New-York tribune., 1905-08-04
PROGRESS At PANAMA.
I'm Era of Practical and Judicious
4chieUement.
Fronn staff correspondent of The Tribune.)

might be said OF reports from Panama, Ra-
leigh said Of passions, floods and streams. The
shallow nurmur. but the deep are dumb. /
do not mean that ell the news from the isthinus
IN the last six months that has made some noise
in the world has been altogether trivial but that
it has been of decidedly less Importance. from a
public and permanent point of view than much
which has passed unnoticed or has not even been
reported. Let specify the three chief feat
ures Of sensational news. One Mr.. Wallaces
resignation That serious matter-for
Mr. Wallace. But the fact that, although 1t
occurred suddenly and Unexpectedly, and at an
awkward moment, ii caused no embarrassment
20 the government the slightest delay or
hitch in the progress OF affairs at Panama, and
that his place Immediately filled with
another man whose entire fitness is un-
challenged and unquestioned, certainly re-
duces the episode to a purely personal and tran
STORY interest A second is found in the lurid
tales of a few returning visitors and former
employees. Most of these are upon their face
exaggerated, self-contradictory and unworthy
Of credence. But even were they not thus dis
credited, what weight should they have against
the testimony of hundred times more who
remain voluntarily at the scene of duty on the
isthmus, without fear Of plague and with en-
tire confidence IN the success of the canal en-
terprise? The third is the news of yellow fever.
Is g
cerebro-spinal meningitis in New-York
last winter-far more serious So is yellow
fever In New-Orleans to-day. incompara
bly, more serious. New-Orleans has about
as large a population as the whole Repub-
lie of Panama, and it has had more than
twice much yellow fever in the last three
weeks Panama has had in the last year. For
a tropical country whose sanitary conditions
still in primitive state to have a yearly
mortality from yellow fever Of only thirteen 10
the hundred thousand is really a very decent
showing. That there should be single case is.
OF course, regrettable. That in year there
have been $50 cases. with forty or forty-hve
deaths, is surely not cause for surprise. for
panic or for despair. Contrasted with the fact
that water supply and sewage works are pelns
created at Panama for the first time III the MS
tory of the isthnus it is really Of little slgnih-
cance-of as little significance let US say, as the
loss of a few score skirmishers was compared
with the winning of Waterloo.
What, then, are the important features of re-
cent operations at Panama? Speaking gener-
ally, in the broadest possible sense, the placing
OF the horse before the cart. There were many
who felt that, under the former administration
on the isthnus. the cart was before the horse
There was somewhat nervous haste to do first
the things which should have been done second
TO the establishment OF satisfactory relations
with the Panama government That neglect
was largely rectihed by the special mission Of
Secretary Taft last fall. and 1t has. think, been
entirely set right through the appointment and
conduct OF Judge Magoon as both Governor of
the canal and Minister to Panama. Every
pne who knew him regarded his selection for
the Governorship as a happy one. The only
question was whether the proud and sensitive
Pananans would be pleased to have our mission
TO their government thus combined with an
other: Office There need be no more doubts
upon that point They wanted Judge Magoon
20 be made Minister. not only in spite of but
because OF the fact that he was already Gov
error The President of Panama, the Panaman
Secretary Of State and the Panaman Minister
10 the United States made known their senti-
rr1erts and desires upon the subject unnlistak-
ably, and the people of Panama added their
practically unanimous voice. The event has
amply justified their desire and the Presidents s
choice. Judge Magoon has been received with
the utmost cordially, and that without making
the slightest special effort to that end. He has
simply acted toward the Panamans a gentle
man newly settled in a community should act
toward those among whom he has made his
home The response has been instantaneous
and mutually gratifying in the removal of the
establishment Of complete sympathy and eff
cient cooperation between the Panaman and
the American administrative authorities Had
such relations been established a year ago. it
would have been much better for all concerned.
In saying this / mean no reflection whatever
upon the former Governor of the canal zone and
the former Minister TO Panama II not
their fault that they were set to work under q
system which was satisfactory neither of the
parties concerned.
Another respect in which the horse was placed
before the cart was in attempting to push con-
stFuetioa work on the canal before sanitary and
comfortable conditions of life and labor were
aecured- It would have been a wise economy
II time, well as of health and life, to devote
the first year exclusively TO sanitation and the
building OF quarters for workingmen. before
taking out A single shovelful Of earth at Guile
bra That fact is realized now. For some time
past there has been . tendency TO withdraw
men from canal work and to put them on the
sanitary work and the latest indication is that
practically all work at Culebra will be sus-
pended until the waterworks. and
paving of Panama are more nearly completed
and until the hotels under construction are
finished It is that there is or is not danger Of
any great mortality among the men from yellow
fever, but simply that even the little there is
should be stopped at the earliest possible mo-
,r.ent. Cor the sake of humanity and for the
sake OF the moral influence it will have on the
men. Few as are the cases OF fever. those few
undoubtedly have a demoralizng effect. When
they abolished the will work with bet
Ter spirit and to better purpose.
The water and sewer systems of Panama City
are now practically complete. The water sys-
int fot. zl,o