The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-02

PANAMA, r. F., = Dec. 2o.-"Ktng Of
the Isthmus." There is, OF course. no
real king Of the Isthmus. but that tltle -
bestowed colloquially and affectionately
upon Colonel j. r.. Shaler, genera su-
sperintendent Of the Panama RallroaoL..
Colonel Shnler is dean OF the 1ore'sh
colony on the 1sthmu Us, chief OF al Atnet.
leans who reside here, and far and away
tha1 most influential man in the new re-
public. That element OF the popula tion OF
which he is tho leader having played an
i'm portant part in the recent reVolutloi'
and being, By force of circumstances,
compelled to figure conspicuously IN the
future affairs OF the Isthmus. It must De
considered.
That Colonel shaler5i is king OF the
let hmusr Is a fact one discovers very
soon after landing from the steamer d
Colon. All questions are REFERRED 70 mn
f6r decision: his dIctum has the force
and effect OF law, and his advice is ". ui-
ihesitatingly accepted and GfoiloWeo. t ,r%
distinction conferred upon MIN pS !1ie a
title he bears was never sougnt oy So.'-
2nnal Shaler. It Is a natural seauel - ~. =
ipersonality, and the exercise OF ms laie1i, ,a
during a residence OF almost u , ueIauo
anon the Isthmus. for Coloncl oh 'i'.3 -
o. y
Genius among men who have little ca
mn ity for the Initiation; a man OF de-
ltermina ton among race Of equlvoca to Q.
A5natiye OF Kentucky. Colonel snaler :.
carries his seventy-eight years Wit = ~.
athe snriehtlncss Of exuberant you TIM ! an
ana lean. moulded like a genuine thorousn-
bred with muscles like steel wires ms
husky hair and gigantic mustache ana
imneriaI are Of the wh!teness OF new
fallen snow This mana veteran o. t'.
Civil War, an expert In the management
~ railroad properties. fearless and re-
so,rcafuI-does each day the work OF
,an ~ half his years. Every detail OF
the management of the Panama Railroau
8nasses under his Immediate supervision;
in his private car he journeys se'eial
i'm es each week between Colon, Where ne
resides and Panama, attending 10 we
railroads business. It Is true tla. tHe
70 ,lroad with Its forty-seven and three
49,, = miles of track. is not an immense
rfair hit as tho sole medium OF transit
ocross the Isthmus and a highway. Tor the
/ COMMERCE of the world 1t isof first impor-
lance and with It's enormous busln ess, u
roo,,ires for its successful conduct Inc
Guiding hand OF railroad genius.
1sHALER ii IS IMPROVING TIE 4
e .I5 lsTHAUS.
4 r,n+ husy as are his hours with the
70 i,road.s affairs, this American king
~ tho Isthmus' finds ample time Tor
,,on ,of,,cial matters AS tho executive
head Of n railroad which has to all IN
tants md purposes, under the canal
traaty been sold to the United states
government for $4,000 Colonel shaie:
Snows nothing of the inside details OF
I'M I. secessionlst movement, Here on the
1sthmus they say. however that II inc d
,rholo truth could be known the Republic
80 Panama would be revealed as being
very largely creature Of Colonel Shalers
puoni,,s and in proof of their contention
thew point to tho leading role assured ny
Arrange, the railroads special agent ~
bringing about Isthminn indepehdehce'
From the colonel himself there can DC
obtained only an admission that inc run Nv
rond was interested IN MAINTAINING Tug
fraedom OF transit across lne lsthnlus.
r. md nothing to do with the revolution
itsalf and while 1t lent It's frelghthouse
for a fort on the 4th and 9Th of November,
md while Colonel shaler persuaded the
co,n mander OF the Colombian gunbont
cortagena to sail away from the lsthmus,
leaving Colonel Torres and the COLOMBIAN
troops n, the lurch, these were put SIM
nle stems toward keeping lsthmlan trans!'
f. 4 y \
open. !. - !. ~, I,
nost for about nine years and the I'M
nress Of his personality and capabilities Is
found all over the Istlmus, Prior 10 ms
advent the railroad was thing separate
and apart from Panama, Under its cons
cession 1t decided to acknowledge the
regular police authority on the lsthmus
and the man who committed n crime and
succeeded !n3reachng the railroad prop
ertv was free from pursuit. Colonel Shaler
Mas changed this The Panama police az.
tI1ority now extends over the railroad
nroperty, and a great impetus has been
given To order and the security Of life
and property. 3.b S
SUBSTANTIAL HETTERMENrs,
IN more substantial way the Colonel
has ENCOURAGED the DEVELOPMENT Of tho
isthn1,ls. Before his time rates on local
rrnipht traffic across tho isthmus were
20 prUhibItlye that persons living inland
co,,ld not avail themselves OF the Won-
dr,n,s fertility Of the soil. u has been
Colonel shalcrs policy to furnish. adc-
Huatc3 means for local freight trans oFta-
ton: banana and rubber plantations and
cattle ranges are now appearing along
the ljnog Of the railroad, and the people
nra tcing educated ~ to avail themselves
4 q the land. The La Hoca terminus OF the
y