The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-12
Co/on City Pestho/e; Built ON
Margin Of FeUer-Breeding Scamp

titude of exhibiting to the startled natives
the western passage TO the far east, Tor
which he so vainly sought. Close by the
statue two magnificent examples or
French eXtravagance-the De LesSeps
houses, enormous structures upon which
money was lavished most recklessly. one
was built to serve n residence for Ferdi-
nand de Lesseps, the protector of the canal;
the other as a residence for directors OF the
French company who might visit the enter
prise. Millions OF francs were expended IN
building and furnishing these houses-they
have been occupied for about three weeks
since they were completed more than fif-
teen years ago.
They, as does everything else upon the
point stand to-day monuments to the utter
wreck of the French efforts 10 cut this
waterway. Upon their roofcombs, over
their deep plazas, over every other house
upon the point, as over the city of Colon
proper, now stalk the innumerable fiocks of
turkey buZZards that infest the isthmus
and impart a gruesome aspect to every de-
tail Of the landscape. Over the point the
swamp grass. cacti, tropical vines, palms
and other isthmian vegetation grow so
freely as TO cucumber and litter the drives,
once such beautiful stretches of soundless
sand. Life on the point is not more bear
able now than it is in the other parts of
Colon, a fact the canal commission from
the United States discovered when, after a
weeks residence in the De Lesseps House,
1t sought quarters elsewhere. The build
ings, once intended for the executive and
administrative forces of the canal company
have been given over to the natives, and
over the whole place, with its improve
ments gone to ruin, broods the pestilential
atmosphere so characteristic Of Colon.
OPEN ROADSTEAD A MENACE.
1t is at Colon, however. that all of the
canal works of the future must center,
fact which makes pertinent the question of
sanitation. of which, for the entire isthmus.
/ shall write in another and early letter 1t
is here. too, that the commercial activity
oft he 10th,
fact which should turn the attention OF the
American Congress to this harbor. AS
things now stand, Colon has no harbor.
Limon bay is an open roadstead, into which
rolls all the swell of the Caribbean, and
into which sweep several times each winter
''northers storms most destructive to
shipping. The docks at Colon face the open
sea, and weather hereabouts is so treacher-
GUS that vessels must lie at all times with
a full head of steam in their boilers, ready
on moments warning TO slip anchors and
stand out to sea 10 escape being driven on
the rocks of Cristobal Colon Point, where
they are sure to go unless they can reach
the open water before a "norther' strikes
them. Across Limon bay, a distance OF
about three miles, is Toro Point. and be-
yond that is the Chagres river Within this
bay is water deep and ample enough to float
all the shipping of the world, but protection
of some sort must be afforded. Whether
that protection shall be afforded by n new
breakwater, built outward from both Toro
Point and the Island of Manzanilla, or
whether ii shall be a breakwater formed
by extending Cristobal Colon Point, supple
mented by extensive dredging operations,
so as TO furnish an anchorage back Of the
point, is a problem the canal commission 10
| be named by President Roosevelt must de-
! eide Protection Of some sort must how
| ever, be furnished for visits to Colon are
now a menace TO every ship making them.
and commerce across the isthmus. either
| by rail or through the canal. cannot be
| greatly stimulated until adequate harbOr
| facilities shall be provided
At the present time COlon's commerce is
| limited entirely TO transisthmian shipments
| The trade of the place itself is small for
there are no industries in Colon, and the
| native consumption OF manufactured goods
| is inconsequential The transisthmiau
| traffic is, however. sufficient to bring 10
| Colon on regular visits the steamships OF
| several lines, forming regular connections
| for the port with the United States. Eu-
| rope, Central and South America. the Gulf
| ports and the West Indian islands This
trade amounts 10 nearly a million tons an
nually. and no less than 500 ships visit this
port every year. These ships get away as
quickly as possible however, for the harbOr
/ is too dangerous, and the dread OF disease
too constant for them to tarry as long as
/ they might.
That there is the foundation existing here
4 for a city Of much commercial importance
is fact nobody can dispute. but not until
| IL shall have been rebuilt after having been
| consigned TO the flames, and not unit. the
/ harbor is improved at a cost of millions Of
| dollars. can Colon expect TO take that rank
/ as a commercial center TO which il is geo
! graphically entitled. IT Is. withou doubt
+ one of the meanest and most unhealthy
one OF the ugliest and most immoral places
/ on the face of the earth. and this is the con-
/ sequence or the railroads policy. now half
] n century old, OF making no effort 20 i'm
/ prove any portion OF IL save that which is
used by the railroad itself. Had this con-
Germ begun fifty years ago to develop and
! improve the whole OF Colon as il has de-
veloped and improved the railroad quarter
| there would be little room to-day for crit
| icism OF the city. AS IL Is there is room fOi
| nothing else for, as recent arrival on the
| isthmus expressed II after an hours drive
| about Colon: This sure Is the limit; ths
| worst civilization has ever known or pro-
| duced." MERRILL A. LEAGUE