PREFACE THE Construction of the Canal recently entered upon its final stage. Up to this time the plans have been frequently changed; but it is hardly possible that any important modifications can be made in future. The present, therefore, appears to be a peculiarly appropriate time to publish an account of the work which has been done and a description of the plans upon which it will be finished. In the past few years a widespread interest in the country of Panama has been evinced and capital, in constantly increasing volume, has turned to it as a field for investment. In the section of the book devoted to the interior I have given an account of the resources of this little known region, derived from careful personal investigation and information gained from experts. In this volume I employ the word "Panaman" in place of "Panamanian." The latter, although it has the endorsement of Amer ican officials, is a clumsy and unscholarly construction. There is no more ground for it than there would be for "Americanian," or "Can adanian." I acknowledge with sincere thanks my indebtedness to Colonel Goethals and several members of his staff for numerous courtesies and facilities extended to me in examining the work. I have always found the Commission willing to afford every assistance to investigators, -even though they approached the task in an inimical spirit, and to furnish them with all the information and material available. I wish also to acknowledge the courtesy of the War Department in permitting the use by me of the Department's new official map of the Republic of Panama. The pleasure of my visit to Chiriqui was largely due to the kind attentions of Don Lorenzo Obaldia, for whom I shall always entertain a feeling of warm regard. F. L. V. THE TRANSFER OF THE CANAL LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE 1 THE ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION (See page 142) Frontispiece FOREBAY AND LIFT SILL, LOOKING SOUTH, FROM EAST 220 32 46 ROCK CHANNELER at WORK IN UPPER MIRAFLORES LOCK 62 NEGRO QUARTERS, COLON 74 THE SLIDE AT CULEBRA, OCT. 16, 1909 83 A GROUP OF NATIVES 98 MAP OF THE CANAL ZONE 110 LIFT SILL AND FOREBAY, LOOKING SOUTH, FROM WEST Wall, Gatun LOCKS, FEB. 1, 1910 . 110 CROSS SECTION OF PEDRO MIGUEL LOCK, SHOWING Lateral CULVERT FORMS IN PLACE, JAN. 5, 1910 118 |