Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-02
OVER THE ISTHMUS.
The Railway That Connects the At
lantic and Pacific Oceans.
DANGERS THAT BESET TRAVELLERS.
The Industrious Jigger, Wicked Flea and
the Agile Tarantula
MORGAN'S SACK OF ANCIENT PANAMA
IcoRRrsPoNprNor OF THE p1spAroH.I

Stitution than the world at large Is aware
of. Its managers have discreetly chosen to
keep their affairs to themselves, as other
Wise Men of the East have been known to
do in various kinds of remuneratiVe busi-
ness; and should you ask one of them about
it, you would doubtless somehow receive the
impression that it had been losing invest
ment
The facts in the case are that ever since
its completion Gin 1860 this railroad has
been one of the most profitable in the world.
For nearly 20 years the local fare between
Asplnwall and Panama was $25 each person
for ride of At miles, or more than 30 cents
per mileI During those days the traffic was
much heavier than now, and each month
thousands were carried over the line
every thousand passengers yielding
to the company precisely S25, ,OOO.
At that time the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company was carrying steerage people, as
they now carry first-class passengers all the
way around from New York to San Fran
cisco, distance of $500 miles, including
passage across the Isthmus by this same
road, and the best of board and lodging
during 80 days, for only $50; while for four
hours suffocation in a crowded second-class
car, with no food or other comfort, one was
required to pay $25!
With the completion of the Pacific rail-
roads across the United States, it was deemed
advisable to come down little and the fare
across the Isthmus was reduced to $40 per
ticket. The difference, however, is largely
Offset by charge of 6 cents per pound for
''extrs baggage" (only 100 pounds being
allowed gratis) which generally doubles the
price of the ticket. A lady of my acquaint-
ance lately crossed with three trunks of Or
dinary size and a small box of curios and
her bill for extra baggage was S45, American
gold, for distance of AZ miles.
BETTER THAN NO ROAD.
But the old price trebled would have
seemed cheap in the days of '47-'49, to the
thousands who focked across this highway
to California, when men were crazed with
the gold fever. Then the trip occupied a
week at the best, there being no road what
ever;-frst tedious journey up the Chagres
river in native bongors, and thence by horse
or mule through Shiny swamps and tangled
thickets, where the trail was soon well
marked by graves and bleaching bones.
AS there was no accommodation for travel
ers along the route, they were compelled to
sleep in the open air; while the price of
horse or mule and enough feed to keep soul
and body together during the fearful pas
sage almost equaled the sum that the most
sanguine lunatic might reasonably expect to
reap in the gold regions, if he lived to get
there. And SO many perished by the way
side, from camping nights near the deadly
river, that the "Isthmus fever became
known to the world as a distinct malady and
one almost incurable. But the road was
built under discouragements that would
l. yaa1 Hharo H.
daunted few who carried it to successful
completion are fairly entitled to a rich re-
ward. At present it transports an annual
average of $40, 900 tons of merchandise and
5000 passengers from ocean to ocean.
WAGON ROAD POSSIBLE.
Along its course there are 25 villages and
stations each possessing some feature of in
terest peculiar to itself. A few months ago
Senor Ricardo Remero, an intrepid ex-
plorer OF Panama, determined to seek out,
amid the tangled growths of centuries, one
of the ancient trans. Atlantic roads which
the early Spaniards are known to have
made. Starting from point on the eastern
coast called David, he succeeded in crossing
the Isthmus in nine days, cutting path as
he went for his cattle to pass. He contem-
plates making another attempt soon, with
larger body of men, mules, horses and cattle,
to improve and widen the same trail. Being
assisted by several men of means and promi-
nence it is not improbable that a wagon
road across the Isthmus may one day dis
pute the railways exclusive right of trans
portation.
Passengers on the trains are crowded in,
often three in car seat--all jabbering in
every known language. Despite the exces-
sive heat every head that can find room for
itself is thrust out of window, in vocifer-
GUS admiration of the beautiful scenery on
every side. The abortive ship-canal follows
us most of the way. Orchids are every
where, in infinite variety of shape and color.
It is said that at least "a species
of the palm family may be found here
more than are collected together anywhere
else in the world.
IMPORTANCE OF THE PALM. g.
The palm tree plays an important part in
this section. Domestic utensils and weapons
of war, pins, needles, cloth and thread,
boats, houses, roofs and furniture are made
from it, and in many instances 1t answers
also for food and drink. Children are born
under its shadow, cradled in its leaves,
reared on its fruit and sap, clothed-in its
woven fbers and finally 90 to the last sleep
in coffin made Of its bark.
The railway villages are all populated
clothed. Nearly every village has its little
''store," containing small stocks of grocer
les, liquors, tobacco, soap, candles and the
cheapest drygoods, but apparently with no
patrons. Every now and then we saw a
negro policeman perambulating his beat,
barefooted and in short white trousers,
armed with rifle, sword and brace of pistols.
At every station men and women scam
pered through the train, offering
cakes, like brick bats, to the
hungry passengers, drinks of various
kinds, tall, cone-like cups made of cocoanut
fiber, paper fans with advertisements printed
on them, evidently intended for gratuitous
distribution, but which readily sold in this
sweltering heat at from 25 to 80 cents each
ANYTHING to turn an honest penny.
Parrots Of various species make the forest
ring with their unmusical cries. We saw
humming birds of gorgeous hues, scarcely
bigger than bees and great toucans whose
ugly beaks seem especially designed for the
gobbling of tropical fruits. Tapirs abound
in the marshes, and we are told that their
flesh, which greatly resembles pork, is rel
ished BY the natives as well as coon in Ken
lucky. There is also the wild hog, or pee
cary, which is hunted for food. Boa con-
strictors and other big snakes ara not un.
common, but are not nearly so much to be
dreaded as the tiny asps and Vipers, some
not longer than your finger, and the exact
color of the dead leaves or bits of moss under
which they hide.
LIKE ROASTED BABY MONKEY.
There are lizards without number, some
whose bite is deadly-from Shiny reptiles to
scaly six-foot-long iguanas, whose flesh is
considered the greatest possible delicacy,
next to the juicy white breast of roasted
baby monkey. By the way, the eggs of the
iguana may be found for sale in the mar
kets of Spanish-America and command a
high price.
OF course there are scorpions, centipedes,
ct al for which VIC ora Tarned