The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-07
DESOLATE AND DESERTED
NOTHING STIRRING ALONG THE
LINE OF THE PANAMA CANAL

calIy Abandoned
From the NelU York Times.
Colon, June 25-The past week has been
eventful in developing matters concerning
the Panama canal All the newspapers Of
the isthmus have been filed with informa-
ton on this theme, and semi-official and
authoritative statements agree practically
regarding the relations existing between
the canal company aud the Colombian gov
eminent The arrival here within the past
few days of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte
Wyse for the purpose of securing an ex-
tension of the company's concession has
FASTENED these developments Ell PrOcenir
and other papers are positive in their asser-
tions that the government W not grant an
extension without receiving important ad-
vantages.
The fact is the canal has been great dis
appointment TO the government The work
of construction has benefited but small
territory of single state, and even there
C'olomblans have not received the considera-
tlon at the hands of the companyS officials
That they expected. They do not hesitate
TO say that the canal will be of no advan-
tuge TO Colombia, even should it ever be
built Though they have lost all faith in a
successful outcome of the undertaking.,
under the terms of the existing concession.
The very meager satisfaction OF standing
on the banks of the canal, they say, and
seeing vessels go through Is all the benefit
they would derive. On the other hand, the
government would secure considerable ad-
vantage by the abandonment OF the work
by the French company.
Hence, President Nunez argues-and he
j.; so absolute an autocrat here that no one
dare entertain an opposing opinion
a. the company is In liquidation, 1t Is not
DC ssible to grant an extension Of the con-
ces sion, but that a new concession must be
made, and this must, among other things,
give a substantial money benefit to the gov
eminent He argues that of the 500, 600,
900 that has been gotten rid of by the com
pany, one-fourth has been actually ex-
pended in doing the work of building the
canal, and, that as the work revertS 10 the
government, this amount represents what
the latter has to barter in making new
concession He considers that $40, 900, 900,
partly in cash and partly in stock should be
received on this account He will also insist
that per cent of the gross proceeds of the
canal 90 to the government perpetually, and
favors excluding from the lsthmus Chinese
and negro laborers for employment on the
work.
This provision would so greatly cripple
the company that it is hard 10 realize how
it could proceed with the work if it is
insisted upon. Not only would it cause a
great scarcity of labor, but prices would be
proportionately higher. This is just what
President Nunez desires. He thinks that
only by such measure could Colombians
reap the advantages they deserve in the
! work, and that the wages paid by the COM
pany can be kept at home. In the past
native laborers have been crowded out by
negroes from the West Indies.
President Nuuez will also demand that
Col,, 49, he int - . H..
company, and that an inspector of the same
nationality be given important powers In
sisting on these points, he will be Indifferent
in negotiating a concession with the French
company, as he has been outspoken in his
declarations of lack of faith in their ability
TO build the canal, and he has already made
plans for dlsposing of the formers property
on the isthmus. At Panama the handsome
building occupied by the general officers Of
the company has been looked upon as a
presidential palace the series of hospital
buildings back of the town are considered
suitable for the national gallery of art, and
as this branch of the government has been
put in the hands of the church, the build
ings are well adapted for other purposes of
the church as well. At Colon the new
town built by the French at the mouth of
the canal has been selected for the use of the
officials of the government at this place,
both for Office and residential purposes.
In view of these circumstances, a cable
gram sent by NJ. Wyse, and repeated here
from Paris, has created a good zeal of
amusement and admiration of the French
mans nerve. A day or two after his
arrival here, and before he had had an Cd
portunity to converse with any one in
authority upon the subject of his mission.
he telegraphed the company in Paris saying
.he was assured of securing an extension of
the concession. Before going to Cartha-
eosna, where President Nunez resides. he
has made cursory inspection of the canal.
One of the things that has interested
him has been the great mass of abandoned
machinery that has been neglected
and rusting for years, but which was
freshly painted for the benefit of the French
commission that lately reported upon the
company's condition Much of the ma
Ach1nery, only valuable as old iron, was.
previous to the commissions visit, hidden
from view by a tropical growth that has
for years been accommodating around it
But. wishing to make a good showing of
the amount of machinery on hand, an or
der was given to clear away the trees so
that it might be seen, aud, TO make it still
more conspicuous, 1t was painted black and
rcd. Painting the canal red has been one of
the master strokes of diplomacy of the
!. company's officials, and had its effect on
the commissions report
The reception given NJ. Wyse at Car
iLnHK6nd by bue W0eTS ne mas now
gone, is anxiously watched His trip along
the line of the canal is said to have been
made in order that he might make a per
s6nal report of its condition to President
Nunes
A trip made by the Times correspondent
aicng the line of the canal during the past
few days showed deserted condition every
where. The number who have left the
isthmus since last September is variously
estimated at from 10000 to 6O.OO0
two.tbirds of the exodus having been
from the terminal cities, Colon and
Panama. Between these places the small
towns that were lately swarming with q
population Of negroes and Chinese are prac-
tioally abandoned, and at Panama and
Colon the sign 'To LETT is seen everywhere
in Spanish, French and English, and every
week adds to the number of abandoned
houses Grass and weeds are beginning tc
take possession of the streets and sidewalks
the planks forming the bed of the thor
oughfares are rotting, adding to the malaria
character of the place, and no one knows by
what means Improvements can be made IL
the future.
Christobel Colon, the French town here
is as quiet as a church yard, and on al
hands are seen evidences of decay. In thi
climate the life of a frame building is, com
paratively. a few years, and already thes,
buildings have seen their best DAYS. IL il