The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-12
THE lSTHMUS OF PANAMA.
Story of the Every Day Life OF the Present
Center of the Worlds Interest.


1t was rather a pity that while the
Titanic forces were at work in the
building of the North and South Amer
lean continents 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
neIs of trade of the whole world.
It is but thirty-five miles between the
row land across the Isthmus of Pana-
ma. The attempt to unite the waters
Of the two oceans nearly wrecked
great European nation financially and
has been the subject of discussion in
the parliaments of the world for half
century. Across this isthmus is the
great highway of the worlds commerce.
Even the population has no national
ity, for it is polyglot. No one stays
there who can get away. It is the abid-
ing 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 insanitary mood.
For a century the control of the 18th
mus of Panama has been the subject
of ultimatum threats and treaties not
for it's favor, but for the danger to
the world powers in the exclusive pos
session of this highway by one of their
number. It must also be a property
in common over which any one nation
cannot hold a right to the exclusion
of others. BY common consent of all
it is ruled by the United States of Col
ombia. She acts as caretaker of the
bridge. Her pay is the security of her
possession and the right to tax the
native, for all foreigners pass without
toll.
Like the ribs of a fan come the
steamship lines across the Atlantic to
Colon on the north side of the isthmus.
The trade they bring crosses to the Pa
cific, then divides and flows north and
south, following closely the coast line.
Some reaches as far north as San Fran
cisco, 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
pleasant sight to the weary vovager.
The land promises a safe footing, the
hills are green, the White-roofed, wide
galleried houses suggest peace, stabil-
ity, perhaps comfort, but most assured
ly a welcome change, for the sea some
| times becomes monotonous and unin-
teresting, and does not hesitate to in
dulge in the mood, a privilege only ac-
corded to things and persons already
great beyond recall. The people turn
| out upon the dock to greet the incom-
ing vessel. Many negroes, a few ma
tives a sprinkling of white men. There
| is always an amusing aggressiveness
about a white man who lives in Colon.
| His manner seems to say, Yes, I live
| here, and like 1t. Wouldn't leave here
for the world. It's 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 his exile from
all that makes his life worth living.
He will tell you of his best friend
| who went with the fever last year
and the other friend who went the
year before. He will speak with
reminiscent fondness of the trip he
made to the states two years before
and his face will brighten up with hope
as he speaks of the trip he will make
next year if he does not 'go with the
fever" before that time. Why does he
stay? A shrug of the shoulders. Quien
sabe? Somebody has to stay, I suppose.
| Might as we'll be me. Wouldn't be
worth a cuss anywhere else, anyhow.
| Colon is miserable place. At one
time it was quite presentable, but a
| fire destroyed it's one business block
and as the Panama railroad company
did not need it in it's business it has
not been rebuilt. The town is not
| drained. has no sanitary provision, no
! drinking water fit to use and a traveller
| cannot get decent meal for any price.
1t is not to be had.
| The real story of Colon lies in the
past, first when the railroad was build
ing forty years ago and then again in
the eighties, when the Frenchmen were
spending the money of the canal COM
pany with prodigal hand. Today the
town of Colon is dffty and uninterest-
ing. The stranger expresses his dis
gust. The old resident admits he may
be right, but hastens to add, "Ah, hut
| 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 it's few old-tim-
ers. The newcomers live in the hopes
of fthe future. Outside of the railroad
interests it is now merely the point OF
departure for Panama, and he who de-
parts is generally we'll satisfied 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
F., business of Colon is railroad business.
Any claims it may have to decency,
good government or civiliza ton are due
| to the rather effective and modern
American management of the Panama
railroad. There is quite a colony of
railroad employees, nearly all sAmeri-