East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-08-23
INDUSTRIAL REAWAKENING
IN PANAMA.

The new republic of Panama APP
pears TO have caught the spirit of inn
provement and progression from
American enterprise that is building
the canal across the isthmus. says the
Denver Post.
Harbors, highways, and railways
and new city are among the pro-
jects to which President Amador has
given his approval and upon which
work is in progress. At present the
central provinces of Los Santos, Co
Gle and Veraguas are the fields for
the greater part of these improve
ments for which s1,O5O,OOO (silver)
has been appropriated.
The harbors of Pescaderias and Pu-
erto Posada are to be improved so
that it will be possible for passengers
and cargo to be received and landed
at wharves. With the exception of
Panama City, the port of Aqua Dulce
is at this time the only harbor on the
Pacific where it is possible for ves-
sells to discharge and load from piers.
The project is to have, in the not far
distant future, first, good roads and.
later railways, stretching across the
plains and foot hills, through the
mountain passes, TO the Atlantic, and
thus develop rich natural resources
which today lie dormant.
Long ago abandoned gold mines
have recently been relocated, and are
now worked with profit. The crude
methods of the Spaniards were only
successful where the mineral veins
were most accessible. The results OBJ
tanned by the use of modern facilities
will surpass those of the original dis
coyerers. Because of the lack of
Transportation facilities coal and iron
have lain undisturbed in the flanks of
the hills.
come accessible when better commun-
| ication is established. Cocoanuts, cof-
fee and rubber grow wild in luxuri-
ance.
To cite an example, it is credibly re-
ported that an Indian cacique pos
sesses $4,000 rubber trees. With the
benefits of cultivation and transpor-
| tation to an available market, rub
| ber crop yields a profit of from 81 to
SO (silver) per tree. Necessary Indian
labor can be obtained for about 10
cents (silver) per tree.
! improvements to the harbor of Pu-
erto Posada and the highway between
that place and PenonOme are under
way. Basket and rope making and
the manufacture of genuine Panama
hats are carried OH in this vicinity.
The port Of Posada will serve as an
outlet for the products of these indus
tries. on the far side of Penonome
the highway will be continued through
mountain passes and over the hills to
the Atlantic.
From the port of Aqua Dulce to the
city of the same name the highway
with its necessary grades and bridges
is practically completed. This route
will be further continued beyond
Aqua Dulce. to the Santa Maria river.
The river is to be spanned by an eX-
tensiye steel bridge, the contract Tor
which has been allotted to an Ameri-
can bridge company.
All new national roads are to be 5O
feet wide, and the highways, as well
as all bridges upon them, are to be
built with a view to the practcability
of paralleling them with narrow-gauge
railways.
Midway between Aqua Dulce and
penonome a site for a model town
has been planned. A public plaza
46O feet square is to be the center oi
the town, and around it Will be
grouped a church, school, government
and municipal buildings and mar
ket The town will be provided with
a complete system of waterworks
electric lights, sewerage and drainage
Recently proposals have been asked
for the construction of a government
palace and national theater In the city
of Panama.