The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-26
New York World.


After the canal passed into the hands OF NJ
Monchieourt as receiver Lieut. BoaaFGrte Wyse
was sent to Panama and hc took with him two
distinguished engineers, NM. eosa and Jacque-
min, the first having been head OF the old tech
nical bureau, and the second the constructor OF
the vast workshops that have been rusting for a
long time in idleness a. the Isthmus
Lieut. Wyse aud his associates have prepared
scheme Tor the redemption aud completion of
the canal. He proposes the creation OF II single
central lake by means Of two dams. one closing
the valley of the Chagres at Bohio the other the
valley OF the Rio Grsnde at Pedro Miguel. Then
be would construct two series OF locks, and fol-
lowing out this plan he thinks that with plenty
OF men and money he could complete the canal
in fve years. Lieut.. wyse's plenty OF money"
according 10 his calculations, meant about
600 francs
The lieutenant made report OF this charac-
ter to the French government, but the French
public, though it has confidence in Wyse, would
have nothing more to do with Panama. The
SWOLLEN stockings" remained locked up aud
Panama shares still dropped.
There is talk OF appealing to English, German
and American capitalists to finish the canal, but
none of these has shown the slig htest desire to
invest
Nor in there any hope for further French cap
ital. what has been done already was in
burst of enthusiasm, which Is not likely to come
again to the French people in this matter Any
body who is acquainted at all with French his
tory knows the character OF the French people.
They take fire readily ana are filed with vim
and go so long as their enthusiasm lasts Then
they press over everything. 1t is so with them
in either war or peace. But when the enthus-
iasm is gone they shut up like a smashed bal
loon. They are pumped out completely. Thus
the wooden stocking OF France will not want
to hear much more about Panama, and France
Wiz be the worst place In the world to raise
money for new canal across the Isth,nus.
II is pathetic to see how the Europeans re-
naming at the Isthmus are clinging to the hope
that work will be resumed on the canal. Every
body else knows that nothing will be done, but
these people still deceive themselves.
Down at the lsthmus q trife is seized a. an
indication that more money is coming and the
canal Is to be completed. One day it is an.
nounced that De Lssseps, despite his great age,
is coming TO the Isthmus himself On another
1t il said that Q syndicate of American cspi-
talists is going TO complete the work. and then
somebody starts the report that the French gov
eminent will undertake the task. Anybody
who has been in Western town during the de-
cline OF d boom needs no further description.
But the canal is threatened with a danger
which may speedily extinguish the hopes of the
faithful few. The concession from Colombia
under which the work was done expires on Feb
ruary -, 1893 II lie said that this concession
has been renewed, one report mentioning a
period of ten years and another of twelve wears
but neither has been confirmed. II the conces-
sion is not renewed and the compsny reorgan-
ICED within eighteen months. the canal, its
buildings and the material belonging TO the
company revert to the Colombian government
without compensation.
That Colombia will complete tho canal is, OF
course, ont OF the question. The republic is
unable. even II IL wished to do SO.
So far only tho financial loss has been consid-
cred. But there is another question that sp-
peals, not to the pocket, but 10 humanity The re-
gro laborers are still on the lsthmus and are tho
prey of fever and sometimes of starvation Tie
number imported was very large. Al one time
there were $1,000 people at Colon These ne
rraes are careless, merry race. They worked
hari aud spent their money freely for anything
hat pleased their fancy. The merchants found
e}l profitable customers. None ever saved a
uf
Nhcp work cessed and the negroes no longer
"a employment they were unable 10 get
back 20 their old homes. They could not
yay tho price of passage. They were abau-
doned the Isthmus, and there they still
arc, less the thousands who have died. Some
hang around Colon, Others have gone over 10
the city OF Panama and others have Joined the
Indians and mixed bloods Ia the tropical tlder-
ness few have become outlaws and high
waymen ard nfost the localities on either side
OF the canal route.
Thus the American side OF the tragedy OF Pan
anna is coming IL an end. The French have
played their game aud lost The dreams of the
old Spanish monks and cong uistsdorcs are still
uniulaUed The Is;hmus il returning To its
tropical sloth, Tho natives are settling back
into their idle habits. TIE jungle is creeping
over the canal The monkeys and the serpents
Snhshit tho abandoned Villas. Il is mansas
land again.