Published in 1913, Panama and the Canal in Picture and Prose tells the story of Panama, and the building of the Panama Canal. It is a story of early explorers, and discoveries, of peoples, and politics, and an incredible amount of simple human spirit, ingenuity, hard work, planning, and desire.
As the title implies, this book is loaded with pictures; primarily photographs, however there are line drawings, and tables, and sketches, etc. There are over 400 pages of text, and over 600 pictures. Pictures are viewed along with their associated text, if any, and can me enlarged for better viewing. All of the pictures can also be viewed as slideshows. There are even some color plates that depict the unparalleled beauty of Panama.
Commentary:
Until I read the story of the building of the Panama Canal, I had no real appreciation for the grand accomplishment that it was, and still is, 92 years after completion. In MY modern, 21st Century world, where I see small mountains leveled in a matter of weeks, I didn't realize that even in this day and age, the building of such a canal would still be a monumental task.
The American building of the Canal began in 1904, and was officially completed in August of 1914. Unlike a modern 'retrospective history' of the canal, this book is actually gives a truer, more modern view of the effort, in that familiar post-Victorian, matter-of-fact, view of the world. It's a reminder that our so-called modern world is really not that far removed from 1914. It's easy to understand why then, and now, the Panama Canal is an example of American prestige, and power, and should be viewed with due pride by all Americans.
Table of Contents:
CHAPTER I. THE FRONT DOOR TO PANAMA
CHAPTER II. CRISTOBAL-COLON; AND THE PANAMA RAILROAD
CHAPTER III. NOMBRE DE DIOS, PORTO BELLO AND SAN LORENZO
CHAPTER IV. SAN LORENZO AND PANAMA
CHAPTER V. THE SACK OF OLD PANAMA
CHAPTER VI. REVOLUTIONS AND THE FRENCH REGIME
CHAPTER VII. THE UNITED STATES BEGINS WORK
CHAPTER VIII. THE FORMATIVE PERIOD
CHAPTER IX. COL. GOETHALS AT THE THROTTLE
CHAPTER X. GATUN DAM AND LOCKS
CHAPTER XI. GATUN LAKE AND THE CHAGRES RIVER
CHAPTER XII. THE CULEBRA CUT
CHAPTER XIII. THE CITY OF PANAMA
CHAPTER XIV. THE SANITATION OF THE ZONE
CHAPTER XV. THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
CHAPTER XVI. THE INDIANS OF PANAMA
CHAPTER XVII. SOCIAL LIFE ON THE CANAL ZONE
CHAPTER XVIII. LABOR AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ZONE
CHAPTER XIX. FORTIFICATIONS. TOLLS. COMMERCE AND QUARANTINE
CHAPTER XX. DIPLOMACY AND POLITICS OF THE CANAL
