The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-06-14
MAKE MONEY IN PANAMA
4. G. Balm GETS $3.50 PER MONTH
AND HOUSE.
FORMER NORFOLK RAlLRoAoER

Mr.. Balm Says the Panama Canal Is a
Much More Gigantic Proposition
Than He Had Ever lmaglned--Will
Be Years Before II is Finished.
N A. Rainbolt of this city has just
received the following very interesting
letter from II. G. Balm, formerly well
known Norfolk citizen and a promi-
nent conductor on the Northwestern
system while here, who recently went
to the Canal Zone to accept a position
~ conductor on the government rail-
road in that region:
Culebra, Canal Zone, May 19.-Mr
n. A. Rainbolt, Norfolk, Neb: Dear
sir and friend.--l arrived here March
1 and have found the situation much
better than | anticipated. ! had a
very pleasant trip from New York to
Colon, seven days on the steamer Ad-
vance. Colon is just at the entrance
Of the canal and is composed princi-
pally of negroes and Panamaians.
Cristobal, a suburb of Colon, Is com
posed of Americans and Is very fine
place. The front street is about four
feet above the level of the sea and is
and Is lined on each side with cocoa
nut palms. The general physical con-
dition of the isthmus Is very rough and
reminds one of broken mountain
range The highest elevation is not
over 800 or 400 feet and are covered
with ali kinds of foliage. Bananas and
oranges grow in abundance and they
are certainly of the best quality.
Culebra, where | am stationed, is
one of the highests points in the zone
and | believe one of the busiest as
well, as this is where the largest cut
, of the canal is being made.
The vastness OF this canal PROPOSE
ton is beyond the imagination of any
one who has not seen it, and | guess
those who have, also. One of the most
serious propositions that the govern
; ment has to contend with no wis the
dam that they are trying to build al
Gatun. This is to dam the Chagies
river and is to be one of the largest
dams in the world. 1t seems they are
unable to find a solid foundation upor
' which to place the masonry and viii
. have to go at least 200 feet through
black mud and there is no certainty
of solid bottom at that depth. | thinl
1t will be a good many years before
the Atlantic squadron will pass through
: this canal. 1t is amazing the amount
of French machinery that is standing
y along the canal and just rusting down
Il 1t makes no difference which wa!
you look, you can see excavations
. engines, cars pontoon bridges and ev
= cry kind of machinery imaginable
u Lots of 1t has never been used but ha
- been standing so long out in the wealth
u err that it is absolutely useless now
We are using a good many of thei
u locomotives and cars.
We are having fine weather nov
but it will not last much longer as tn
( rainy season will commence about tn
first of May. 1t is not so warm as
expected to find it here. There is al
ways nice cool breeze at night. Yo,
u always want blanket over you.
D suppose you will hardly believe m
when l tell you | have only seen on
= mosquito since | have been here.
u tried to kill that one but it got away
| have taken one trip out through tn
3 jungles to a native town. 1t was abOu
% fifteen miles out but was well wort
u the ride as one could see the way ma
e tives live and | never saw so man
oranges in my life as on this trip. TIL
y trees were just bending with them an
u it was there | picked my first orange
II and you bet | did the subject justice.
y like it very we'll here but of cours
!. will be better satisfied when | get m
u family here, which will be before S
Il very long.
think this is a good place for an
young man who has to depend upo
10 manual labor for his living as tn
wages are very good and l think tina
81 if one can keep his health for five @
six years he can leave here with
&c goodly amount of cash. | received a
increase of $40 per month in my wage
since | came, to take effect May
T This makes for me $3.50 per month an
\ living quarters free, house furnishe
| complete with furniture, electric light
BATH etc, and fuel brought to you
door, Respectfully,
IS H. G. Balm