New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-02
KING OF The ISTHMUS."
Colonel Shaler and Other Ben 4ctive
IN Panama affairs.

tFsoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIsUSE.i
Panama, r. P. December 20.
king OF the Isthmus' There is. OF course no
real king OF the tsthmvs, but that title IS be-
slowed colloquially and iaSectIonatcly upon Colonel
J. r. shaer general superintendent OF the Panama
Railroad. Colonel Shaler IS dean OF the foreign
colony on the isthmus. chief Of all Americans who
reside here. and far and away the mos: influential
man In the new republic. That element OF the
population OF which he IS the leader having played
ar important part in the recent revolution and
being. by force OF circumstances. compelled TO
figure conspicuousy in the future affairs OF the
isthmus. IL must be considered.
That Colonel Sha.er is king OF the Isthuaus' Is
fact one discovers very soon after landing from
the steamer at Colon. All questions are referred
20 him for decision; his dictum has the force and
effect OF law, and HIS advice is unhesitaungly
accepted and followed. The distinction conferred
upon him by the title he bears never sought
by Colonel ShaIer. II is a natural sequel to his
personality and the exercise of his talents during
e. residence Of almost decade upon the isthInus.
for Colonel Shaler is a strong man among weak
Hngs; man OF genius among men who have little
capacity for the initiation; q Of determination
amoEg race of equivocators.
A native OF Kentucky. Colonel Shaler carries his
seyenty-eght years with all the sprghtlness of
exuberant youth. Tall and lean moulded like n
genuine thoroughbred. with muscles like steel
wires his bushy hair and gigantic mustache and
imperial OF the whiteness OF fallen snow.
This mana veteran OF the Civil War expert
in the management Of railroad properties. fearless
and resourceful-does each day the work of a man
Of half his years. Every detail Of the management
Of the Panama Railroad passes under his imme-
date supervision: IN his private car he Journeys
several times each week between Colon. where he
resides. and Panama attending to the railroad ;
business. It is true that the railroad. with its
forty-seven and three-quarters miles OF track. is
not an immense affair. but the sole medium
OF transit across the isthnus and a highway for
the commerce OF the world, II IS Of first import
snce and with its enormous business It requires
Efr SOL
railroad genius.
SHALER is IMPROVING THE ISTHMUS
But busy as are his hours with the railroads
affairs, this American king OF the Isthmus' finds
ample time for non-oficial matters. AS the exec
utive head OF G railroad which has to all intents
and purposes under the canal treaty. been sold TO
the United States government for 100000, Colonel
shaler knows nothing OF the inside details OF the
seoessiouist movement Here on the isthmus they
cay however. that IL the whole truth could be
known the Republic Of Panama would be revealed
ss being very largely creature Of Colonel ShalePs
genius and IN proof Of their contention they point
to the leading role assumed by arrange the rail-
roads special agent, IN bringing about isthmian
independence. From the colonel himself there can
be obtained only admission that the rail-
road was interested in maintaining the freedom OF
transit across the isthmus. 1t had nothing TO do
with the revolution itself. and while IT lent Its
freight house for fort November ana g..
and while Colonel shaler persuaded the COM
msnder Of the Colombian gunboat Cartagena to
sail away from the isthmus leaving Colonel Torres
and the Colombian troops in the lurch. these were
only simple steps toward keeping isthnian transit
open.
Colonel shaler has been at his present post for
years. and the impress Of his personality
and capabilities is found all over the isthmus.
Prior 10 his advent the railroad was thing
separate and apart from Panama Under its con-
cession II declined 10 acknowledge the regular po-
lice authority the isthmus. and the man who
committed a crime and succeeded IN reaching the
railroad property was free from pursuit. Colonel
Shaler has changed this. The Panama police au-
thority now extends the railroad property and
2 great impetus has been given TO order and the
security OF life and property.
SUBSTANTIAL BETTERMENTs
IN a more substantial way the colonel has en-
couraged the development Of the isthmus. Before
his time on local freight traffic across the
isthmus prohibitive that persons living
inland could not avail themselves OF the wondrous
fertility the soil It has been Colonel Shaler's
policy furnish adequate means for local freight
transportation; banana and rubber plantations and
cattle ranges now appearing along the line OF
the railroad. and the people are being educated tc
avail themselves of the opportunities afforded 70;
n the profitable cultivation and employment OF the
land The La 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 trackage room. a steel
pier 1000 feet long equipped with electric cranes
4,
revolutionized trans-isthulian commerce and added
immensely the value of the railroad property.
Under the direction OF this genius much of
line Of the railroad has been rebuilt with heavy
rails, better curves and fewer Of them more sub
stantial bridges imported cypress ties and cut
stone ballast that to-day. IN a physical sense.
the property compares fRyoraby with the better
examples Of railroad engineering in the States.
The man who has done these things, and who
by the simple exercise of his natural talents has
the title OF king OF the lsthmus," IS unique
in his personality. With characteristic Kentucky
hrusqueness. he repels every suggestion that the
isthmus is unhealthy. and oefes all tradition and
all the cautions of the medicos by refusing to
nets in land which is infested with germ
carrying mosquitoes
THE isthrnus is q health resort" is his con-
tention; nor can the fact that last year he lost
three sisters by yellow fever, the three dying
within fewer than twenty days. change his opinion
OF the health qualities Of the isthmus A bachelor,
he declares that 1.-THE worst woman is better than
the best man." yet almost entire
strangers at his bungalow, q rambling. lowered
structure set down IN ths midst OF a cocoanut
grove. on the choicest part of the waterfront Of
Colon. In this bungalow there is the atmosphere
Of mans club-large reading rooms carefully
arranged stacks Of books and periodicals. billiard
and pool tables. shower baths. men servants. and
those other things which predominant IN places
freQuented by men only.
Here Colonel Ehaler confidently expects to spend
the next fsw years II young to think
about quitting work." he says. When the United
isthmus and undertaken the management or the
railroad, he may return to the States to upon
HIS oonpstencs; but just the colonel-chivaI-
rous. genial courteous with the old school South
type OF courtesy. and buoyantly active-s
carrying too much OF the burden OF the repub-
lie FOR him 10 think OF laying II down.
H c. PRESCOTT IN THE REVOLUTION.