Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-18
PANAMA CIVILIZATION
THE ISTHMUS' NEED OF A SOUND
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.
The Railroad and the Government Are
Only Feeble Instrumental
ties to That End.

Colon Correspondence New York Evening Post.
The proposed Panama canal we usually
regard as problem for the engineer. We
also think vers frequently of the interna-
tional and diplomatic problems involved in
the undertaking; but what we less often re-
member is that the greatest difficulties are
difficulties relating to the social order which
has been. and is, and will be, here at
the isthmus.
The physical chara cteristics of the 18TH
mus, on which these social conditions de-
pend, are well known. Running in general
from west to east, with it's northern shore
facing the Caribbean sea, and it's southern
shore bordering on the Pacific ocean, the
Isthnlus of Panama has for its core range
Of low, well-worn hills. River yelleys wind
In manifold curves among these hills. The
main outflow of the water Is nOrthward to-
ward the Caribbean, and in this direction
the slope of the ridge of hills is longest and
gentlest. Toward the Pacific the descent is
swifter. These hills are covered with lux
uriant tropical forest, which has the usual
effect of rendering travel difficult. Apart
from the railway, and from waterways as
the lower Chagres river, there are still
hardly any roads of any Importance on the
isthmus outside of the towns. Mule paths
exist wherever passage to or from a planta-
ton makes such means Of communication
needful. v--,si.,r
Land of Jungles.
Into country thus covered by tropical
jungles the demands of the worlds COM
merce have introduced a railway and two
considerable terminal towns, on the two
sides Of the isthmus. On the forty-seven
miles Of railway between these terminal
points one finds stations every two or three
miles, villages ofrvery various characters.
Going from Colon toward Panama, one
Il. NJ.
the large ranch of a native Colombian Zone
Arcea by name); where there are great
clearings, fine pasture lands and nota BILE
herds of horses, of beef cattle, and even Of
dairy cattle. tz;-s5.--
At Las Cascade. one passes within three
or four miles Of avery notable rubber and
chocolate plantation AT Gorgona, we'll up
among the hills, a place areputed to be, for
the isthmus, healthy, one sees, amidst
beautiful surroundings, places where in
habitants of the city Of Panama OCCASION
ally come for pleasure and rest. On the
other hand, some of the lesser villages
along the line with matched huts, with a
population of indiscrfbably mixed colors and
racial appearance, are full of Squalor and
dirt. Between stations ones eyes feast for
awhile upon the glories of tropical jungle;
and then, wearied with finding only the
wilderness, look in vain for marks of cul-
tivation But wild nature is, for the most
part, unconquered. Near Colon there are
some plantations of Importance along the
rivers. Bananas, cnOCOldte, ruDDer ana
much other tropical produce come from
these plantations, but all such industries
are, comparatively speaking. still excep-
tional Developments on the isihmus.
Indian Population.
Apart from the plantations, villages,
some of them of Indian population. some
of them inhabited by other stocks, are to
be found on the rivers or along the coast;
but means of communication in the interior
are. apart from the railway and from the
various waterways, almost lacking. The
older trails are often overgrown and use
less.
IInon the basis Of the physical conditions
and the industrial resources thus suggested
one finds built up social structure con-
sisting of two principal and rather sharp
~, contrasted powers-the railroad, with its
bodv of employees and its management, on
the one hand and the Colombian govern
ment on the other hand.