Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-20
ON The ISIhMUS.
Letter from a Winthrop Boy Who Re-
Gently Went to Panama.

Walter H. Stevens, the Winthrop
young man who left his home a little
over one month ago to go to the Pana-
ma Canal, has been heard from and
yesterday very interesting letter from
him was sent into the Journal office by
his father, Samuel Stevens. The letter
is dated at Gogona Canal Zone, Pana-
ma, october 4, and is in part as fol-
lows:
There is steamer leaving Colon
occasionally for New York and | will
write you in order to catch the next
mail for the States. / am well, and al
though the weather has been very hot
since my arrival, there is always a cool
breeze blowing across the Isthmus. and
it is not so bad when you get used to It,
The rainy season is not yet on, al
though We have had one or two show
ers during the past day or two. The
food we get is away below the average,
and there is no other way to do but
hire a cook and go into housekeeping
on our own account. l visited the old
town of Panama, yesterday, and the
visit was full of interest. There seems
to be a hundred niGgers there to every
NlltC IIlttIl, anu II IlidhtS one lttl Ia
Their queer to be among them. | saw
only two white women there The
populations of the city of Panama today
is about $4,000 people. and nearly ali
ere engaged on tie canal work. Pana-
ma does not strike the boys from the
States very well ut first but it is likely
to improve on longer acquaintance.
THE city is composed of cheap shod-
dy Shacks, narrow unpaVed streets,
filthy, dark and ill-smelling, and even
the largest thoroughfares are little
better than noisome alleys. Sewers
are unknown, but a new water system
has lately been installed, and hydrants
may be found on the principal streets.
AS yet. no water is in the buildings in
the city. For whatever improvements
have been made, and those that are to
CCme, tine municipal authorities are in
debted to the United States Govern
E'ent, which loans the money that
r:akes the acquisition of these improve
ments possible. From the present out
look, | do not think that | shall ever
remain here permanently. There is
much Sickness, but there are plenty Of
Government hospitals, we'll equipped
and supervised by Uncle Sans doctors
and nurses.
THE town in which l am located is
beside the railroad, and it is but two
hours journey to the city of Panama.
There are 300 people here and but six
white women in the lot. The govern
ment, (U. 50 has a squad of % police
guards to watch over the town, but
these fellows would hardly be recog-
niZed on the streets of Augusta as
cops for they are mostly niggers, ana
dirty looking fellows. at best. The
town has native mayor. police court
and a city council. so-called. and the
natives from constant association with
the American are beginning to feel
their oats" and their appearance when
Spruced up, is somewhat amusing.
They are as a rule. orderly people and
are not hunting for trouble. We had a
prayer meeting here last evening. and
it was the only civilized thing that |
have seen here since | landed on the
isthmus.
Oranges are grown on plantations
near my house here. but they are of a
variety that grow green and stay that
way. While they are not over-palat-
sold in the city at fair prices, but not
sufficient are the profits to induce an
American to go into the business as q
grower. Sweet potatoes grow here and
other native vegetables and fruits
flourish. as do also red ants and similar
pests that have a faculty Of steering
clear of the niggers. but they are death
to the white man, until he becomes
used to them, or acclimated. as it were.
THE Government post office, the big
gest building in the town was burned to
the ground last evening. and | have
some fine pictures of it which I shall
send to you later
Mr. stevens also gives a description
Of other objects of much interest on the
isthmus He is in the employ of the
Government and is accompanied by his
family. He intends to remain on the
isthmus but a few months. and when
he completes his term of employment
with the United States Government he
intends to remove to Southern Califor-
MIA, where he will make his permanent
residence.