Evening star., 1902-02-01
The Great Highway Of the Worlds
Comm cree. -....
TEE MISERABLE CITY OF COLON
immense Railroad Business Starts
From There.
PEOPLE OF PAN ANA
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PANAMA January 90, 1902.
1t was rather a pity that while the Ii
tanic forces were at work in the building
of the North and South American conti-
nents that they did not wrench them clear
apart instead of leaving the narrow isthmus
of land which looks so small upon the map.
but which is sufficient to change the chan
nels of trade of the whole world.
II is but thirty-five miles between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans on the narrow
land across the Isthmus of Panama. The
attempt to unite the waters of the two
oceans nearly wrecked a great European
nation financially and has been the subject
of discussion in the parIiaments of the
world for half a century. Across this 18TH
mus is the great highway of the worlds
commerce. Even the population has no ma
tionality. for 1t is polygot. No one stays
there who can get away 1t is the abiding
place of such human drift as lodges there
and the last resting place of the many who
have come from afar off full of health,
strength and hope to fight an unequal duel
with nature in her most vicious and in
sanitary mood For a century the control
OF the lsthmus of Panama has been the
subject of uItimatum threats and treaties
not for its favor, but for the danger to
the world powers in the exclusive posses
sion of this highway by one of their num-
Der. 1t must also be property in common
over which any one nation cannot hold
right to the exclusion of others. By COM
mon consent OF all it is ruled by the United
States of Colombia. She acts caretaker
of the bridge. Her pay is the security of
her possession and the right to tax the ma
tive. for all foreigners pass without toll.
Like the ribs of fan come the steam
ship lines across the Atlantic to Colon OH
the north side of the isthmus The trade
they bring crosses to the Pacific, then di-
vides and flows north and south, following
closely the coast line. Some reaches as
far north as San Francisco. more as far
south as Valparaiso. In return comes back
the bullion. hard woods. coffee. rubber and
other native products. and they in turn go
out on the ribs of the fan to all parts of
the world.
Miserable Colon.
The long roll and rough water of the
Caribbean sea makes Colon always a pleas
ant sight to the weary voyager. The land
promises a safe footing, the hills are green
the wh:te-roofed. wide-galIeried houses sug-
gest peace. stability. perhaps comfort but
most assuredly a welcome change. for the
sea sometimes becomes monotonous and un-
interesting, and does not hesitate to indulge
III the mood, privilege only accorded to
things and persons already great beyond
recall The people turn out upon the dock
10 greet the incoming vessel. Many ne
Eroes. few natives. a sprinkling of white
men There is always an amusing aggres
siNeness about a white man who lives in
colon. His manner seems to saw Yes I
1--we here. and | like it. Wouldn't leave here
Tor the world It's a fine place" That is
only his company manner, however, for
when You know him well and the time is
favorable for condolences he will talk with
large Oaths about the place and weep over
ms exile from all that makes life worth
Hying. lie will tell yon Of his best friend
who went with the fever last year and
the other friend who went the wear he
fore lie Will speak with reminiscent fond
ness OF the trip he made to the states two
Years before and his face Will brighten IN
with nope as he speaks of the trip he will
make next year if he does not "go with
Ine itVer before that time. Why does he
stay? \ Shrug of the shoulders "O1Ifen
sabe? Somebody has to stav I s11nnosa
Might as wei be me. Wouldn't ba worth
cIIss anywhere else. anyhow
=. Colon Is a miserable place. At one time
Mas quite presentable. but a fire DESTROY
ed its one business block and as the pan
anna railroad company did not need it in
us business it has not been rebuilt The
town Is not drained. has 10 sanitary pro-
VISION. II" drinking water lit 10 use and
Traveller cannot get decent meal for anv
prlce- Ii is not to he had.
Inc real story of Colon lies in the past
frst when the railroad was building FORTY
years ago and then again in the eighties
when the Frenchmen We're spending the
money of the canal company with prodigal
hand Today the town of Colon is dirty
and uninteresting. The stranger expresses
his disgust. The old resident admits he
may be right. but hastens to add "Ah but
you should have been here in So Then it
was fine place. Money flowed like water
men died like flies &c Colon lives in the
past. with its few OId-timers The new
comers live in the hopes of the future
Outside of the railroad interests it is now
merely the point of departure for Panama
and he who departs is generally well satis-
fled TO do so.
Immense Railroad Business.
From Colon starts the railroad which
crosses the isthmus TO the town of Panama
on the Pacific side. All the business of
Colon Is railroad business. Any claims it
may have to decency. good government or
civilization are due 10 the rather effective
and modern American mana cement of the
Panama railroad. There Is quite a colony
ef railroad employees, nearly all Ameri-