Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-29

ont constructions on line, 3,1lS,25l17
francs. prcuiums for work unforeseen,
~. 4242T4DT francs. American COntrac-
ton and Dredging company, 6J,l3I,S 49,
% francs: Society OF Public Works and
Constructions, Gl,OSi .T3S If fiuucs Einel
struction OF Panama hospital, 3.4lJ.S52,
13 francs: Colon hospital, 3IS,3Tg6O
frances snuitorium on Island Of Toboga,
GO. BO6US francs; medicines. GSO,lllOD
francs; hospital expenses, Panama, >
O4B,OllOG francs. Colon l,2O3 5000
francs; Taboga sanitarium, 3G6,415G3
francs indcmnities paid 10 contractors,
2,00224a.27 francs
These items with headings general
enough to cover a multitude of sins. are
taken here and there from the mass.
ALL WANTED CONTRACT PLUNGS.
Thus it was that men could scarcely
be- kept In positions. Everybody who
could turned contractor. made bids on the
basis OF rock, stood clear gainrr when
they struck earth, aud. irresponsible U5
they generally were. threw mp their job
when II went against them. All kndD
Of fraud were practicrd and any new
conner Of good intentions was either
pressed into the pool of spuilutou. or In
the language of the late Mr. Guiteau,
removed"
The Isthmus is narrow. with town
ou NANl nlNt NuN u ulllNk III WIN ifNlt-
ienttul Swulups At night the two little
towns, which, as far us the people were
concerned We're as brilliantly cusmnpUli,
tan as Paris or New York; were steam
ing with the breath of iuc wine and tho
carnival of lord and lady; were pulsing
| with issues of two sides or three
sides of the gaming table: were rich
Tipped with sensual laughter that hoated
IN warm waves over plaza aud PALM,
| rich In gloon against tender moonlight
that moved the blood To madden esca-
| pade
| In such places were the grandccs, the
! chiefs, The contractors sheltered at night
| when the thrill of the town was on.
! During tho day they were prone ia the
! cool retreats of the drcdges reckless
| under the enormous touch of absiuthc,
trained TO fraud and conscious of it's
liberation. face TO face with namclcsa
| naked hrutcs in human shape that IN
of fever, reclcd and died before the
| euth they themselves had thrown up
had lost its freshness. Corruption lay
like pail over body aud soul. and cou-
sciences lay deadcned under the pail.
A TRIP OVER THE CANAL.
| went over the canal TO get an accu-
rate and minute knowledge of its physi-
cal aspect, specially ms regards the
amount OF work done ON the line and
tn" condition of the machinery. / shall
have to put oil q description of this until
my next letter
To one simply taking n flight across
by train the effect Of the air Is sitting
II seems 10 be tepid, aud rich and preg.
nunt and pulsiug under the slow moving
envclopng ctluyia. There Is none of
that champagne of canal days nft i'm the
air Frequently an April rain will come
anu 90. Then the sun will
steam and carpet the marshes with a
clinging odorous mist Everything seem,
to De in covenant with death. The growth
Is lush and the cNudcsccncp of hog /,
seemingly fnthOmless with excess of lif.
gcrnL did not scc song bird: Il note
would die of cnnui among these inglcs
before II had made It's way well out of
the sonrster's throat A fresh breath
OF the Pacific or the Panama after tho
crossing is, indeed. rs the drop of water
would have been on the tongue of Dives
w. h. CHRISTIAN.