The National tribune., 1903-11-19

FLAG OF THE NEW REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
area Of the Department of Panama" OF
the Colombian Republic. The principal
ports are Panama, on the Pacific coast
and Colon, on the Atlantic side, and these
ports are visited annually by more than
1000 vessels, which land over 100000
Z tons of merchandise and nearly 100000
passengers, chiefly for transfer over the
Panama Railway, Al miles in length, con-
the Atlantic port of Colon.
Colon, or Aspinwail. as it is sometimes
called, has population of about 5000
persons. The city of Panama has pop
ulation OF about 25,0OO. 1t was founded
in 1919, burned in 1911, and rebuilt in
1873, while Colon is of much more recent
date, having been founded in 1855.
The population, which, as already indi-
Gated, amounts in number to about 300,
600, is composed Of various elements
Spanish, Indian, Negro, and a limited
number of persons from the European
countries and the United States, especially
those engaged in commerce and transpor-
,tation and the operation of the Panama
Railway. A considerable number of the
population is composed of persons brought
to the Isthmus as laborers for the con-
struction of the canal, and of their de-
scendants. Since the, abolition of slavery
In Jamaica a considerable number of
blacks and mulattoes have settled on the
Isthmus as small dealers and farmers, and
in some villages on the Atlantic side
they are said to be in the majority, and
as a result the English language is much
In use, especially on the Atlantic side.
Some of the native population have re-
tanned their customs, speech, and physical
type, especially those in the western part
of the province, and claim to be descend
ants of the natives found in that section
u a. l. Al
and conquered the country.
OF the
COMMERCE OF PANAMA,
the United States supplies larger share
than any other country. The importations
at the port of Colon during the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1903, as shown by the re-
port of the United States Consul, amounted
to $685., ,6S4, of which $614, ,179 was from
the United States, $119,OS6 from France,
$11S,322 from England, 1886 from Ger
many. The figures Of the fiscal year 1903
show a considerable increase from those of
1902, in which the value of the imports ut
Colon were $776.34 OF the $614,179 i'm
ports from the United States at Colon in
provisions, $685. $50 coal, $3s,842 lumber,
$4,000 kerosene, $30.400 liquors and $31, :
90 hardware. The value of the importa-
tons from the United States in 1903 ex-
eeeded those of 1902 by about $1,000
The exports to the United States from
Colon In 1908 amounted to $173,37O, Of
which 5,432 was bananss, $54,96O CO.
coanuts, 1924 turtle shells, &c. 400 ivory
nuts, Sc, 400 hides, and 1924 coffee.
From the port Of Panama the exports
70 the United States in the fiscal year
1908 amounted to $193,342, of which
$56, ,767 was hides, $49,974 india rubber,
27,S05 coeobolo nuts, $16,59S ivory nuts,
S13.372 deerskins, and S6,908 coffee. The
Consul at Panama states that the imported
articles come mostly from England. Ger
many, France, Italy, and the United
States, but gives no statistics of the i'm
ports.
STEAMER LINES.
Panama is connected with San Fran
ated by the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
steamer schedule operated by the Pacific
Steam Navigation Company and South
American Steamship Company. Two pas
senger and two freight trains leave Pan
anna daily for Colon and Colon daily for
Panama. The time for passenger trains
over the Al miles of railway is three hours.
From Panama there Is one cable line
north to American ports, and one to the
south. The actual time consumed In COM
municating with the United States and re-
ceiving an answer is stated by the Consul
to be usually about four hours. There are
cable lines from Colon to the United
States and Europe.
The money of the country Is silver, the
rate of exchange having averaged during
the past year about $50 per cent.