New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-08

thousands who struggle in the oppression OF an
overcrowded country.
However. between the present state OF az
fairs and the goal of this bit of optimism there
stands one gigantic obstacIe-the climate The
one question, Can the faces of the United
States conquer this obstacle, arises in the mind
ahead of all other considerations ana IL is SAFE
to answer. They can.
The authority for the boast that the climate
Of the isthnus will be overcome lies half in pre-
edent and half in the figures OF the engineers
who have laid the plans for the canal In he
first place, it is well known that the exrerrnina-
ton of mosquitoes means the end of yellow
fever and one only needs to glance at the work
that was carried on in Cuba a few years
ago to be convinced that this can be done
The fever conditions IN that island were sucn
that they had come to be considered permanent,
but the famous mosquito brigades' wiped the
disease from the island and left the place clean.
II it was done IN Cuba it can be done In Pan
anna for the conditions are worse Tho
second curse that brands the climate of the
isthmus as unnhabitable for white races is
malaria and this disease is the product OF the
swamps 1t is true that this is an exceedingly
serious proposition but it is. nevertheless, pos
sible to drain the entire zone. and the work OF
doing so is progressing with rapid strides When
swamps are removed all danger from nlaisri1
will be at end.
This summary of the climatic conditions Of
Panama shows that the place is not TO be locked
upon as a pest hole. to be Stunned by white
men now and forever. but rather to be de-
veloped and made a credit to the government
that has undertaken the task. This is, OF course.
looking a good way into the future. but the
glance is worth while The influx OF the Rus
slams is an omen that the hoped for result will
be obtained In addition t65being the steadiest
and most valuable class of men who have thrust
their spades into the ditch. they are practical
farmers That alone is sufficient guarantees for
their future. They known to be peaceful
and thrifty and their short residence on the
isthmus demonstrates that they are clean and
have a tendency to keep their surroundings IN
the best of sanitary condition. As evidence OF
the thrift that characterized them in their native
land. practically all of them have little money
saved With this as capital they intend 10
make their futures
ut is our desire" said linen Rolofvitch. a
tall. staIwart fellow, who seemed to be a sort
of leader speaking through an interpreter. to
add a little to our savings BY working on the
canal and then return to our former agricultural
pursuits somewhere off of the line" And this
utterance was characteristic Of each individual
in the colony.
The plan seems a good one, and there IL little
to hinder them in their efforts Public lands are
abundant throughout the zone and the repub-
| lie, 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. All of this land is rich beyond COM
| pare Almost any vegetable will thrive in il.
| The fruit industry viii probably remain the
| chief occupation, but there fortunes to BIS
| made in rubber and Truck gardens ara
now almost unknown, the. few that do exist
being conducted by the Cseese on the rolling
country on the peninsula across the bay to the
north from the city of Panama. The supply is
| inadequate. with the result that the principal
| diet of the country is meat That in itself is
! sufficient to cause sickness among Northerners
| in a warm, humid climate. but it is inpossibs
| to secure sufficient fresh vegetables at the pres
| ent time thus leaving great field to be de-
| yeIoped by small farmers.