The Elbert County tribune., 1911-10-06

schedule time of 80 hours between Panama and
David and an extension OF the to Punta
Arenas, Costa Rica
1t 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 ttoraI
of Panama at which vessels approach the
shore at low tide. This is hole about eight
miles from Divala. 1t is sheltered by the pro-
montory of Punta Burica and thus lies in nat
ural harbor. port could easily be established
at Chorca Azul blue Pool" the sea hole in
question is called. and 1t would become the out
let for the exports of the Divala country and a
point at which steamers could call without any
unusual delay.
railroad has been surveyed from Panama to
David and Will without doubt be constructed in
the near future. 1t is probable that this line will
ultimately be extended to 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 5000 head all told
In Panama. Six or eight large ranches will ac-
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 to the canal commission the
markets of Colon and Panama. as well as to the
depot of the United Fruit company at Bocas del
Toro. This concern has tried Intellectually to con-
tract with ranch owners of Chiriqui for 200 head
a month. About two years ago n representative
of a packing company went through the province
with view to determining whether 1t would be
feasible to establish a packing house there to
supply the cannedbeef trade of the west coast of
South America. He soon determined that the
available cattle would 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 acre of its potrero will fatten steer where
as three acres of western grazing land is re-
quired to support 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 llanos are the public commons" upon
which any man is free to range his stock Prob
ably 10000 head In herds seldom exceeding l5
are pastured these plains through the rainy
months. during which the herbage is ample to
keep the animals in good condition. though not
sufficient to fatten them.
The llanos open grazing lands are not sale
able nor alienable in any manner There would
be no inducement to purchase llano except in the
case OF a large cattle owner who might design to
range cattle In connection with potrero fatteu-
ing. after the present method of our western coun
try. Such man would require large extent of
commons for his purposes. The only land
worth having that is purchasable from the govern
ment is that covered with monte" The reason
for this is that wherever there is sufficient mos.
ture to make the land cultivable such heavy
growth will be found The lano occurs where
the interval between streams is unusually great
and the land depends entirely upon rainfall for
Its moisture. In that 1t will support none but
the scantiest vegetation In the dry season Crops
could be raised on such ground satisfactorily only
through the agency OF irrigation.