Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-01-28

that if had stood upon tiptoe could
see the Pacific ocean. The isthmus is
only AZ miles wide between Colon and
Panama, and to one standing at either
place it almost seems that the beating
of the surf on the other shore is audi
bic. The next feeling that came over
me was one of wonder that nation
like the United States had for so long
allowed the isthmian canal to remain
uncut, while the trade of a continent
languished for the lack of such a water
way to reach the teeming millions OF
the Orient" In this manner began
w. e. Christian, assistant general pas.
senger agent of the Seaboard air line
railway, when asked recently to give
his impressions of the country and the
causes that are now the center of in.
terest of the wOrld-Panama and the
canal In 1893 Mr. Christian went To
the isthmus as staff representative OF
the New York Press, and his letters
written from that place were syndi-
Gated and published in the newspapers
and other periodicals. In prosecuting
r.
spent six weeks on the scene, coyerins
the entire territory embraced in the
operations of the French canal com
pany, and he probably knows more
about the land and the subject now be-
fore the American people than any
man now residing in this country. Mr.
Christian consented to tell the results
Of his observations in the land Of the
insect and the fever. and the informa-
ton furnished by him IS mere given to
the public:-
I'll give you a description of Pana-
ma as 1t was, as 1t is and as it can be, "
said Mr.. Christian. when | went
there in 1893 the great bubble in which
the Frenchmen had invested their mil
lions had burst, and all those who had
robbed the company were gone. Only
few decrepit caretakers remained
where the thousands of laborers had
been busy at their tasks-only these
and the whitening bones of those who
had persisted on the fever-haunted
marshes of the most terrible land on
the globe. Standing in ghostly silence
decaying from the moist winds that
blow continually during certain hours
OF the day, were the splendid palaces
built by the French officers who came
over 10 build the canal Among these
establishments was the house Of De
Lesseps, the engineer who designed
the canal. All of them were falling to
pieces. and neglect showed on all
sides. had access to the books of the
company through the courtesy OF M
De Sosa, one Of the engineers of the
canal. and from these books | discov.
cred exactly what had been expended
both on the canal and on the houses
and other eXtravagances of the officers
Some of those residences were tho big
gest swindles ever perpetrated on any
people, The house occupied by De
lesseps could have been built for
$4,000. but ii was placed on the books
of the company at cost of $3.50 900.
A few one.story buildings. called hos.
pitfalls. all of which could have been
erected for $4,000. were charged up
at $l,000,000. The total amount ex-
pended on the isthmus. as figured by
me from the company's private books,
was $4,000 900. With this great sum
the canal was cut for a distance OF ex-
actly 20 miles, II miles on one side
the isthmus and nine on the other
Twenty-seven miles remain to be cut
and the part remaining is the hardest
OF all, for 1t requires that mountains be
moyed-the kind Of mountains that re-
Quire money as well as faith to move
them.
Directly in the path OF the survey
stands Culebra, the snake as it's
name signifies, and before the first shin
crosses the isthmus of Panama this
snake must he destroyed. the mountain
must not only be brought down to a
level with the surrounding country,
nut even Hs roots must be dug up. In
spite of the millions spent in cutting
its gray sides. Culebra stands to-day
almost as if it had never known the
prick of the lahorer's shovel Millions
more will have to be poured into that
black land of death before the noun
N"A' N'H'eFPNStN tiNitl NltS pain vi piOS-
ress and the waters of the Atlantic and
the Pacific unite, This. or system
of locks in connection with Chagres
river. is said by eminent engineers to
be the only solution of the isthmian
waterway. II is the Chagres which
makes the country unhealthy Annu.
ally il overaows its banks and rushes
over the low swamp lands, leaving
vegetable and animal matter to decay
under the fierce rays of the tropic sun
and breeding strange and swift death
for the people who inhabit the isthmus
II is the source of the most dangerous
fever ever known. fever that even
the native Africans. brought over by
De Lesseps and his company. could NOT
withstand in the slightest degree
Thousands and thousands of them sue.
cumbed to it's attacks shortly after
they were landed on the fatal coasts
The laborer, picking steadily at the
wall of the canal. would complain of a
slight indispoSition. and would lean
against the bank to rest . moment.
In Ghat position death would strike