Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-25
Diplomats on the Isthmian Canal Question

of preliminary work had to be done before
the real operations could commence.
Houses had to be built for the officials and
workmen. Tnere was no timber to speak
IF and the most of the lumber was brought
from the United States. Some of the houses
were finished in the United States and sent
in pieces to Panama and there put together.
Hospitals had to be erected, and you find
hese now at both ends of the line. A city
grew up at Colon and that at Panama in
creased in size, so that today you nave
houses, hospitals, Offices and cities with
which to do your work.
you have also the Panama railroad
,aady to transport materials and to lay
hem down along the line of the canal
This road is well equipped and running
1t was constructed in the early sos, when
the present sanitary arrangements had not
been made, and it consequently cost an
enormous less of life. A similar road will
have to be built along the line of the Mica
ragua canal if you choose that route and it
will cost many lives to construct it. The
Panama road and canal have led to settle
nents along the line and the excavations
nave aided in draining the lowlands so that
he country there is healthful today. We
have had no yellow fever to speak Of for
some years and 7 feel safe in saying that
there is now no danger to the health %
Americans at Panama"
Labor Question.
But, suppose we buy the canal, senior,
can you supply the labor needed to COM
plete it?"
Yes. There will be no trouble in get
ting good workmen You can bring them
over from Jamaica ana others of the West
Indies islands and we can supply much
from Colombia itself. We have a large
number of idle people who would seek work
of you, and the employment OF these would
take away a part of our revolutionary
forces. 1t would render the government
secure and would gradually make Colombia
the richest and most important of the
South American states"
But the Isthmus of Panama is thinly
populated, is it not ?" said l..
NO. 1t has more inhabitants than mes
people think replied Senior Silva. The
Isthmus Of Panama belongs to a province
which has an area four times as big as
Massachusetts. There are parts Of it
which have great natural resources, and,
together with the rest of Colombia, it will
furnish an enormous field for American
capital
Suppose the Panama canal is chosen, will
Americans have any special advantages in
Colombia ?"
Il should think So" replied the Colom-
bian minister. THE canal would bring our
countries closer together. 1t would cement
the friendly relations which now obtain be-
tween us and we should naturally favor
American capital and American immigTa-
ton"
Il suppose you know" continued Senior
Silva, that Colombia is an empire in its
natural resources. 1t is of great size. You
could put ten states the SIZE of New York
into it and have space to spare. The most
of the land is high and healthful, and we
have vast areas which will raise coffee,
sugar, cacao and other crops. We have
some of the best grazing lands Of the world
and the Cauva valley might easily be made
the garden of the universe. This valley lies
between the mountains not far below Pan
ANA, extending, roughly speaking, north
and south. 1t has an area as great as
Texas and its climate is we'll suited to your
people. The canal VIII develop It.
you know something of our minerals.
My country has already produced more
than 500, 900, 900 worth of the precious
metals, and we now stand fourth among
the great gold-producing countries. We are
led only by the United States, Australia
and South Africa. Large amounts of Amer
lean capital are already invested in Colom>
bia, and if you complete this canal We
shall probably be partners in the develop
ment of the richest parts of all South
America. FRANK G. CARPENTER.