CHAPTER III

THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA

Canal Entrance--Colon in Architectural Transformation--Unchanging Climate--Historic Waterway Routes--Columbus and the Early Explorers--Darien and San Blas--East and West Directions--Life along the Railway--Chagres River and Culebra Cut--Three Panamas--Pacific Mouth of the Canal--Functions of the Republic--Natural Resources--Agriculture and Timber--Road-building--United States Authority on the Zone--Labor and Laborers--Misleading Comparisons with Cuba--The First Year’s Experience 37