The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-08-01
ADONIS NELSON
WRITES OF THE
PANAMA CANAL
Continued from page one)

The next step toward a waterway
took place In May, 1879. when an
International congress composed of
one hundred and thirty-fiye dele
gates from various nations convened
At Paris under the auspices of Ferdi-
nand de Lesseps, to consider the sit
uation and the ACCESSIBILITY OF con-
structing a canal. 1t was decided at
this assemblage that canal was to
he constructed at Panama which
should be at sea level Immediately
after the adjournment of the con-
gress the Panama Canal company
was organized under the law OF
France and with Lesseps as presi-
dent. By 1886 thirty-one million
pounds had been raised and the work
was under way, but although much
money had disappeared. compare
lively little progress was made for
miscalculation and inefficiency adj
ded to the hideous greed of adven-
turers caused the attempt in 1888 TO
Increase the capital to end in a fail
ufe. Then reports of bribery and
corruption filled the air and in its
course, many men of high standing
we're brought into the conflagration. |
After an unsuccessful effort to form (
q new company, the original corpora
pending both payment and operation
In 1889. Later a new company was
organized out of the ruins of the old,
but things never seemed to get in
running order again.
In passing | could not help but
take time to think about and just
mention here how Nicaragua resen-
ted the interference of foreigners up
on her soil and how little pleased
the United Staes was to have the
Monroe doctrine trampled upon. In
all the muddle of organized and un-
organized diplomacy, Panama broke
away from the Nicaraguan govern
ment and set herself up as a separ-
ate republic and was soon after
wardsrecognized by our country as ,
al independent power. This move
on the part of the United States was
very much criticised at the time, )
however be that as 1t may such a
proceeding facilitated the speedy
construction OF this great water con-
netcion. 1t was after number of .
treaties and negotiations that work
was finally commenced under the
auspices Of the U. S. Corps of Engi-
neers during the Roosevelt admins
tration and the placing OF G. w.
Goethals chief and chairman as sue
cessor to j. F. Stevens.
Panama they say the word means
"a place of many fishes" but there
is some dissension about the exact
derivation of the name of the now
severed Isthmus. Indeed dissen-
s:ons. qnarrels, wars and massacres
have been the prime characteristics
Of Panama for four hundred years.
One writer whom l read recently
suggests that it be called "a place of
many battles.' This has more fit
ing significance it would seem, for
his tiny spot where man has been
Icing ceaseless battle with man
ince history rose to record such
conflicts
One would think and naturally
oppose that 1t would IKE day and
maybe longer for all these thoughts
f history and otherwise to appear,
eappear and flash before my eyes,
nd | confess that all the details |
ave here related andtried to set
orth did not come to me as | stood
IA deck watching the easy-going ne
TO crew come on board to take
barge OF the ship during her voy-
&c towards the Pacific. These col
red folk are government employees
tho take entire control of all YES
els during the whole trip from one
cean to the other.
The anchor of the good ship
noonland was drawn from the
reenish water and at seven-thirty OF h
lovely tropical morning we SLOWLY
.arted and continued at the same
lail's pace through a narrow chan
ell with very dense tropical vegeta-
on of amazing exuberance and va
ETY. on either side coming down to -
lie very waters edge. Even the q.
,cky headlands which can be seen %~
the distance are clothed with ver- He
are to their SUBMITS. Such foliage flc
ould be expected in places of high rs
mperature and great precipitation. FIJI
was told by a person who had spent nc:
me time in these jungles that run for
ng waters disappear beneath a boz
'nse tangle of overhanging branch moi
(; thailing or climhinb parasites. -
ems. snags and matted vegetation
all descriptions. I viii just sub I
it some of the animals names
hich | have heard infest this re-
on, but as you already know your {
n is not versed nor is he an au
GRITTY on zoology, mammalogy or
analogy or whatever such a stu
is called. so of course he cannot
cling or vice versa of these very
common designations placed np-
the fauna Of Central America
ST sidewise glance at the follow
:, species of monkey called the
rysathrix. tapirs. peccaries, pu-
s, jaguars, alligators, ant-eaters.
mbing porcupines, iguanas, deer,
npires and the rest and etc.
] leave to your extended study of
subject should you wish to make A
II seemed obvious as we continued
drift. ! could not cali our slow
ton sail, that here the two oceans
merly communicated through
eral channels and that Panama
e other parts of the country there
outs, constituted an insular chain, -
ich has since been merged in con
uous land partly by volcanoic and
'tly by meteoric agencies.
uld say that we glided smoothly of
ng in this fashion for nearly five
eS with nothing TO mar the same