New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14
CITY OF COLON, PANAMA.
Situated Amid Most UnhealthfuL
Conditions portant Site.

frROM A
colon. r. p. Dec 26-Before the railroad enter /
mise was undertaken. than half a century ago
,he mouth of The Chagres River, about miles to
the westward Of Colon, the centre of activity !
on this side of the isthmus There was the little
town OF Chagres, well known IN the old '49 days.
II was at Chagres that the journeyers toward !
California began the perilous ascent Of the river
NJ the same name, proceeding by boat as far as
Cruces. inland village practically non-ex-
istent and nearly forgotten whence they-or those
Of them fortunate escape Chagres fever
during the river trip-proceeded by of a
cobblestone road TO Panama. That road, which
once ran from Porto Bello, sixteen miles east Of
Colon through Cruces to Panama, relic OF
the boom days under the Spanish dominion-days
not heard of in any practical way since the eigh-
tenth century. II is overgrown with all of the
tangled Of this jungle country, utterly i'm
passable, and far forgotten that 1t is reliably
said that living could find his way along its
route.
But Chagres not the place for a railroad ter
rninal. The pernicious fevers spread by the MAS
matte mists that every morning over the
chagres River-msts stin visible from Colon in the
early hours OF the morning-made life there
precarious Besides. considerations Of engineering
expediency dictated the selection OF this site as
the proper one for the railroad terminal. and
Colon into existence. The city is built upon
what was originally island. The railroad has
destroyed the narrow channel which once separated
this island from the mainland by a filing over
which run the tracks to Panama; but the theory
Of the island still endures. and Colon stands upon
the western extremity OF what is known as the
Isla de Manzanla.
CITY IN A SWAMP.
So the photographers have it: but If we would
speak with absolute eXactitude we should say that
Colon is built upon the western extremity OF a
swamp. for so IL Is in fact. Manzanilla Island IS
low-lying OF coral formation the natural sur
face OF which is but eighteen inches above
level Upon this island-Colon covers a small por-
Of all he reulxv
ton characteristic Of the isthmus Along the rocky
beaches groves Of cocoanut trees Further in
shore where the porous nature OF the formation in
Vites to perpetual dampness. to be found mango
trees. swamp grass and other wild and noxious
growths
The city itself Is divided very distinctly into
three sectons-the railroad quarter. the native
quarter and Cristobal Colon Point. The first and
last Of these divisions the only fit for
white man to inhabit. and even they are loaded
down with disadvantages enormous to out
weigh all their advantages. The railroad section
lies in the form OF a crescent stretching from the
northern line OF Cristobal Colon Peint north and
eastward along the beach. The line dividing this
section from the native quarter is the railroad it.
SELF which enters the city from the mainland close
TO Cristobsl Colon Point, ana sweeps in a curve
around the shops the northeastern point Of
the crescent. past the docks, stations. hotels and
the seat OF the American and other foreign colony
Within this section the railroad company has
made some effort at improvement The level Of the
land has been raised until It is about four feet
above level The streets have been graded. and
q slight effort has been made provide sidewalks
The railroad has also provided a sewerage system
for this section, with waterworks. the supply for
the latter being drawn by gravity from reservoir
located on Monkey HILL about two miles inland
from Colon. In this section possible white
TO live. for by OF the improvements
made by the railroad and its proximity TO the
waters Of Limon Navy Bay the pest OF germ
carrying mosquitoes has been largely done away
nd here adv not
enjoyed by other portions OF the city The railroad
has cultivated coceanut trees. grass plots and beds
OF foliage plants. so that the whole section has a
parklke effect.
IN THE RAILROAD QUARTER.
The buildings built by the railroad for the OF
its employees numerous and as comfortable as It
IS possible for buildings IN this country to
They all Of frame. built IN the bungalow style
with wide verandas. and their surroundings are
pleasant They are too, furnished with modern
conveniences, including electric lights the company
owning electric light plant well as an ice
plant, and supplying the product OF both Of these
institutions resident Americans and other for
eigners at merely nominal price In this section
OF the city live al of those persons that are not
10 be classed with the native SENTATIVE popu-
lation. Here the consuates OF the different
countries and the residences OF the consuls the
Offices Of the several steamship companies that
touch at this port the residence and Office of the
banker IN Colon, and the homes OF all of the
railroad employees. Here too. IS the Hotel Washing
ton, institution owned by the railroad company
which. with fits annex, the Garfield. furnishes the
only accommodation there Is in the place tran
Eients who seek somewhat of comfort and i'm
munity from disease Hard by the hotel is an
Episcopalan church. built OF soft stone an at
tractive style. provided and maintained by the
railroad company. Further up the beach TO the
eastward is the home OF the unmarried mechanics
employed by the railroad company. This home is
called the Barracks, and is great. barnHke
structure simple IN construction. but well supplied
with baths. reading and recreation rooms and com
Portable sleeping quarters Near the Barracks is
the hospital. q commodious building set up piles
& hundred feet more out on the beach. This 10
cation gives this section OF the city the benefit
OF the sea breeze which blows constantly from the
Caribbean, and which tempers the torrid heat of
the day and night. making IL possible to live and
work with some degree Of enjoyment
OVER THE LINE.
But step "over the Ine"-for everything outside
OF the railroad section is termed lover the line
ana wholly different conditions are encountered.
And 1t is for the condition OF this section, where
pestilencs breeds epace and death stalks almost
unrestralned that railroad company is so large
ly to blame In all OF it's half-century Of control
over this city the railroad company has made prac-
ticaIly no effort to improve the native quarter.
Every OF that quarter belongs to the railroad
which exacts ground rent from the owners and
occupants Of the buildings; but. despite IT'S pro-
pr1etorship. the railroad has done little nothing
10 minimize the dangers TO life and health that
Turk in every square foot of II. Long years age
attempt made TO grade the streets One OF
two OF the thoroughfares still in a fair state
OF preservation, but the major portion OF them
have srccumbed 10 the constant downpour OF rain
and the grading has been washed away. leaving the
swamp which covers the island to encroach unre-
fra