New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-21

PANAMA. the C1edtlOL', De9' y,,,
and Resurrection. BY Philippe Bunau-
Varlla. With maps, plans, lIustt tsc
tions and appendices. Svo, PIP. Xxx, 900.
London: Constable co.
Panama means VI. Bunau-Narilla.
That is quite clear. incidentally various
other more or less distinguished gentle
men have been subordinately asso-
ciated with the canal enterprise from
the DAYS of Cortez down. But all were
tributary to him. In token of which,
behold this handsome, big volume, with
its more than 800 pages Of sententious
grandiloquence quite in the style oil
Victor Hugo describing the Battle OF
Waterloo He who runs may read, and
he who reads must he convinced.
BY way Of preparation for NJ. Bunau-
Vanilla. France was the first 10 select
the Panama route. as far back as 1886.
We have heard tales, from Gomara'
Galvano and others, Of the selection of
that route 10y Cortoz and his cousin
Saavedra Ceron: of Sharpe and Wafer,
and the famous William Paterson at
Caledonian Bay. near by; of Milla, Of
Lloyd and Falcmar and also of one
Alexander Won Humboldt, all Of whom
long before 1886 dwelt upon the SUI
preme advantages Of Panama. Also
we recall that that somewhat eminent
Frenchman, Louis Napoleon, was abso-
lutely and enthusiastically committed
10 the Nicaragua route. That, however
by the way. The essential fact is that
France. under the lead Of Ferdinand
de Lesseps. did actually begin canal
construction at Panama, and did far
greater amount and better quality OF
work there than she has commonly
been credited with since the dcbGc'c of
the original canal company.
The rivalry between Panama and
Nicaragua continued, however until NJ.
Bunau-V arilla himself ended II by sign
ing the protocol Of exchange Of raufica-
ton Of the Hay Bunau-Narilla treaty
in 1904. But long before that NJ.
Bunau-Varilla was practically the
whole thing at Panama. In 1880 ne
was inspired by De Lesseps, and in
1884 he resolved TO devote his life TO
the Panama Canal. In the fall OF the
latter wear he went 10 the Isthmus as
engineer. From that momentous epoch
we date the story Of Panama. 1t was
he who devised the only plans that
could be successful. II was he who
traced the programme. which was TO
transform into a fact what had been
up to that day mere chimerical hope
He was twenty-siX years old and ne
was general manager Of the enterprise
but far from feeling weighed down by
this new high responsibility, he felt
positively relieved. Not even the aWful
ravages Of fever, which killed % per
cent Of the employees in six months
could daunt him. on the contrary the
danger exalted his energy. He was
filled with the heroic Joy Of self-sacri-
flee for the greatness Of France.
Presently he tackled and solved the
problem Of the Culebra cut, which was
esteemed the crux Of the whole work
This was completely in hand at the
end of 1888. The victory over nature
was final. It was the second eXcep-
tional service by which ! had marked
nv connection with the creation OF the
canal" All other problems were STINT
larly disposed Of. and everything was
I'm condition 10 permit Of our looking
forward to the opening Of the canal
before December 81. 1891. There was
no further risk TO run. All obstacles
had been overthrown." And then
alas. something happened. 1t will be
interesting to know now, for the hrs'
time. what it was that brought dis
aster 10 the French enterprise. 1t was
not an engineering difficulty; NJ
Bunau-Varilla had looked out for that
II was not the wholesale ravages OF
disease and death; these merely en-
couraged the survivors. 1t was not
gross extravaganza. jobbery and
graft; for according TO NJ. Bunau-
Vanilla. there were none; the whole
enterprise was conducted with fine
economy and integrity. No. but the
whole trouble. which defeated even the
efforts Of NJ Bunau-Varilla, was in ar
error Of judgment in organizing the
lotteries through which money was tf
be raised for the canal The amount
needed was S144, 100000 of which S24,'
100000 would go for prizes, ETC., leav-
ing S12O,OOO,OOO net for the canal
which was enough 10 finish it. Hitherto
the French pubic had been contribut-
ing about $30O00.000 a year, and they
would doubtless have kept on at that
rate had the amount been asked for in
instruments But on the advice OF the
chief bankers II was decided 10 seek
the whole amount in a lump. The
result was that the loan failed. In NJ.
Bunau- Varilla's dramatic phrases:
The period Of creation ended sudden
ly as the day of apotheosis was dawn
ing. The period Of savage destruction
was soon to begin"
We cannot here follow NJ. Bunau-
Varilla through all the fascinating
story Of his personal achievements.
With Caius OF Corioli he might well
exclaim: Alone l did It" 1t was he
who lectured to innumerable American
audiences TO create an intelligent OPP
position TO the inimical Nicaragua