44 2 The National Geographic Magazine 



recently been relocated and are now 

 worked with profit. The crude meth- 

 ods of the Spaniards were only success- 

 ful where the mineral veins were most 

 accessible. The results obtained by the 

 use of modern facilities will surpass 

 those of the original discoverers. Be- 

 cause of the lack of transportation facil- 

 ities, coal and iron have lain undisturbed 

 in the flanks of the hills. A large area of 

 fine woods will become accessible when 

 better communication is established. 

 Cocoanuts, coffee, and rubber grow wild 

 in luxuriance. 



At the base of the hills rolling plains 

 suitable for grazing large herds of cat- 

 tle stretch for miles. Flourishing plan- 

 tations and ranches covered this country 

 until abandoned because of a series of 

 disastrous revolutions. Now, secure of 

 protection and peace and bettered by 

 means of communication, the introduc- 

 tion of capital is certain to be followed 

 by most satisfactory results. 



The Panama government has ap- 

 pointed Vincent Peterson, an American 

 engineer, to take charge of the develop- 

 ment of the interior provinces. Mr 

 Peterson has had much experience in 

 mining, railway, and municipal engi- 

 neering in the United States and Mexico. 

 Last November he came to Panama as 

 assistant engineer to the minister of 

 public works. He has organized the 

 engineering corps of the Republic and 

 surveyed the boundary line between the 

 Canal Zone and the country in the 

 vicinity of Panama. No government 

 undertaking has ever meant so much to 

 the interior of this Republic, whose 

 isolated dwellers are now about to profit 

 by the rich advantages at their com- 

 mand. 



The improvements to the harbor of 

 Puerto Posada and the highway between 

 that place and Penonome are under way. 

 Basket and rope making and the manu- 

 facture of genuine Panama hats are car- 

 ried on in this vicinity. The port of 



Posada will serve as an outlet for the 

 products of these industries. On the 

 far side of Penonome the highway will 

 be continued through mountain passes 

 and over the hills to the Atlantic. 



From the port of Agua Dulce to the 

 •city of the same name the highway, 

 with its necessary grades and bridges, 

 is practically completed. This route 

 will be further continued beyond Agua 

 Dulce to the Santa Maria River. The 

 river is to be spanned by an extensive 

 steel bridge, the contract for which has 

 been allotted to an American bridge 

 company. Beyond the far side of the 

 Santa Maria River the route divides, 

 one branch leading to Chitre, capital of 

 the province of Los Santos, and the 

 other leading toward Santiago, capital 

 of the province of Veraguas. Prelimi- 

 nary surveys of these routes are prac- 

 tically completed. Still another high- 

 way will connect Antom (or Pescaderias) 

 with Agua Dulce, passing through Nata 

 and Pocri and crossing the route which 

 joins Puerto Posada and Penonome, 

 thereby opening the surrounding coun- 

 try to the influence of commerce and in- 

 dustry. 



All these national roads are to be 50 

 feet wide, and the highways, as well as 

 all bridges upon them, are to be built 

 with a view to the practicability of par- 

 alleling them with narrow-gauge rail- 

 ways. 



Midway between Agua Dulce and 

 Penonome a site for a model town has 

 been planned. A public plaza, 460 

 feet square, is to be the center of the 

 town, and around it will be grouped a 

 church, school, government and mu- 

 nicipal buildings, and a market. This 

 town will be provided with a complete 

 system of waterworks, electric lights, 

 sewerage, and drainage. Plans for these 

 works are open for competition. All 

 the necessary preliminaries have been 

 approved by the President of the Re- 

 public. 



