Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-04-14

the employees Of the canal company
The Panamans say that at ole time
when the French were working IN
greatest numbers and energy every
one of its 10000 beds contained a sicl
or dead man. The hospital consists
Of rows of cottages set among beauti
lful gardens which are crowded with
gorgeous flowers and luscious fruits.
The government of Colombia. 10
Gated at Bogota, a thousand miles
away in distance and three weeks in
time, has done nothing hut tax the
Gsthmus in every possible manner
ever since Panama entered the con
ifederacy of her own free will. The
Bogota politicians have been getting
I $3.50, 900 yearly as rental from the rail.
way, immense sums from lottery con
.cess!on, nearly 100000 from a gamb-
Hing concession, and other large sums
from the pearl fisheries, from ex-
elusive monopolies, and from heavy
duties levied on all imports. Panama
has been a gold mine to Colombia for
many years, but not one dollar has the
government spent on Panama itself
Every cent has gone TO Bogota, most of
1T into the hands of men who laughed
at the able way in which they handled
their Panama asset for their own en-
richment. Not single road or bridge
was built nor single measure taken
TO drain the marshes CT clean the
cities and thus lessen the awful death
rate. The Panamans thus saw all
the money which ought to have been
spent on the Isthmus going to men a
thousand miles away; hut most bitter
of all they had actually to support a
Colombian garrison and pay big sal
aries to the generals) which the gov
eminent stationed there u keep them
in subsection, and they had to pay for
the civil administration of the Isthmus
as well. Is it any wonder that there
have been fifty-three revolutions in
ffty-seven years, and that many of
them have been bloodv and pro-
lCnged?
The Republic of Panama extends
east and west for about $50 miles, with
an average width of seventy miles
from sea to sea. It's area is about
81 800 square miles. Except Colon
and Panama, there are no real towns
in the republic; there are numerous
villages or hamlets, but it is very
doubtful If the population of the entire
republic equals one-half the estimate
of 100000 made some years ago. The
most populous and prosperous part of
the republic is the western coast
from Panama City to Costa Rica.
About half OF the republic is
mountainous; perhaps hiliy would be
a truer description. as none of the
mountains exceed 5000 feet in height.
Many rich mineral deposits are there
waiting discovery and exploitation
The other half of the territory is level,
and is a splendid grazing country. The
finer cattle exist than these seen from
the train during the last half of the
Journey from Colon to Panama. All
tropical products that have been test
ed grow marvellously fast. Many
would years ago have been
started by foreign capital but for the
revolutions and the impos-
sibility of keeping laberers. Such
planters as had the courage to go
ahead would no sooner have their
cacao planted, and everything ready
for the harvest, than a revolution
would break out somewhere Then all
hands would flee into the mountains
TO hide from the CONSUMPTION officers.
all efforts to found new
1ustrles were paralyzed. Every one
has been waiting for a stable govern
ment, such as only the United States.
Dr. a republic backed by the United
States, can give.
The agricultural and mineral re-
of the republic surpass belief
The railway naturally follows the low
est levels, so that from the car win
lows the traveller sees only the poorest
part of the Isthmus. the swamps and
iungleS. But the swamps when
drained will make good land where
bananas, oranges and all tropical
fruits win grow luxuriantly Away
from the railroad on the hills are val