The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-07
PANAMA.


Panama is an interesting meek Of the
woods" 1t is literally a neck, being
the narrowest part of the isthmus
connecting the two Americas. Co
lumbus landed on the coast of Panama
in 1902, and it was from the hills of
Panama that Balboa got his first view
of the Pacific ocean. Panama has
been one of the American family ever
since the family was established;
turbulent member at times, to be sure,
but none the less interesting. In area
Panama is about half the size of the
state of Georgia. 1t is 400 miles long
and from 11S to 81 miles wide. The
population is less than $50 900, in which
the white race is in a minority. Mix
ed-bloods, Indians and negroes pre-
dominate. With relation to the Unit
ed States of Colombia, Panama is but
a fraction; nevertheless it is relative
ly more advanced and prosperous. Co
lombia has 400 miles of railway in
its half-million square miles of area,
and these few miles of railway are
in disjointed strips. Panama has for
continuous and prosperous system from
ocean to ocean. The people of Panama
are wide-awake, being in touch with
all quarters of the world through two
good seapOrts that are more thriving
than anything of the kind in Colon
bia. In short, the department of
Panama is or was until the secession,
Naturally, the Colombian government
will not be apt to see this part of it's
territory eliminated without making a
vigorous protest and possibly a resort
to arms.
But is Colombia in position to fight?
She has no navy or transport service
worth mentioning, with which to land
troops in Panama. She has no railroad
from her territory into Panama over
which to send soldiers to thrash the
seceders into submission. Even If she
had these facilities, the fact would
stare her in the face that there is
revolutionary party ready to fall up
on Bogota and seize it as soon as
its protecting troops are withdrawn.
nus TIC unhappy Illus IL
self beset by serious problems.
geographically and dramatically
Panama is country of many and rapid
changes. From sea-leVel it Is but a
short distance to lofty mountain ranges
On the coast in some places the rains
are practically incessant and in sum-
mer the heat is almost unbearable,
while few miles from the coast in the
mountains, the climate is fine. In
parts of the department the rainfall
averages 80 cubic inches a year, against
about rs in this country. In the cities
of Panama and Colon the rains, accom-
panied by severe thunder and light
ming, continue nearly nine months of
the twelve, the months of February,
March and April alone being COM
paratively dry. The tides, too, are
heavy, running from eighteen to TWEEN
ty-eight feet rise and fall, thus MAX
ing it necessary for ships to lie we'll off
shore even in the harbors. The ex-
cessiVe moisture and the great heat
render the coast sections unhealthy
for white people. but in the higher
regions are to be found pure water,
refreshing breezes, a bracing climate
and healthful conditions generally.
Panama is rich in minerals and
woods. Gold, silver, "copper" iron and
coal are found in considerable guam
titles, and the forests on the noun
tain slopes abound in hard woods that
find ready sale in the markets of the
world. With a stable and liberal gov
eminent, which would invite an inflow
of capital for the development of ma
tural resources there are reasons for
believing Panama would become pros
porous and rich.