The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-01
Railway Superintendent and Dear
of the American Colony in
the Isthmian Republic.
HIS DICTUM LIKE LAW
Whatever He Says Goes" " for He
Is a Strong Man Among a
Nation of Weaklings.
HAS AN ABLE CABINET
Composed of H. G. Prescott, Ad-
miral Jeffries, Capt. Beers,
"Jimmy" Hyatt and Others.


Isthmus" There is of course, no real king
OF the isthmus but that title is bestowed
colloquially and affectionately upon Col. j.
r Shaler general superintendent Of the
Panama Railroad. Colonel Shaler is dean
of the foreign colony on the isthmus, chiet
of all Americans who reside here, and far
| and away the most influential in the
new republic That element of the popula
ton Of which he is the leader having played
an important part in the recent revolution,
and being, by force of circumstances. com
PEELED TO figure cOnspicuOusly in the future
affairs OF the isthmus, it must be cOnsid-
cred.
That Colonel shaler is king of the 18TH
mus" is fact one discovers very soon after
landing from the steamer at Colon. All
questions are referred to him for decision;
his dictum has the force and effect of law.
and his advice is unhesitatingly accepted
and followed. The distinction conferred
upon him by the title he bears was never
sought by Colonel Shaler. 1t is a natural
sequel to his personality and the exercise
of his talents during a residence of almost
a decade upon the isthmus, for Colonel
Shaler is a strong among weaklings;
man OF genius among men who have little
capacity for initiation; a man of determina-
tion among race of equivocatOrs.
ries his seventy eight years with all the
sprightliness of exuberant youth. Tall and
lean. modelled like a genuine thoroughbred,
| with muscles like steel wires, his bushy hair
and gigantic mustache and imperial are of
the wniteness OF new-falIen snow. This
mana veteran OF the civil war, an expert
IN the management OF railroad properties
fearless and resourceeful-dOes each day the
work of man of half his years. Every de-
tail OF the management of the Panama
Railroad passes under his immediate super
vision; IN his private he journeys sew
eral times each week between Colon where
he resides, and Panama, attending to the
railroads business. 1t Is true that the rail-
road with its forty-seven and thTee-fOurths
miles of track, is not an immense affair,
but as the sole medium OF transit across the
jsthInus and highway fer the commerce
OF the world. IL is Of hrst Importance. aud
with its enormous business 4 requires for
Its successful conduct the guiding hand of
railroad genius.
SHALER IMPROVING ISTHMUS.
But busy his hours with the rail-
roads affairs. this American king of the
isthmus" Ands ample time for nonoficial
matters AS the executive head of a rail-
road which has to all intents and purposes.
under the canal treaty. been sold to the
United States government for s7OOO.OOO,
Colonel Shaler knows nothing of the in
side details of the secessonist movement
Here on the isthmus they say. however.
that II the whole truth could be known the
republic of Panama would be revealed as
being very largely creature of Colonel
Shaler's genius, and in proof of their con-
tentiOn they point TO the leading role as
sured by arrange. the railroads special
agent, in bringing about isthmian inde-
pendence. From the colonel himself there
can be obtained only an admission that the
railroad was interested in maintaining the
Freedom OF transit across the isthmus. 1t
had nothing TO do with the revolution it
self and while il lent it's freighthouse Tor
d fort on the 4th and 5th of November and
while Colonel Shaier persuaded the COM
mander of the Colombian gunboat Car
tagena TO sail away from the isthmus, leav-
Ing Colonel Torres and the Colombian
troops In the lurch- these were but simple
steps toward keeping isthmian transit open
Colonel Shaler has been at his present
post Tor about nine years. and the impress
OF MS personality and capabilities is found
all over the isthmus- Prior TO his advent
the railroad was thing separate and apart
from Panama. Under It's concession it de-
ciined TO acknowledge the regular police
authority on the isthmus, and the man who
committed crime and succeeded in reach
ns the railroad property free from
lursult. Colonel Shaler has changed this.
he Panama police authority now extends
yer the railroad property, and a great i'm
etus has been given TO order and the Sc
lrity OF life and property.
In more substantial way the colonel has
couraged the development of the isthmus.
fore his time rates on local freight traffic
cross the tsthmus We're prohbtive that
ersons living inland could not avail them
elves OF the wondrOus fertility OF the soil.
IL has been Colonel Shalers policy TO fur
iish adequate means for local freight trans
portati0n banana and rubber plantations
and cattle ranges are now appearing along
The line OF the railroad and the people are
being educated 10 avail themselves of the
opportunities afforded for the profitable cul-
uvation and employment of the land. The
Id Boca terminals of the road. three miles
from Panama and Immediately adjoining
the Pacific terminus of the proposed canal.
are another proof OF this mans constructive
ability These terminals. with plenty of
a feet
equipped with electric cranes and all mod
ern appliances Tor cargo handling. have
revoluGOnized transsthmian commerce and
added immensely TO the value OF the rail-
road property. Under the direction of this
same genius much OF the line of the rail-
road has been rebuilt with heavy rails. bet
ter curves and fewer of them, more sub
stantial bridges. imported cypress ties and
cut-stcne ballast, so that to-day, in physi-
cal sense. the property compares favOrably
with the better examples of railroad engi-
,seering In the States
The man who has done thes things. and
VINO ny the simple exercise of his natural
talents mas won the title of king of the
tsthmus. Is unique In his personality
Within two years of eighty years OF age. he
|eads a life or ureless activity With char
hcteristic Kentucky brusqueness he repels
tvery suggestion that the isthmus is un-
healthy, and defies all tradition and all the
nets In land which Is infested with GERM
carrying mosquitoes.
AS sHALER SEES 1T.
The isthmus IS health resort Is his
contention; nor can the fact that last year
ie lost three sisters by yellow fever the
hree dying within fewer than twenty
lays, change his opinion OF the health
qualities Of the isthmus a bachelor. he
leciares that the worst woman is better
than the best man." yet women are al
most entire strangers al his bungalow. a
rambling. lowered structure, set down in
the midst OF a cocoanut grove ON the
cholcest part OF the waterfront of Colon
IL this bungalow there is the atmospher,
~ a mans club-large reading rooms care.
uiiy arranged stack OF books and period.
cals billiard and pool tables. shower baths
men servants and those other things which
only - i'ei
Here Colonel Shaier confidently expects
20 spend the next few years. I am too
zonng 70 think about quitting work. hs
CONTINUED on PAGE s. COL. IL