The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-11-20
GREAT king core IT IS NOT UTOPIA
Day Dreams About Panama Is
DispelIed.
Government Agent Warns Young Men
Who Want to Go South-Telis of
Danger In Seeking opportuni-
ties in Central America.

ties in Central America.
The question as to the opportunities
in Panama and Central and South
America for the young man without
capital is asked hundreds of times
monthly, according to United States
Commercial Agent Garrard Harris.
1t will be asked many times more
now, as the Panama canal nears COM
pletion, Mr.. Harris thinks, since many
young men are figuring vaguely on
going to one of the Central or South
American republics, believing with
pluck and energy they can win out In
spite of all handicaps.
"The impression seems to be-" says
Mr. Harris, that the government
plans either to homestead the ten
mile strip across the isthmus or sell or
lease the land upon such terms as Will
attract immigrants, and that Panama
is a sort of ideal place, where the gov
eminent will in some way guarantee
every man a livelihood, or at least an
| immediate cash market and at top
notch prices for what he can pro-
| duce.
THE fact is there are no opportunl-
ties in any of the Central American
republics for man, either young or
old, who lacks capital. To go there
| without ample resources usually
means an ultimate call on the folks
back home for help to get away, I'M
! less, of course, the person intends to
take up a tract of land and farm it..
| In that event he had better bring his
| labor with him, for lack of labor is
what prevents the more rapid develop.
ment of the entire region from Belize
to Puerto Bello.
While, as a rule, land may be had
cheaply in Central America, except
on the canal zone, and settlers ef-
| fects may be brought in free of duty,
the problem of clearing and putting
the land in cultivation is serious one
and calls for considerable money.
Moreover, there must be reserve to
support the developer until his land
produces something besides a weekly
payroll
Mr.. Harris says banana farming re-
| quires tremendous outlay, for bana-
mas grow best only in the tropical jun
gle at practical sea level and few
hundred feet above. 1t requires,
moreover, a considerable outlay to
clear the land, and year or more
before a cent of revenue may be ex-
| pected. Longer time is required for
| coffee which costs more to establish
than bananas, and takes longer to
come into bearing.
To get out mahogany, cedar. ceibar
and other woods" continues Mr.. Har-
ris, takes capital and equipment. To
develop the mineral resources requires
money and lots of it. There is gold in
most of the Central American coun-
tries, but generally it is not of the free
milling sort Very little placer gold
is found, and there must be stamp
mills and processes to extract it. To
get the silver, lead and other minerals
requires smelters, equipment and
much outlay.
The mercantile field is filled by ma
tive merchants and by Germans and
others who speak the language per
fectly. who have been long in the
countries, and who are familiar with
conditions and customs. There are
more commission men and manufac-
turers' representatives than the
amount of business would seem to
| justify. There is no demand on the
part of native houses for American
help Therefore, without arrange
ments for business connections before
starting, any young man is foolhardy
to venture to these countries expect
ing to find something to do. There are
vastly more chances at home"
With reference to the Panama canal
zone. Mr.. Harris says the average per
son does not realize how broken and
| hilly the land is, and how unsuited to
cultivation.
Except for quarters for the 1000 or
more operatives who will be needed in
connection with the canal and the Pa
mama railroad" continues Mr.. Harris,
"the canal zone will be sort Of mill
tary reservation. This is an especial
ly bad time to go to Panama looking
for opportunities. The bulk of the
| work has been done on the canal and
the canal commission is now gradually
cutting down forces and letting go
competent men who have served in
clerical, operative, mechanical and
other capacities. If there is any
chance for work in the republic of Pa
mama these men will get it.
There are no opportunities for the
man without money, definite aim or
special occupation. Those who go to
| Central America en- long chance
without any or all of these equipments
but most especially money, will regret
| it."