The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02

In these TWO cities one finds little
that is American Each has a branch
OF the International Banking Corpora
ton OF New York. managed by AIneri-
cans. Panama has a large Arm OF
American contractors a firm OF den
lists, OF lawyers and a handful OF
business enterprises for the most part
small
An American doctor Is the head of
the local hospital (San Tomas Hos
p!taD. one must hunt for most of
these Americans in a city that 10 Latin
American in speech. customs and ira
ditions. There is an American tram
line backed by American capital
Colon has an American trading firm
dealing largely in lumber and cocoa
nuts.
Judging from these cities one
would say, II there ia any Amer
lean activity in Panama II must
be out IN tho country. But
aside from the extensive banana plan
ta,ions OF the United Fruit Company
az Bocas del Toro. on the Atlantic side
with a good sized American staff. thor
ough search reveals little American
activity. As TO Just what ia being done
nv other interests. quote from per
sonal letter 10 me from :. l.. Farwell
OF Boston. whom | consider one OF the
hest posted men in the United states
on Panaman industries.
The Pacific coast OF Panama, by
reason OF !ts more comfortable CHI
mate. .s likely TO prove the most at
tract!ve TO Americans As we'll AZ
others, both foreign and native, and Il
IL on this coast that the greatest gen
! eral development Is likely 70 be found.
An American runs line Of small!
| boats from Panama city to Pacific
ports Of Panama, carrying cargo and
passengers and doing Trading bust
nees. In Chiriqui Province, near the
Costa Rlcan border, the Panama Gov
! eminent is building hftv-two mile
electric railroad, to connect David and
several small interior towns with the
seaport town Of Pedregal. A local
American contracting firm Is doing
the work There are already few
American ranchers IN this district,
which on the lowlands - noted for
cattle raising and higher up, back
from the coast. for its fine coffee.
| ION the Pacific coast between Pau
anna city and the Costa Rlcan border
AT various points are found number
| o, Americans engaged IN coconnut
| missing on a considerable scale. An
American company (Roston) is plant
/ ing 1000 acrcs TO this fruit. Another
/ is planting 800 acres and there are
] several others smaller. Americans are
also planting cocoanuts on IN" Atlantis
coast. one being Philadelphia firm
/ with property near BoCAs del Toro
A cocoauut company owned by local
! capital. largely American, !s being
operated near the san Bias coast
/ which is between Colon and tho Co
lomhinn coast,
THE country ~ the republic r. T-i'
marty agricultural. and cattle raising
in the Ch,riQu. diStrI'' and '"cotnn's
on both coasts are the most !oglcnI
forms Of development. Americans thu'
far are monopolt2inC the latter. ard
likely TO continue to do So for Pan
anna. OF all tropical countries IN the
world, grows the hest and highest
| priced CoCoanuts, and this. coup.ed
with the advantage of traffic condi-
! tions, Ivy reason OF the canal. makes
Il stratcrically the foremost Of a.
countries for this important and
! rapidly increasing industry
This concludes sketch Of Ainert'
can activity IN Panama up 10 the pres
ent time. Better shipping facilities on
the Pacific coast are likely to zee In
creaStng industry on the part OF th'
Americans as we'll as others durins
tho next few years
When in Panama last year ! sVas
impressed with the cocoanut industry
and referred to II In an article which
| mailed from Colon, At that time
knew little about II (ar' know little
more at the present tm"), hut Il ther
seemed To me that th.l was a con,nl
business During tho past twenty
years ] have watched the dcvelopmcr
OF orange groves, rubber plantation.
and the like.
know that most Of those who get
into such things in the early stages
and have sense enough Ia sell out "a!
soon as the INDUSTRY becomes popular
have made considerable money. |
looked to me therefore as # the cocoa
nut industry would have tho sam" gem
eraI history. amt f 50, thcn was t''
time to get IN, S,nCc my visit of =
year ago have studied the industry
with considerable care and am SIN
inclined 10 believe that ctFlan SooI