The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-03

Experiences ON the Isthmus-What the
Canal May Cost I'm Life and Money.
T. w. Williams, in London Express.
Now that the canal treaty has been signed
by the United States government it is un-
derstood that the work will shortly be COM
menced on the canal which is TO unite the
Atlantic to the Pacific.
was for eighteen months in the service
of the French Canal Company. / controlled
regiments of laborers working on the exca-
vations 1 write. therefore, with intimate
knowledge of the subject, and the expert
ences related are personal ones.
The French company receives fS00O,cO
for the amount of work already accom-
plished and for their machinery and plant
on the isthmus. which has cost the French
nation e70,0ooO00.
The Colombian government have agreed
to accept 100000 down and 10000 per an
mum for the concession on hundred years
renewable lease. Opinions of engineers vary
as to the length of time and expenditure
of money before the canal will be COM
pleted but a general estimate is that 1T will
take ten years and cost f30,O0o,0o0
The American engineers recommend That
the waterway, which will be forty seven
miles in length, should have a depth or
thirty-five feet, with a width at the bottom
| of $50 feet and one lock at the Pacific end
The old Panama Company has constructed
over two-fifths, or nearly twenty-five miles,
Of the work, portion of which will have
| to be reconstructed owing to the difference
| between their plans and those drawn up by
| the American engineers.
| One of the greatest drawbacks to the
Isthmus of Panama is the climate, which
| is notorious for its deadly effect on the
| white man. The American engineers who
| constructed the Panama railroad, fifty
| years ago, had in the end to import Chi
nese coolies, who were the only human be-
| ings that seemed able to withstand the
| ravages Of the Chagres fever.
| 1t is stated on authority that the forty
| eight miles of railroad cost ten lives for
every sleeper laid on the track, and when it
| is considered that they are only four feet
| apart, some idea may be gained of the fear
| full loss of life the construction OF this rail-
| way entailed.
Already thousands of persons have per-
! ished since the commencement of the canal
undertaking, and doubtless thousands more
will fall victims before the waterway is
completed.
In addition to the Chagres fever. which is
peculiarly virulent form of malaria. the
| inhabitants suffer from yellow fever, small
pox, typhoid and dysentery.
Doctors state that the planting OF num-
Der of eucalyptus trees along the course OF
the canal would do a great deal toward I'M
proving the climate, but 1t Will be some
| years before Panama becomes health re-
] Sort
|
| months in the year. the Colombians and
| Indians generally get up revolution, and
set fire to Colon and Panama. railing TINS
| there are frequent earthquakes. which are
sometimes very severe, notably those of
September, 1882.
| L was in Panama at the time, and was
reused from my slumbers about a. m.
| by the sudden waltzing of my bed across
| the polished floor of my bedroom in the
| hotel
The noise of falling buildings was terrific.
| n was mingled wifi 10 screams of the Ter
| rified people, who were running about the
cathedral square like mad people, not
| knowing what to do.
| I dressed hurriedly and left the hotel,
| which seemed to be doing an imprornptu
polka on its own account, causing the fur
niture and articles suspended on the walls
| to fall in all directions.
On arriving at the beach, which / con-
| sidered the safest place. L found that the
water had receded for some miles, and an
| American engineer informed me that he eX-
pected tidal wave in an hour or so.
| / waited till a. m, but the tidal wave
did not come along. and as the eart i
ness went back TO the remains or my no.
| tel
At that time the canal company was en-
| ploying thousands of West Indian negroes
| from Barbados and Jamaica on yearly
| contract of As per day and their lodging.
The half-caste Indians who exist on the
from their birth. and resented the negroes
coming and digging up the soil of their ma
tive land.
Conflicts between the two races were
frequent. and sometimes resulted In the
suspension of work on the canal for days.
in addition to the loss of many lives.
| Americans do not like the climate OF
Panama, which is bad enough to make even
politicians nervous, and there will be
dearth of engineers, which will probably be
| made up by volunteers from Germany, Nor
way, Sweden and Scotland
AT the zenith of the good times under the
old French company's regime, when 1900
ing as much as f2 per day. gambling and
all forms of vice went on unchecked, and
robbery with murder was very prevalent,
The prosecutor had to pay Is to the police
officials for every day the offender was
kept in Jail. Out of this sum the prisoner
| received about fivepence per day for his
| food, and had to sweep the streets of the
city with an iron ball attached to his foot
for the benefit of the community. This
made criminal investigation by amateurs a
fS rem ali eve eayts of fHe
States will flock to Panama as soon as the
| work is commenced.
The Panama canal. when completed. will
save between 1900 and 1900 miles to vessels
proceeding from the east coast of America
| to the Orient and Australia.
The countries on the west coast of South
| America will benefit the most, and it will
doubtless open up Peru and Ecuador. which
have boundess mineral wealth hidden in
their mountain regions; Peru is very fer
walton of sugar, indigo. coffee and other
| products.
The canal will cheaper freight rates be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific, and
cause passenger and freight steamship
| lines to be established between New York,
New Orleans, Boston, Philadelphia and
China. Japan. Australia and New Zealand.
1t is expected that the canal, in a, few
years after its completion. will pay 'divi-
dend of per cent. to the United States
treasury.
Living on the isthmus is very cheap. as
Colon Is free port. and there will be pen-
ty of positions vacant for healthy young
men who not afraid of climate with
a bad reputation. The French company paid
large salaries. and there is no doubt that
the Americans will do the same.