New-York tribune., 1904-09-04
CONDITIONS IN PANAMA.
Minister Barrett COTects OUerdrazcR
Criticisms.

Washington. Sept 3-John Barrett. the Ameri-
can Minister to Panama, has made a special re-
port 10 the State Department relative the pres
ent and future conditions the isthmus af-
fected by the building OF the Panama Canal, which
Is intended to prevent disappointment the
part OF adventurous Americans attracted toward
Panama by resumption OF the vast enterprise. II
Is understood that the Panama Commission is
especially desirous TO the widest publicity
for the warning sent out BY Mr.. Barrett. The re-
port in substance is follows:
First-No man seeking a position as clerk, ste
aGSrspheT ty2ewTi6sF % sngineer % foreman OF any
~ MttllIg 20 perform shouIu come 10 me lsthInus
In expectation Of securing position unless ne has
or has Sufficient funds to pay ms EXPENSES in Pan
ing to Panama and Colon than there are positions
10 be filed. The cost Of living is very high prices
having increased nearly 800 per cent in the last
six months. and there is great shortage Of chap
ana wholesome lodging ana board accommoda-
towns in the Zone ana in She interior Of Pana
are sure 10 experience a considerable measure OF
many oppor-uni+ies for tie esta bIisbrneTt n DeW
mercantile. business and professional firms. and
there should not be an thrush Of merchants busi-
finding considerable and ready openings for estab-
Thlr5-lt is the consensus OF opinion among mem
oers OF the commission and others who have studied
states and Panama have greatly exaggerated the
increase of pOpula tion which will result from the
men VINO W o be 'T eGioe 9 b t for
the carrying OF the undertaking. including
these who will be employed the canal ana others
who viii come. the increase will be only about
5000 people This number. moreover, Will not be
coming here all at once but gradually through a
period Of years and they may be required.
FOurth-There is not vet any real boom in Pan
anna. In Colon in the but rents for houses.
stores and Offices have been doubled and tripled
during the last few months. and are now eXOrbi-
tantly high In fact. the Panama landlords are
OF them. unreasonable in their charges
that there Is danger Of their driving business
from Panama proper into a neighboring zone
Fffth-The disaEreeabie and unhealthful features
stated by thee who have studied the situation
superfcially while passing across the tSthmus IN
ira nsit. who desire to create sensation As a
matter Of fact. there has not been during the
month Of July August a single uncom Portable
night for sleeping while the average days have not
been hotter than those Of New-YOrk and Washing
ton There has been hardly a single instance Of
serious illness among the considerable number OF
young who here in the employment or the
commmssOn. while the percentage OF sickness
Culehra is greater than that upon similar eN-
Cavation work in the United States There has not
been 4 single OF yellow fever for more than a
month. and there is less malaria than Is often roufd
considerable turning Of the soil My corrections
Of overdrawn criticisms OF the Panama climate
must not. however. be interpreted as meaning tnat
unfavOrable features here. IneN
the conditions Of main tanning health and ENJOYING
life are NOT by any means as favorable as those
in the average temperate c,Ir1es When the pre- sent
n bic sanitary corps who have charge or improving
health conditions IN the isthmus have carried out
their pians for the Improvement OF the canal strip
and OF the cities of Panama and Colon, there IS no
reason why this isthmUs should rot be one OF IEc
most healthfui places in the world.