Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-01-14
IT IS NOT UTOPIA
Day Dreams About Panama Is
DiSpeIIed.
Government Agent Warns Young Men
Who Want to Go South-TeIIs of
Danger in Seeking Opportuni-
ties in Central America.

Tics III 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 sort of ideal place, where the gov
eminent will in some way guarantee
every man 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 opportuni-
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 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
ncnt 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 eff
fects may be brought in free of duty,
! the problem of clearing and putting
the land in cultivation is a serious one
and calls for considerable money.
| Moreover, there must be a reserve to
support the developer until his land
produces something besides a weekly
payroll"
Mr. Harris says banana farming re-
Quires a tremendous outlay, for bana-
mas grow best only in the tropical jun
gle at practical sea level and a 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 filed 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
| billy 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 a 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 on a long chance
without any or all Of these equipments,
but most especially money, will regret
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