
ton OF natural agency. 1t is the admiration
and the wonder of all intelligent beholders
mighty automaton, lacking only the breath and
blood of life to rank with the tabled monsters of
Plutonian or Megatherian origin
Would you know what this wonderful object
isl This cunning combination of mechanism.
upon so huge scale and perfectly adjusted
4 hiatt livfa nu9
will tell you.
1t is the monster Slaven dredge of the Amer
lean Contracting and Dredging Company. Or
rather it is seven of them! A small feet I do
not think it would be possible for any writer to
describe In words the workings of these great
machines and tho strange impressions made upon
the mind while watching them literally 'eat up"
and devour the space of earth they are set co
attack. have tried once twice and have
given it up. | could stand for hours spell
bound, watching the great steel buckets,
each of which holds cubic metre, revoive
upon the endless chain from the depths below to
the seventy feet high tower, where they empty
themselves into an immense receiver. from which
the softened and astonished material, lately
dreaming the dream of creation in undisturbed
repose is shot away through great pipes. hun
dreds of feet too from the banks of the future
canal Slowly and surely, like fate, or like the
mills of God" in the poem the great wheels
turning over, driven by powerful central en-
CINE deep down below, while half dozen other
lesser engines like arms, and legs. aud hands,
and feet, guide all the operations of the ponder
Gus and wonderful invention. Day and night,
in sunshine, or in rain, there need be rest.
Change the watch, as on a ship at sea, and all
through the twenty four hours the tireless mon
ster labors for M. de Lesseps and civilization!
am sure that ordinary readers care little
nothing for figures therefore why should tire
you and them tbegging your and their pardonl
by stating the details of work performed by this
company2 Suffice it to say that they will put
out 100000 cubic metres month until their
contract of 80, 000. 900 is finished. What proper
ton is already done cannot say; but am as
sured By the very able and enterprising young