The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-12
COLON CITY A PESTHOLE,,
BUILT ON THE MARGIN OF
FEYER-BREEDING SWAMP
Eastern Terminus of the Panama
Canal Described by the Journals
Commissioner.
WILD. NOXIOUS GROWTHS
And Stagnant Water Poison the
Atmosphere with Their Mas
matte Vapors.
CRISTOBAL COLON POINT
Where the French Spent Millions,
Like Paradise Compared with
Native Quarter.
NOXIOUS GROWTHS
CRISTOBAL COLON POINT
From the Journals Special commIssioner.

From the Journals Special Commissioners.
COLON r p Dec. 4-The Panama
Railroad must bear whatever blame at
taches TO the fact that this little city fig
ures upon the maps Of the world. To the
same cause is attributable the fact that
Colon exists to-day as one of the pesthholes
of the earth. Seldom. II ever. was the soul
1essness OF corporations more glaringly
demonstrated than IL IS in the case OF this
town Of 3.OO0 people. for which, II its ex-
istence must be endured. there can be
wished no better fate than that II might be
burned until not so much as one rotten pile
under a single rotten bungalow remained.
and that II might then be rebuilt
Before the railroad enterprise was under
taken. more than half a century ago. the
mouth Of the Chagres river. about six miles
70 the westward Of Colon. was the center OF
activity on this side of the isthmus There
was the little town OF Chagres, we'll known
In the old forty nine" days. 1t was at
Chagres that the journeyers toward Cali
fornia began the perilous ascent Of the river
of the same name proceeding by boat as
far as Cruces, an inland village now prac-
tically nonexistent and nearly forgotten,
whence they-or those of them fortunate
as to escape Chagres fever during the river
trip-proceeded by means Of q cObbestone
road TO Panama That road. which once
san from Porto Bello, sixteen miles east of
Colon. through Cruces 10 Panama. was
relic of the boom days" under the Spanish
dominon-days not heard of in any practi-
cal way since the eighteenth century. 1t is
now overgrOwn with all of the tangled
masses OF this jungle country, utterly i'm
passable, and so far forgotten that II is rei-
ably said that no living man could find his
way along its route.
Ittf(r rhgcr fE. for ,-ofl-
road terminal The pernicious fevers spread
by the miasmatic mists that every
morning over the Chagres river-mists still
visible from Colon in the early hours OF the
mOrning-made life there too precariOus.
Besides, considerations Of engineering
pediency dictated the selection of this site
as the proper one for the railroad terminal.
and so Colon came into existence. The city
is built upon what was originally island.
The railroad has destroyed the narrow
channel which once separated this island
from the mainland by filing. over which
run the tricks to Panama; but the theory
OF the island still endures. and Colon stands
upon the western extremity OF what is
known as the Isle de ManZanilia.
CITY IN A SWAMP.
So the cartographers have IL, but If we
would speak with absolute exactitude we
should say that Colon is built upon the
western extremity OF a swamp, for so IL is
fri fact. Manzanilla island is a low-lying
area OF coral formation. the natural sur
face OF which is but eighteen inches above
sea level Upon this island-Colon covers
small portion of IL only-there grows all
the rank vegetation characteristic OF the
isthmus. Along the rocky beaches are
groves of cocoanut trees. Further inshore,
where the porous nature of the formation
invites TO perpetual dampness. are to be
found mango trees, swamp grass and other
Wlld and noxious growths.
The city itself Is divided very distinctly
into three sectiOns-the railroad quarter,
the native quarter and Cristobal Colon
Point The first and last OF these divisions
are the only ones fit for a white man TO in
habit. and even they are loaded down with
dlsadvantagss so enormous as TO out
weigh all their advantages. The railroad
! section lies in the form OF n crescent
stretch1ng from the northern line of CristO-
bal Colon Point north and eastward along
the beach. The line dividing this section
from the native quarter is the railroad it,
self. which enters the city from the main
land close TO Cristobal Colon Point and
sweeps IN a curve around 10 the shops at
the northeastern point of the crescent past
the docks, stations. hotels and the seat OF
the American and other foreign colony
Within this section the railroad company
has made some effort at Improvement. The
level OF the land has been raised until II is
about four feet above sea-level. The streets
have been graded, and a slight effort has
been made 10 provide sidewalks The rail
road has also provided a sewerage system
FOR this section, with waterwOrks the sup
ply for the latter being drawn by gravity
from a reservoir located on Monkey Hi.
about two miles inland from Colon In this
section il Is possible for a white man IN
live, for by reason OF the improvements
made by the railroad. arS$ifs proximity to
the waters or Limon or Navy Bay the pest
OF germ-carrying mosquitoes has been
largely done away with. There are also
found here advantages not enjoyed by other
portious OF the city. The railroad has cul-
tivated cocoanut trees. grass plots and beds
OF foliage plants so that the whole section
has parklike effect.
IN THE RAILROAD QUARTER.
The buildings built by the railroad for the
use Of its employees are numerous and as
comfortable it is possible for any build
ings in this country To be. They are all OF
frame. built in the bungalow style. with
wide verandas. and their surroundings are
pleasant. They are, too. furnished with
modern conveniences. including electric
lights, the company owning an electric
light plant as well an ice plant. and sup
plying the product OF both OF these institu-
Ilons 10 resident Americans and other for
eigners az merely nominal price In this
section OF the city live all OF those persons
that are not 70 be Classed with the native
or seml-natlve population. Here are the
consulates or the different countries and the
residences OF the consuls the officers of
the several steamship companies that touch
at this port. the residence and offices Of the
one banker in Colon. and the homes OF all
Of the railroad employees. Here too is the
Hotel Washington. an institution owned
Gnnex. the Garfield. furnishes the only ac-
commodation there Is In the place for tran
eients who seek somewhat OF comfort and
immunity from disease. Hard BY the hotel
Is EpiscOpalian Church, built OF soft
stone In an attractive style. provided and
maintained by the railroad company Far
ther up the beach To the eastward Is the
home Of the unmarried mechanics en-
ployed by the railroad company. This home
IS called the Barracks. and is great. barn
Ike structure, simple in construction but
well supplied with baths. reading and recre-
at1on-rooms and comfortable sleeping
quarters. Near the Barracks Is the hos
pital, cOmmodioUs building set up on piles
a hundred feet more out the beach.
This location gives 20 this section OF the
city the benefit OF the sea breeze which
blows constantly from the Caribbean and
which tesnDers the tOrrid heat OF the day
and nisht. making Il possible 10 live and
work with some degree OF enjoyment. .
OVER THE! LINE.
But step over the line'-for everything
outside OF the railroad section is termed
''over the line"-and wholly different condi-
tions are encountered. And IT Is for the con-
dition OF this section. where pestilence
CONTINUED on PAGE 6. COL So