The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-11-09
CONDITIONS IN PANAMA.

CONDITIONS IN PANAMA.
A Representative of Chicago Post Says
Canal Zone is No Place for White
Man.
panama canal affairs says
George j. Kavanaugh, who has Just
returned from six months stay on
the isthmus, ''are in a serious condi-
ton through two causes-lack of a
central head in the construction work
and plundering of American laborers
by a Spanish French combination of
merchants.
"The government has made mis-
takes in the grading of salaries of
men employed and civil service red
tape doesn't work we'll in a tropical
climate; but the chief reasons for the
delay in the work, and the fact that
little practical Roadway is being made
at the present time are what I have
mentioned.
cup to the time Chief Engineer Wal
lace quit work some definite progress
was making. He is a practical en-
gineer and went down there to make
the work 60 through. Although
hampered much by official jealousies
in the canal commission, he got
start and every American employed
on the work took new hope and cour-
age. When Mr.. Wallace quit we un-
derstood the reason to be solely that
neither he nor any other practical en-
gineer could get along with the COM
mission as it was then constituted.
"After Mr.. Wallace's departure
everyone became homesick, and the
work up to the time I left really had
made no Roadway. The government
has sent in more than 900 clerks
young men employed for the clerical
work at salaries ranging from 500
to 9120. 1t also has sent in certain
amount of skilled engineering labor
that is receiving 1888 month.
These employees are taken down there
at steamship rates of S25 in gold a
passage, but if they wish to return
the cost is $55 in gold, and as SAL
aries are not high enough for the
actual living expenses few are getting
back.
II saw a pathetic incident relating
to this while I was there. Half a
dozen young fellows of an engineering
corps had just drawn their monthly
pay and settled their board bills.
With the little they had left they we're
gambling with the understanding that
the winner would take the pot and buy
a home ticket with it. In this way
about one man a month can get away
from each corps.
''The special rates in the best hotel
in Panama for canal employees are
$50 month in gold, so that man
at 1898 must always be 81 in the
hole, if not more. Rates in the
French quarters range from $40 to $40
in gold, and the accommodations are
bad. Food and clothing are high,
and even a glass of beer costs Is cents.
''The Spanish and French have the
idea that because we are building the
canal we necessarily must flood them
with money. They control the trade,
and they have the stores and hotels
and most of the governmental con-
cessions. Their rates amount to ex-
tortion, but there is no appealing
from them because they have mo-
nopoly.
"A large percentage of the govern
ment employees now on the canal are
young southerners, but the climate
does not agree with them, although
the deadliest disease from Panama to
Colon is Inconsistencies. With more
than $50, 000,00 of French machinery
scattered along the proposed route,
with all the ruin of the French efforts
staring them in the face, and under
paid and hampered in every direction
by red tape, these youngsters become
sick on almost any provocation, and
the only salvation for them then is to
get them out of the country.
1.-THE canal can be built and COM
pleted at reasonable figure, but the
feeling in Panama is that successful
work on it never will get under way
until all the commissions are dis
charged and one, big, vigorous Amer
lean railway constructor is given alb
solute sway over the whole work and
held responsible for all he does.
When this comes about the canal, if
built with locks, will be completed in
ten or twelve years, and if made sea
level in not less than thirty years.
''To the American speculator and
investor I would say-keep away from
Panama. Nothing can be found there
worthy of American enterprise but the
building of the canal. The country
itself is not a white mans land.,'