The Van Buren press., 1904-11-12
CONDITIONS IN PANAMA.
United States Consul Gives Particus
lars Concerning Matters
in General.

Having been here a full month and
having carefully noted existing condi-
t.ons and discussed them with members
OF the Isthmian commission. the chief
engineer Of the canal, the sanitary off,
cials. the consul-general. and others
competent to judge, beg to submit
a few suggestions.
No man seeking a position as clerk,
stenographer, typewriter, engineer,
foreman, or any similar position which
the average American will be willing TO
fill, should come 10 the lsthmus unless
he has made some previous arrange
ment for employment. or has sufficient
funds to pay his expenses in Panama
and his passage back to the United
States " he finds no opening, More men
OF these classes are now coming 10
Panama and Colon than there are posi-
tions TO be filled. The cost of living
Is very high, prices having increased
nearly 800 per cent In the last six
,mohths and there Is a great shortage
or cheap and good lodging aF board
accommodations
While Panama, Colon and towns In the
Zone and In the interior OF Panama
proper are sure to experience a consld-
cradle measure OF material and indus
trial progress through the digging OF the
canal there are not at present many
opportunities for the establishment OF
new mercantile, business and profess
slonal firms, and there should not be an
thrush Of merchants and business and
professional men in the expectation OF
finding ready openings. Itwould be bes,
for men deslrous OF locating here in
business enterprises to come first and
look over the field before finally closing
up their Offices In the United States.
II Is the consensus OF opinion among
members OF the commission and others
who have studied the situation that
Americans both in the United States
| and Panama have greatly exaggerated
the increase OF population which will
result from the construction OF the
canal, and the number OF men who will
be employed by the commission for the
carrying on Of the undertaking II Ia
not probable, in view Of the modern
systems to be employed In construction.
that there will be at any time more than
1900 or $1,000 men directly employed
as ordinary laborers along the line 81
the canal II we add to these some
5000 TO cover the small number OF fam.
illes that will be brought and those who
might be termed camp followers, and II
we further add 5000 to represent nigh
class employees and all kinds OF bust
ness and professional men who may
/ come here on account Of the work, and
! all others employed, we have, at the
! outside, IN increase OF only % 900 peo-
| pie This number, moreover, viii not
come here all at once, but gradually,
| through a period Of years, as they may
be required Estimates that some 10000
10 10000 people will be brought TO the
! lsthmus through the construction OF the
canal are exaggerated and will prove
/ deceptive AS the latest estimate OF
population Of Panama, according to
Whitaker, is 100000, this $4,000 added
through a period Of years Is not sum
Client to create a great boom. as that
term Is commonly used
There Is not yet any real boom In
Panama, in Colon or In the Zone. but
rents for houses, stores and Offices have
doubled and trIpled during the last few
months, and are now eXorbitantly high.
In fact, the Panama landlords are, some
Of them, 80 unreasonable In their
charges that there is danger OF their
driving business from Panama proper
into the nclghborIng Zone The United
States, In securing Offices FOR rs lega-
tion, is as much a sufferer in this respect
as any merchant or professional man.
The disagrecable and unhealthy fea-
lures OF the Panama climate have been
rldiculously Oyerrated by those who
have studied tho situation suporfcIally
while passing across the lsthmus, or
who have desired TO create a sensation.
Members OF the commission who ar
familiar with other tropical countrle
find II much cooler and healthier here
than In corresponding ATTITUDES Of other
ands, and my experience confirms theirs
The sanitary conditions existing In the
days Of the old Panama Canal company
might have characterized the construc.
tIon of similar work In any other por-
lion Of the world and nro responsible
for many Of the terrible tales that are
now told In the American press.
My corrections of olerdrawn crlti.
clsms Of the Panama climate must not.
however be Interpreted as meaning that
there are not uniayorahle features here,
They exist as they DO In all tropical
lands, and Of course the conditions OF
maintaining health and enjoying NE
are not by any means so favorable "a
those In the average temperate regions.
when the present able sanitary corps
which has charge OF bettering the health
conditions In the lsthmus has carried
ont Us plans for the improvement o, the
canal strip and the cities OF Panama and
Colon there is no reason Why the 18th.
mus should not be one OF the hoalthlest
places In the world
JOHN HARRIET