The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-03
PANAMA FACTS.
John Barrett, the American
Minister, Makes a Statement.
Advises Young Men to Stay
Away from Isthmus.
NO PLACE FOR THEM
Unless They Have Places En-
gagged or Money in Plenty.
COrrectS Stories About Climate
and Health. Conditions.

Washington, Sept. 3.-John Barrett
the American minister to Panama. has
made a special report to the state de-
partment relative to the present and
future conditions on the isthmus
affected by the building of the Pan
anna canal which is intended to pre-
vent sore disappointment on the part
of adventurous Americans attracted
toward Panama by resumption of the
vast enterprise. 1t is understood that
the Panama commission is especially
desirous to secure the widest publi-
city for the warning sent out by Mr..
Barrett. The report in substance is
as follows:
''First-No man seeking a position
as clerk, stenographer, typewriter, en-
gineer, foreman or any similar class
should come to the isthmus in expec-
tation of securing a position unless he
has made some previous arrangement
for employment, or has sufficient funds
to pay his expenses in Panama and
return to the United States if he finds
no opening. More men of this kind
are now coming to Panama and Colon
than there are positions to be filled.
The cost of living is very high, for the
prices have increased nearly 300 per
cent in the last six months, and there
is great shortage of cheap and
wholesome lodging and boarding ac- |
commodation.
''Second-While Panama and Colon, |
as we'll as towns in the zone and in |
the interior of Panama are sure to
experience a considerable measure of |
material and industrial progress
through the excavation of the canal |
there is not at present many Oppor- |
tunites for the esta tablishment of new
firms and there should not be an in
rush of merchants, business and pro-
tess1onal men in the expectation of
hnding considerable and ready open
lngs for establishing themselves
'Third-It is the consensus of opin-
on among members of the commits
'lon and others who have studied the
that both Americans in the !
United States and Panama have great
y exaggerated the increase of popu-
atoms which will result from the con-
'truction of the canal and of the num-
Der who will be employed by the COM
for the carrying on of the
Undertaking. Including those who
Will be employed on the canal and
,thers the increase will be about j
5000 people. This number more
'ver, will not be coming here all at
nee, but gradually through a period ]
II years and as they may be re-
[uired. II
'Fourth-There is not yet any real {
one, but rents for houses. stores and i
'fhces have doubled and tripled dur
ng the last few months and are now
lmost eXorbitantly high. In fact the
'anama landlords. or some of them,
re SO unreasonable in their charges
hat there is danger of their driving \
usiness from Panama proper into
eighboring zone.
''Fifth-The disagreeable and un-
ealthy features of the Panama eli
nate have been ridiculously over t
tated by those who have studied the /
ituation superfcially while passingf c
cross the isthmus in transit or who l
esire to create a sensation. AS a c
natter of fact, there has not been dur L
lg the months of July and August, a r
ingle uncomfortable night for sleep I
lg, while the average days have not f
cen hotter than those of New York r
nd Washington. There has been S
ardly a single instance of serious ill +
ess among the considerable number [
f young men who are here in the c
of the canal, while the
ercentage of sickness among the
lrger group of laborers employed at
ulebra is not greater than that upon
milar eXcavating work in the United
tates. There has not been a single L
ase of yellow fever for over a month
nd there is less malaria than is often
1und in sections of the United States
here there is considerable turning of