The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-06
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Experiences on the Isthmus What
Canal May Cost in Life and Money.

was for eighteen months in the serv-
ice of the French canal company says
| controlled regiments of labOrers work.
ing on the excavations. I write, there
fore, with intimate knowledge of the
subject and the experiences related are
personal ones.
The French company receives ES. 000,-
900 for the amount of work already ac-
complished and for their machinery and
plant on the isthmus, which has cost the
French nation $4,000 COO
The Colombian government has agreed
to accept $4,000, 900 down and ESQ 900 per
annum for the concession on a hundred
years renewable lease Opinions of en-
g1neers vary as to the length of time
and expenditure of money before the
canal viii be completed, but a general
estimate is that it will take ten years
and cost $50. 0O0, COO
The American engineers recommend
that the waterway which will be IL
miles in length. should have depth o.
35 feet, with a width at the bottom OF
$50 feet and one lock at the Pacific end.
The old Panama canal company has
constructed over tWO-fifthS, or nearly %
miles, of the work. a portion of which
Will have to be reconstructed owing to
the difference between their plans ana
those drawn up by the American engi~
neers-
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,
so years ago, had in the end to impor
Chinese coolies, who were the only hui
man beings that seemed able to with
stand the ravages of the Chagres fever
It 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 fearful loss of life the
construction of this railway entailed-
Already thousands of persons have
persisted 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 a peculiarly virulent form of
malaria the inhabitants suffer from
yellow fever smallpox, typhoid and
dysentery.
Doctors state that the planting of a
number of eucalyptus trees along the
course of the canal would do a great
deal toward improving the climate. but
it will be some years before Panama.
becomes a health resort
In the dry season, which lasts only
four months in the year, the Colon
bians and Indians generally get up a
revolution, aud set fire to Colon and
Panama. Failing this there are fire.
duent earthquakes. which are some
times very severe, notably those of
September. 1882.
was in Panama at the time, and
was reused from my slumbers about 2
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. It was mingled with the
screams of the terrified PEOPLE, who
were running about the cathedral
square like mad people, not knowing
what to do.
dressed hurriedly and left the hotel,
which seemed to be doing an impromptu
polka on its own account. causing the fur
niture and articles suspended on the walls
to fail in all directions.
on arriving at the beach. which I con
sidered the safest place. found that the
water had receded for some miles. ana an
American engineer informed me that ne
expected tidal wave in another hour OF
so.
did not come along, and as the earth