The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-02-02
FOOD FOR CANAL DIeeERs.

III Panama Is to be made sufficiently
productive OF food to provide for the
thirty thousand canal dfgsars. this
must be accomplished by others than
the Panamanians. This Is the conclu.
sion of the experts recently sent there
by the Department OF Agriculture to
study farming conditions. They Will
shortly Issue report upon the oppor-
tunittes In farming which that country.
offers to settlers and the pracucabllIty
of the establishment OF government
farms for the supply OF Uncle SANS
employees.
Discussing the chances for farm set
tiers, one OF the experts said that
there was a market for products I'M
e1ualled in this country. Practically
all Of the food OF the Americans work.
ing upon the canal is canned or cold
storage, and this diet Is beginng to tell
upon them, not only in their energy.
but In the apathy with which they face
vegetables tinctured with tin and
meats that even though garnishet
with highly seasoned sauces. have tao
suggestive, ghost-lilie taste OF prescrv-
intives. A good idea of their eagcrness
for real tunbenzoated food Is the price
they Willingly pay for fresh milk
from thirty to fifty cents quart.
OF course the men now there will
return when the canal Is completed.
but IT will be necessary always to
maintain a large operating force there
and the canal itself will mean large
growth In population. just as at Sucz.
s There now seems every probability
that the zone will be garrisoneI.
Though the ground Is rough and bro
ken. there Is little soil erosion. and
the climatic conditions make up for
the difficulties In cultivation. A stick
sawed OF and stuck In the ground
would almost take root and grow. or
course some experimentation In tho
vegetables and grains which are best
suited5;to the region would be ncces.
1 sary. but 1t Is probable that the Agrl.
cultural Department will establish ''ex.
pertinent gardens there which would
aid the farmer Immensely.
BY far the greatest difficulty which
the settler would encounter Is the 10.
1 Dor problem: Though 1t is hard thing
for thc American to understand. the
average Pananianian Is not strong
enough to make good farm hand. AS
the natives In Panama are not bother.
ed with thcE high cost of living they
are content to depend for sustenance
upon a halfAcre = tract where there
Y grows In, snlte of his likeness. great
variety OF tropical fruits and few
kinds OF grain. By&occasionally sell.
: Ing q little of these he. is able to buy
/. enough clothes and almost. enough
rum to satisfy himself. For the! rest
OF! the time he Tolls around In pair
I OF: II rousers and "a siln-tanned. back
dreaming great things and seeking
Il greatness by throwing salt on the tail
ot progrcss.;ss!' a 3;
When the canal Ii finished the West
Indian llbcrers Will doubtless I'LL III
the. holes in the labor market. as most
ofsthenl will he Obliged to remain
there because they have not snved III
"A enough to get back home. They make
willing. ifS5notd over-lntelligent farm
/ hands. 1
Taking tall In ail,r3slld one OF the
experts. there. Is n good opening there
for the man who will stick and--wht
likes that kInil or d climate. There
Y are goo,l many Americans there now
v who have been In the, tropics for ter
or twenty years. and who have no de
sire to return ITO the north. Malaria
55is about tho worst {buEbear, Som,
} men 1T lays out Completely !. while 9th