The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-03
Mr.. BARRETT
SENDS OUT
A WARNING

washington, sept. d--Jonn barrett, thc
American minister TO Panama has made
special report 10 the state department re-
lating to the present and future condi-
tions on the isthmus as affected by the
building of the Panama canal. which Is
intended to prove sore disappointment on
the part OF adventurous Americans at
tracted toward Panama by resumption OF
the vast enterprise.
II Is understood that the Panama COM
mission Is especially desirous TO secure
the widest publicity for the warning sent
out by Mr.. Barrett. The report In sub
stance Is as follows:
First-No man seeking a position as
clerk. stenographer typewriter. engineer.
foreman or any similar class or labor
which the average American Is willing 10
perform. should come to the isthmus.
with the expectation OF securing posi-
tion, unless he has made some previous
arrangement for employment or he's sum-
cient funds 10 pay his expenses n Pam
anna and return 10 the United states II
he finds no opening.
More men OF this kind are now coming
to Panama and Colon than there are posi-
tions to be filled. The cost OF living. is
very high. prices having Increased nearly
months, and there 10 great shortage OF
cheap and wholesome lodging and board
accommodations.
second-while Panama and Colon, as
well as towns I'm the zone and interior
country OF Panama. are sure TO expert
ence a considerable measure OF material
and industrial progress through the ex-
cavation OF the canal. there are not at
present many opportunities for the estab-
ishment OF new mercantile business and
professional firms, and there should not
be an in-rush OF merchants, business and
professional men In the expectation OF
finding considerable and good openings
for establishing themselves.
Third-It Is the concensus OF opinion
among members OF the commission and
others who have studied the situation
that both Americans In the United States
and Panamans here have greatly exag-
gerated the increase or population which
will result from the construction OF the
canal and of the number OF men who will
be employed by the commission for the
carrying on OF the undertaking.
Including those who will be employed on
the canal and others who will come the
increase will be only about 25,0o0 people.
This number. moreover, will not be COM
ing here all at once but gradually through
a period OF years and as they may be re-
quired.
Fourth-There Is no real boom In Colon.
| Panama or In the zone but rents for
! houses and stores have doubled and tri-
| pied during the last few months and are
| now almost exhJrbitantly high. In fact
the Panama landlords are, some OF them,
/ so unreasonable in their charges that
there is danger Of their driving business
from Panama proper into another neigh
| boring zone
Fifth-The disagreeabls and unhealthy
features OF the Panama climate have been
| ridiculously overstated by those who have
studied the situation superhcially while
passing across the isthmus IN transit oil
| who desire to create a sensation. a. a
matter Of fact there has not been d=SI1
the months Of July ana August single
uncomfortable night for sleeping. while
the average days have not been hotter
than those OF New York and Washington
There has been hardly a single instance
OF serious illness among the considerable
number OF young men who are here ir
the employment OF the canal. while the
percentage OF sickness among the larger
group OF laborers employed at Culebra
is not greater than that upon similar
excavat tion work In the United States.
There has not been a single case o
yellow fever for over a month and there
is less malaria than is often found II
sections Of the United States where there
is considerable turning OF the soil.
My corrections OF overdrawn crfticism
OF the Panama climate must not, how
ever, he interpreted as meaning that ther,
are not unfavorable features here The!
exist as they do in all tropical lands anC
OF course the conditions OF maintaining
health and enjoying life are not. by an!
means as favorable as those I'm the aver
age temperate climes. When the pres
ent able sanitary corps who have charg
OF improving health conditions In tn
isthmus have carried out their PLAN
for the Improvement OF the canal stri
and OF the cities OF Panama and Color
there Is no reason why this isthmu
should not be one Of the healthiest place
in the world.