ring for Time" at Panama-"Do It Now!"-Arrest of Colombian

Generals-Action of the Gunboats-Declaration of Panaman

Independence Organisation of a Provisional Government-

Soldiers Stranded at Colon-United States Protection of Pan-

ama-Departure of the Colombian Troops-Recognition of the

New Republic-Colombian Protests-Mission of General Reyes-

His Extraordinary Proposal-Constitutional Progress at Panama 150

CHAPTER XI

AMERICAN POLICY IN PANAMA

Criticisms of American Action-Justification of Our Policy-The

Orders to American Ships-Treaty Rights and Obligations-Pro-

priety of Recognising Panama-The Domestic Obligations of

the President-Legal Obligations to Colombia-Annals of Isth-

mian Outbreaks-Colombia's Inability to Govern Panama-Pro-

tection of Isthmian Transit-A Covenant that "Ran with the

Land"-Equity to Colombia-Colombia's Own Inequity-No

Analogy with Our Civil War-Law and Equity to Other Na-

tions-No Dog-in-the-Manger Policy-"International Eminent

Domain"-Good Faith of the American Policy

CHAPTER XII

THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Constitutional Convention-Adoption of a Constitution-Salient

Features of that Instrument-The Legislature-The Executive-

The Judiciary-Miscellaneous Provisions-Organisation of the

Permanent Government-A Non-Partisan Régime-The Flag-

Coinage-An Endowed Republic-The Canal Treaty-Diplomatic

Relations with the United States-Area and Bounds of the Re-

public-Its Physical Features-Description of the Coasts-

Chiriqui Lagoon-Colon-The Bay of Panama-The Pearl

Islands-Principal Cities of the Republic-The Line of the

Railroad and Canal-Features of the Canal Route-Earth-

quakes The Climate-Temperature-Humidity-Tropical Con-

ditions at Their Best

CHAPTER XIII

AN ANTI-REVOLUTIONARY EPISODE

Development of Partisanship-Inclinations toward Military Revolu-
tions-General Huertas's Demand for the Resignation of

187

209

Cabinet Ministers-An Amazing Letter-Threatening the Presi-

dent-Appeal to the American Legation-Mr. Lee's Discreet

Advice A Significant Reminder-Keeping the Peace on a

Holiday--General Huertas's "Order of the Day"-Another Rail-

ing Letter A Critical Review of the Army-Action and Advice

of the American Minister-Warships in the Harbour and Marines

in the Suburbs-Resignation of General Huertas-Disbandment

of the Army-The Crisis Safely Passed

CHAPTER XIV

A MISSION OF READJUSTMENT

Panaman Discontent with an American Executive Order-The Postal

and Customs Services Involved-Diplomatic Correspondence-

Secretary Taft's Mission-Pensacola and Its Memories-Recep-

tion at Panama-American Intentions Promptly Stated-Dip-

lomatic Conferences-A Notable Banquet-American and

Panaman Speechmaking-Excursion to the Pearl Islands-

Announcement of the Result of the Negotiations-The New

Executive Order-Gratification of the Panamans-Secretary

Taft's Address to the People-Interest in President Roosevelt's

Reëlection-Net Result of the Mission-Permanence of the

Settlement

PAGE

238

. 256

CHAPTER XV

ISTHMIAN POLITICS

The Old Colombian Spirit not Dead-Dr. Porras and the Revolution

-The Rise of a Partisan Opposition-Dr. Porras's Citizenship

Impeached-Railings against the Court's Judgment-Memorial

of the Liberal Directorate to Secretary Taft—A Bitter Arraign-

ment of the Panaman Government-Inquiries as to the Intentions

of the United States-Exaggerations of Partisan Campaign

Utterances-A Conservative Reply-American Policy Well

Defined

CHAPTER XVI

BEGINNING THE WORK

The Canal the Thing-Its Construction at last Assured-Delusions
Concerning the "Mighty Mountain Wall" of the Cordilleras-
No Barrier to a Sea-Level Canal-What We Secured from the
French Company-The First Canal Commission-The President's

269

Orders-Government of the Canal Zone-Organisation of the

Commission-Governor Davis's Proclamation-Engineering Work

-Wallace Made Chief Engineer Organisation of His Staff-

Thoroughness of the Preliminary Surveys-The Gatun, Bohio,

and Gamboa Dams-The Culebra Cut-New Steam-Shovels-

Four Plans of Construction Considered-The Sea-Level Plan

Decidedly Favoured-Plans of Philippe Bunau-Varilla, Lindon

W. Bates, and Cassius E. Gillette-Arguments in Favour of a

Sea-Level Cut-The Questions of Earthquakes, the Chagres,

Cost, and Time

PAGE

280

CHAPTER XVII

REORGANISATION

Dissatisfaction with the Commission-Too Much Red Tape and

Delay-Recommendations for Reorganisation-Failure of Con-

gress to Act-The President's Action-A New Commission

Formed-The Executive Committee-The President's Rules for

the Conduct of the Commission-A Promise of Increased Effi-

ciency-The Question of Purchasing Supplies in the Cheapest

Market-Secretary Taft's Business-like Policy-Protests of the

"Stand-Patters"-Purchase of All the Panama Railroad Stock

by the Government-Mr. Bristow's Report on Traffic-Chief

Engineer Wallace's Resignation-Its Circumstances and Causes-

Interview between Messrs. Taft and Wallace-Their Statements

about It-A Painful Episode-Appointment of John F. Stevens

as Chief Engineer-The Board of Consulting Engineers-The

President's Instructions-Two Reports on Plan of Construction—

The Majority for a Sea-Level Canal-The Chief Engineer's Re-

port-Action of the Canal Commissioners and the Secretary

of War The President's Recommendation for a High-Level

Lock Canal-The Final Decision by Congress

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FIGHT WITH FEVER

Progress of Medical Science-Vital Statistics of the French Canal
Company-Reappearance of Yellow Fever at Panama-Demoral-
isation of the American Colony-Neglect of Precautions-Mis-
takes of Our Government-Vigorous Action Taken by Governor
Magoon-Some Orders that Meant Business-Difficulties in the
Way of Sanitation-Thorough Inspection and Disinfection—
The War against Mosquitoes-Admirable Work of Colonel

. 297

Gorgas-Gradual Suppression of the Disease-Its Complete
Elimination-A Reward Offered for the Reporting of a Case
-Healthfulness of Panama Compared with Other Places-
Social Improvements The Problem of Feeding the Workmen
-Governor Magoon's Commissary System-Suppression of
Gambling-The Eight-Hour Law and the Civil Service

CHAPTER XIX

STULTILOQUENTIA

The Tribe of Gifted Hopkins Not Extinct-A Political Propagandist

at Bogotá―Seeking a Mare's Nest on the Isthmus—Adding to the

Joy of Nations A Misinterpreted Metaphor-Foolish Com-

plaints at Culebra-A Sample of Descriptive Balderdash—A

Libel upon the Isthmus and Its People-Poultney Bigelow's

Encyclopædic Researches in Twenty-Eight Hours and Ten Min-

utes The Facts in the Case-Mr. Stevens's Comprehensive Con-

tradictions-Governor Magoon's Effective Reply-Probable

Animus of Mr. Bigelow's Outbreak-His Railings to Aliens

against the American Army-President Roosevelt on False

Accusers

PAGE

326

. 340

CHAPTER XX

THE NEXT THING

The Task at Panama Well Begun-Need of Considering the Future—

Plan of the Canal and Auxiliary Works The Question of

Labour-A Great Army of Workmen Needed-Permanent Colo-

nists also Needed-Can the Two be Combined?-Permanent

Chinese Immigration Undesirable-Negro Colonisation to be

Deprecated-Russians and Boers Suggested but not Available—

The Country Unsuited to American Labour-Possibility of Secur-

ing Spanish and Italian Workingmen-Chinese Contract Labour

as a Last Resource, to be Sent Back when the Work is Done-

American Relations with the Panaman Government and People-

Sensitiveness of the Isthmians-Tact the Supreme Desideratum

of Americans in Dealing with Southern Neighbours-The Point

of View-Panama to Remain Panaman, and not to be Made

American-No More "Damned Greasers" than "Damned

Yankees"-Need of Radical Improvement in Our Trade

Methods-The Future of Isthmian Sanitation

352

Some Fascinating Memories-The Approach by Way of Colon-

A Dismal Spot-Beauties and Splendours of Isthmian Land-

scapes-Fertile but Little Cultivated Lands-Agricultural and

Other Possibilities-Scenes in the Villages-The Streets of Pan-

ama as They Were-The Parks and Buildings-The Old Sea

Wall-The Seamy Side of Panama-Vice-Absence of Drunken-

ness- -An "Orgy" at State Expense-Open-Air Concerts-A

Sunday in Panama-Business and Shopping-The Thrifty Land-

lord-Cab Fares and Hotel Bills-Traditions of "Graft”—

Courteous and Cultivated Society-A Cosmopolitan Menu—

Panama as a World's Highway-Some Suggestive Measure-

ments-A Prophetic Vision

PAGE

370

APPENDICES

I. THE NEW GRANADAN TREATY OF 1846

II. THE CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY

III. THE HAY-PAUNCEFOTE TREATY

IV. THE SPOONER BILL

V.

PANAMA'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDECE

VI. THE HAY-BUNAU VARILLA TREATY

VII. THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION TO THE CANAL ZONE

391

393

. 398

. 400

405

. 408

VIII. THE FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

IX. THE PANAMAN PROTEST

X. THE REVISED EXECUTIVE ORDER

XI. DATA OF EXISTING SHIP CANALS

INDEX