New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-21
srrprRF1UoUs MANSIONS.

SUPTRFLUOCS MANSIONS.
And the park made the French company cover II
with beautiful bungalows some large, some small
There was a comfortable house for the Colon OF
fees: there were architectural models for the ad-
rinistrative staff: there was excellent staoling Tor
the horses which the company maintained lor 'ii'
pleasure of its officials
But far more extravagant than these things were
the two buildings erected on the extremity OF the
point. for a residence for De Lesseps ana the
other as q residence for Charles De Lesseps son
of the engineer who seems to have had his niger
in all the rascality that rloted over the isthmu5.
and for such of the directors in the French com
pany might elect the actual work THESE pnlld-
ings. elaborate bungalows. built on the Ehslish
stucco style were especially designed and con-
traced for at exorbitant prices All Of the interior
woodwork in them is done in the most expensive
and rarest woods, hand carved and turned into
houses iU was specially made in Europe, and for
spmpuoGsness 1t, would n1Id compare iAV'faO'
In both houses there are. too immense quantities
ana services; cut glass and china Of almost prize.
less wortha paid for out OF the money o cana
Criminal this original project FOR this sman
nifty Of it ali is heightened by the fact that to-day
through negleo the point is deGaIea yea ana rGfte
while the two palaces. now occupied, were never
De n@ came one to the bmns and perpetrated
the farce of opening the canal to navigation
WRONG GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES.
In crossing the railroad fill. from Colon to the
mainland, comes quickly TO one or the tllIeS
that show that downright thievery was practised
by the sight of one Of the most glaring Of all the
available proofs of French rascslty. Lying In the
mud soft silt and swamps. are fifty Belgian loco
motives built especially to the order OF the Pan
ana Canal Company, and IN their day perfect
pieces OF machinery Europe had ever produced.
From OF these locomotives the partial Grating
was never removed, for it was discovered after
they delivered that "a mistake" had been
made in ordering them. They all ordered for
mus and We're therefore. entirely useless. But in
stead of being sent back to Europe TO be sold
where they might be used. they were dumped IN
the mud. and there they lie to-day.
The crims Of these locomotives is rtvalled for
downright rascality by another which protrudes its
/ proof all the isthmus. OF the whole canal
! work twenty-seven miles were. by the nature OF
the land. the very beginning of the enterprise
| required to be excavated from the surface, the
/ other twenty-five miles being under water dredg-
ing. The French proceeded however. in their greed
/ ing practically the entire route Their scheme was
70 excayate from the surface until ditch OF SUI
then pump water into the ditch and turn dredges
Dredging is vastly more costly than, surface ex-
ro yee Rg oy Which is found in the high
sround OF the interior junsles There, by the side
tion at short distances lie the hulls machinery
au6oS eo the ~a doh after il should have BEEN
| hlled. There is not one Of these machines; but
SCOOPS and all other ePPuTtena9Ses stTewn pronis-
| They are unanswerable proof OF a rattle Drained
construction scheme Inspired by desire to
se 81 Bss the f9 aPser
d arc Ine az ie bay
| been entertained or the machinery purchased.
HOW SOME CHAPTERS" WORKED.
In the excavatec portions Of the sea level
there is visible proof Of this mad work of the
'grafters." for from Colon 10 Bohio. and from La
Boca to the end OF the excavation the muddy water
OF the filed in ditch flows through rows Of super
fuous machinery. At La Boca alone where the
dredging never extended inland and more than
three miles. there lie rotting in the mud scores of
dre6ges steam, self-propeing dumping scows,
launches. etc.-s feet so large as to have made
effective work impossible through the Interference
OF the machines And from persons who were ''in
the know at the time have IT that the work
actually done Here Is a sample OF tho methods,
told IN the words OF my informant
THE firm Of - Brothers one Of the richest
and best known contracting in the States,
traces all its wealth TO the graft it worked down
here. This firm secured contract for dredging
an important section Of the canal the sea level.
arrived here they promptly proceeded 10 brbe the
ali other oca Mon5 Of doars
ee Se Whole Ia a he a nsd wo a a9 b s
passed upon and approved by the French Officials.
viii find only a narrow ditch, for SO perfectly
upon the French COMPANY f6st they e ehs nead
| up me dirt from one side OF the dredges and
merely lifted it over the hull Of the dEedse ' tRs
| inspectors taxing the depth OF the N
that side where the dredging being done order
| Ing fun payment for perfect and completed con-
| tract"
That this and similar stories are true is not to be
| oisPuteu. On the Cuebra cut stands q cable way,
perfectly equipped with engines, carriers. tripods
and ali the accessories The cost Of this machinery
Ing the back OF the Cordilleras, was thousands OF
| but the contractor. who sold It at an exorbitant
| price. got his payment
| have given glimpse only OF the actualities of
| the French management Everywhere on the 18TH
mus examples similar 10 those have related might
be cited TO prove the rank dishonesty of the orig
| inal French promoters but such proof Is hardly
! necessary. The wreck Of the whole scheme the
| bankruptcy OF the original company and the helm
| lesSneSS or the new concern, the wiDIng out OF
| fortunes and carefully accumulated savings In
| France. the criminal prosecution Of the De Les
sepses and their accomplioes and tho shatterng of
the honor OF France go 70 prove substantially
than do these experiences Of graft" the enor1nity
| OF the crime which was perpetrated here
| mat the United States should IA any way EMU
| late france IN these matters Is unthinknble
| proposiuon We start with the advantage OF the
| French example; We shall know by the French exo
vent II. and II should be disposed TO be dTsfon-
and wrecked the work she undertook ehould stir',,
late our honesty and make US to do well end
quickly the work France began end only In b Id
| est and most unblushing thievery.
EXILE FEATHER BUSTERS.