The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-11-02
RUSSIAN CANAL DICCERS
Those Now In Panama Proving
Good Workmen.
LITTLE SICKNESS AMONG THEM

LITTLE SICKNESS AMONG THEM
Peasants Who Fled From Native
Land to Escape Oppression Said to
Be the Most Valuable Class of Men
Who Have Worked ON Ditch-Peace-
full and Thrifty.
A new element that recently pre-.
sented itself on the scene Of the Pan
anna canal activities is the advent of
large numbers of Russian immigrants,
writes George v. Steep in the New
York Tribune. At first this feature
! seemed to be Of little value, in that 1t
was feared that this class Of labor
would prove to be as unstable physic-
ally as are all other northern work
men who take service under tropical
! conditions. So far however, there has
been less sickness among the members
of this colony than among any other
foreigners on the iSthmuS. Whether
this is due to their temperate habits,
and so merely a temporary condition,
is as yet question to be solved.
Men who are used to the luxuries
that mark the homes of most north
ern nations soon succumb to the rig
ors Of malaria and other fevers, but
these Russian peasants are men who
have lived in the most simple manner
known and who seem to be Of almost
perfect physique. They have lived
temperate lives and easily adapt them
selves to new conditions. They work
contrast to the Jamaicans and native
Panaman laborers. They do little or no
complaining and In the course Of day
accomplish double the amount Of work
accredited to an equal number Of ia
maicans.
These men are not temporary gangs
and nomads, but are thrifty farmers,
who have fed from their native land to
escape oppression and who desire to
settle in a free country where they
can follow their pursuits in peace. The
large number of Russians coming thus
suddenly is due directly to the Russo
Japanese war. They are refugees. who
decided, rather than go to the front to
shed their blood in the cause of ma
lion for which they could have but lit
tie love and in principles Of which they
had no faith, to give up their homes
and seek peace in land where war is
thing Of the past, where oppression
Is unknown and constant labor the
greatest virtue. And these men are,
they declare, only the forerunners Of
many thousands more who will come
If health conditions continue good
In addition to being the steadiest
and most valuable class Of men who
have thrust their spades into the
ditch, they are practical farmers. That
alone is sufficient guarantee for their
future. They are known to be peace
full and thrifty, and their short resi-
dence on the isthmus demonstrates
that they are clean and have tend
ency to keep their surroundings in the
best Of sanitary condition. AS evil
dence Of the thrift that characterized
them in their native land, practically
all of them have little money saved.
With this as capital they intend to
make their futures.
ut Is our DESIRE" said linen Rolof-
witch, tall, stalwart fellow, who
seemed to be a sort of leader, speaking
through an interpreter, ito add a little
to our savings by working on the canal
and then return to our former agricul-
tural pursuits somewhere off Of the
line" And this utterance was charac-
teristic Of each individual in the col
ony
The plan seems good one, and there
Is little to hinder them in their eff
forts. Public lands are abundant
throughout the zone and the republic,
and there is room for thousands Of
farms. The land has been cultivated
only in small areas in widely separated
districts, with vast jungles between.
Allof this land Is rich beyond compare.
Almost any vegetable will thrive in it.
The fruit industry will probably re-
main the chief occupation, but there
are fortunes to be made in rubber and
cane.
Truck gardens are now almost I'M
known, the few that do exist being
conducted by the Chinese on the rolling
country on the peninsula across the
bay to the north from the city Of Pan
anna. The supply is inadequate, with
the result that the principal diet Of the
country Is meat. That In itself Is suf-
6cient to cause sickness among north
erners in warm, humid climate, but
u Is impossible to secure sufficient
fresh vegetables at the present time,
thus leaving great field to be devel-
oped by small farmers.
Dog to WeaR Glass Eye.
With all the preparation and care