The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-10-30
RUSSIAN CANAL DIGGERS
Those Nowin Panama Prov
ing Good Work
meu.

A new element that recently pre-
sented itself on the scene vi the pan-
anna canal activities is the advent Of
large numbers Of Russian immigrants.
writes George v. Steep in the New
York Tribune. At frst this feature
seemed TO be Of little cssce, In THAI it
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
1 of this colony than among any other
( foreigners on the isthmus Whether
4 this is due to their temperate habits
and so merely a temporary condition,
/ is as yet a question TO be solved.
/ Men who are used TO the uXuries
I that mark the homes Of most north
ern nations soon succumb To the rig
I ors of malaria and other fevers. but
! these Russian peasants are men who
/ have lived in the most simple manner
/ known and who seem 60 be of almost
/ perfect physique They have lived
/ temperate lives and easily adapt them.
selves to new conditions. They work
with remarkable steadiuess, IN marked
contrast TO the Jamaicans and native
panaman laborers. They do little or no
complaining and In the course of a day
accomplish double the amount OF work
accredited to an equal number Of Ja-
malcans.
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 sheir pursuits Ia 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
ton for which they could have but lit
tle love and in principles of which they
had no faith. to give up their homes
and seek peace in land where war is
a thing Of the past where oppression
is unknown and constant labor the
greatest virtue. And these men are,
they declares only the forerunners Of
] AlanN AnOu'AunN AAAbiE WIZ VII ANAAh
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-
/ l,,.. on tg,o t.tlr,t,e ,gapt,,,ott.a 3 "a.
that they are clean and have tend
ency to keep their surroundings in the
best Of sanitary condition AS evi-
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 t.
make their futures.
1T is our deslre,p said linen Rolof
( witch. a tall, stalwart fellow, who
seemed to be a sert of leader speaking
, through an interpreter, ito add a little
to our savings by working on the canal
and then return 70 our former agrlcul
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 ther,
Is little to hinder them IN their eff
forts Public lands are abundant
? throughout the zone and the republic
r and there is room for thousands OF
farms The land has been cultivated
only ia small areas IA widely separates
districts, with vast jungles between
All of 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 ans
cane.
Truck gardens are now almost un
known, the few that do exist belns
conducted by the Chinese on the rollins
country on the peninsula across thl
bay TO the north from the city Of Pan
anna The supply Is inadequate, viii
the result that the principal diet Of th'
country is meat That IN Itself Is suf
hcient TO cause sickness among north
erners In a warm humid climate, bu
is is impossible TO secure suhicien
fresh vegetables at the present time
thus leaving n great field 70 be deyeI
Oped 10y small farmers