The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-09
THECANALS.
PANAMA AND NICARAGUA
A COMPARISON.
Scientific American.


While the papers have been put
ishing foil accounts OF the Panams
Canal scandal, and friends at home
have been suffering from the bite,
cold weather, We have been visiting
the PanamaCanal and also the Mica.
ragua Cshsl and have been uncom
fortably warm.
{ Landing at Aspinwall, or Colon
as it is mo:e frequently called, one
finds more activity than was to be
expected under the present state Of
affairs. The sun beats down with
never-euding energy. and The
frightful heat is only partially
relieved By the cotling effect Of the
northeast trade wind.
| The influence OF this wind is felt
only in the northern end Of the town,
and is completely lost on arriving
at the central and southern portions
OF the level plain on which the city
Is built.
Work onzthe canal being at q
eta4dstill, the city derives little sup.
port from it. Most Of the inbab-
itaDts get their living by handling
the freight that arrives here for chip
ment across the isthmus to Panama
and the return freight. The railroad
connecting Colon and Panama is
running, but not with the energy /,
had when work on the canal was in
progress. There is but oDe
passenger train per Gay, and few
are the freight trains.
Colon has been twice nearly
destroyed by Gre, and these 6rcs
have had a cleansing anl improving
effect. The city is cleaner, heal
thier, better built, and in every way
more habitaole than formerly, aad 8
citizen remarked that he thought it
would be good thing If the city
would burn down about once in five
years. There Is 10 street-cleaninp
commission and no health board,
and little Is done to keep the health
of the people. The arrangements
for the care Of the sick, however.
seem to be very complete. The
rsilrosd company has a weiI>equipp.
ed, and well.managed hospital 10 the
healthlest aud most sa1ubrious place
on the north shore.
All along the route OF the canal
quiet reigns. A few years ago there
was no Sunday there, but now every
day seems Sunday. It is not true,
however, as some would have US be-
lieve, that everything has been neA-
lected and allowed to go to the dogr.
Allowances must he for tbs effects
of climate and the peculiar condition
OF affairs, and when that is done it
is surprising how successfully cared
for rave heen the houses, tho ma.
chinerv, the boats, and 10 fact the
entire plant Of the canal company.
To be sure, one sees much rusty
iron, hut the important machinery is
protected and preserved by careful
keepers or watchmen in the employ
OF the canal company. The tow
boate, Iauches, lighters, ETC., are
housed in aud protected from tie
weather, their machinery white lead
cd and oiled. and periodically over.
hauled, turned over and kept in such
good order that / doubt not that
ninety per cent Of these beats could
be put into service inside Of week.
The houses are in good condition,
thougt-the hot and damp atmosphere
has caused the usual decay Of wood
work, notably Of the canal are filling
in, but not to an extrao-dlny degree.
The heavy fall of water during the
rainy season has washed down the
banks and there have been numerous
land slides, but not even to the ex~
cent that was expected by the pro-
iecting engineers. The receiver 10 !
whose hands the canal property now
rests is expending about thirty five
thousand dollars a Month in preserv.
ing the plant. Much interest ls
manifested by all clases ct Colon
in tho dsvevelopment Of the Paris |
scandals. The Colombians believe /,
in the ultimate success Of the canal, i
and, as they derive a large revenue
from the building OF the canal and
from those employed by the canal
they are anxious to have
work recommence, and it is safe to
,ay that the government authorities
II the republic of Colombia will do
everything In their power to help
he cana! company to its feet. 1t