Such was the reputation of Ferdinand de Lesseps after his success with the Suez Canal, that when he announced his intention of building a similar canal in Panama, thousands of small French investors sunk their savings into his company formed to finance the project. He was a famous and respected figure in France, loved by his countrymen, and he managed to gain the support of many a dignitary to help with the running of his company, the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique. Baron de Reinach and Cornelius Herz, together with a number of international investors (many of whom were [L3 401 / Jewish]), were given control over the company's finances.
When de Lesseps' project turned out to be a massive failure, the company was placed into liquidation in February 1889. Not only had his construction work been a disaster primarily because of disease, but his company also filed for bankruptcy after some $237 million was spent on what would eventually turn out to be nothing. Following accusations of bribery, mismanagement and corruption, an official government inquiry was set up in 1892 that resulted in de Lesseps, his son Charles and a number of the leading associates being charged for fraud and sentenced to imprisonment. At the same time, however, information was leaked that the French government was also involved, having accepted bribes from the company. Hence the scandal was turned into both a financial and political hornets' nest. Subsequently, de Lesseps did not have to serve his prison term, but his son did (albeit briefly after the appeals court reversed its decision).
ELIMINATING YELLOW FEVER AND MALARIA - A TRIUMPH:
The area in which the Panama Canal was to be built in 1904 was a disease-ridden, infested abyss. As had been proven some 25 years before when the Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps failed to build a sea level canal after 22,000 of his laborers succumbed to yellow fever and malaria. It was essential to clear the [G 06 / isthmus] region of disease.
William Gorgas, a medical officer in the US army, was given the challenging task. Soon after his arrival, he flattened jungles in the surrounding area, burned garbage and destroyed vermin. Gorgas insisted on buildings being raised off the ground and windows and doors being screened with metal mesh to prevent mosquitoes from flying in. He drained swamps, ponds, and ditches to eliminate the breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Any hole that could not be drained was covered in a film of oil to suffocate the eggs and larvae that were still incubating.
Most importantly, Gorgas improved sanitation facilities in the region, whereby decent sewage systems were installed and clean water was provided. He also built modern hospitals with isolation units especially for yellow fever and malaria, and added a hospital car to every train that was operational on the site. Additionally, ships that had arrived from infected areas outside Panama were put under strict quarantine regulations.
Within two years of Gorgas' arrival in Panama, yellow fever was completely eradicated and [L3 402 / malaria was brought under control].
TARANTULAS IN THEIR THOUSANDS:
The islands scattered throughout Gatun Lake are in fact the summits of hills that were drowned by rising water from when the canal was first built. Some of these islands have been turned into wildlife sanctuaries following the mass congregation of animals and birds at the summits of the hills when the lake filled. The diversity of insect, animal and bird species is spectacular, as one of the engineers found out when the reservoir was still filling. While on his regular inspection of the lake he reported seeing " a half-drowned tree covered with what appeared to be black foliage." After rowing up to the tree to study it further, the engineer discovered - to his horror - that the foliage was in fact tens of thousands of tarantulas desperately trying to avoid drowning.
