The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-11-09
Ao CODUZ6YW Czl1ZGZU (ooS

schedule time OF 30 hours between Panama and
David. and an extension OF the run to Punta
Arenas. Costa Rica.
II is needless to say that after the opening OF
the Panama canal the facilities OF Chiriquian prod
ucts for water transportation will be greatly in
creased
There Is but point upon the Pacific nttora
OF Panama at which vessels can approach the
shore at low tide. This is a hole about eight
miles from Divala II is sheltered by the pro-
montory OF Punta Burica and thus lies in a nat
ural harbor A port could easily be established
at Chorca Azul or blue Pool" the hole in
question Is called. and II would become the out
let for the exports OF the Divala country and
point at which steamers could call without any
unusual delay.
A railroad has been surveyed from Panama to
David and will without doubt be constructed in
the near future It is probable that this line will
ultimately be extended 10 Bocas del Toro on the
Atlantic coast.
Stock raising is the principal Industry OF Chi
riqui, and there are in the province more cattle
than In all the rest OF the republics territory.
There cannot be more than 10000 head all told,
In Panama. Six or eight large ranches will
count for nearly half the number the remainder
being scattered In small ownership.
The domestic supply OF beef falls far short OF
the demand Large quantities shipped from
the United States 20 the canal commission the
markets Of Colon and Panama as well to the
depot OF the United Fruit company az Bocas del
Toro. This concern has tried Intellectually TO
tract wi;h ranch owners OF Chiriqui for 200 head
a month About two years hgo a representative
Of a packing company went through the province
with view to determining whether II would be
feasible TO establish a packing house there to
supply the oanned.beef trade OF the west coast OF
South America. lie determined that the
available cattle would not keep a small factory
running constantly.
Nevertheless, there is land in the republic that
would sustain 100000 head OF cattle. There is
no better country for economical cattle raising
One OF its potrero will fatten a steer where
three acres OF western grazing land is re-
quired to support one But the soil OF Panama
has not yet been touched by plow and although
cattle raising is the most advanced OF the coun-
try's industries, the scope for improvement In the
methods OF conducting 1t is extremely great.
The lhnos are the public commons" upon
which any man Is free to range his stock. Prob
ably 10000 head in herds seldom exceeding is,
arc pastured on these plains through the rainy
months, during which the herbage is ample 10
keep the animals I'm good condition, though not
sufficient to fatten them.
The llanos or open grazing lands are not sale
able, nor alenable in any manner There would
be no inducement 20 purchase llano, Hcept In the
case OF a large cattle owner who might design TO
range cattle In connection with potrero fatten.
ing. after the present method OF our western coun.
try. Such man would require a large extent OF
commons" for his purposes The only land
worth having that is purchasable from the govern
mont Is that covered with monte" The reason
for this Is that wherever there is sufficient mois.
ture 10 make the land cultiyable such heavy
growth viii be found. The llano occurs where
The interval between streams is unusually great
and the land depends entirely upon rainfall for
its moisture. In that It win support none but
the Ecantiest vegetation In the dry season Crops
could be raised on such ground satisfactorily ouly
through the agency Of irrigation.