The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-05-27

i A~SSs
| Editor Chief:
The work Of constructing the canal
under the chief engineer is divided be-
| tween two division engineers-one at
the Pacific end and one at the Atlantic
end. [ am in the Office of the one at
the Atlantic end, which Office is To-
Gated in the building that was formerly
the palatial residence of the French
chief engineer, Ferdinand DeLesseps,
who was also the builder OF the Suez
Canal. There is an excellent land
locked harbor here, out into which
DeLesseps built an artificial peninsula
extending half mile. On this PENN
sula he had planted dense grove OF
cocoanut trees, which are now as high
as four-story building and laden
with cocoanuts. He then had the grove
networked with shell-road avenues,
along which were built about a hun
dred nice dwellings, including costly
palace at the extremity for himself.
The Offices are now located Ia this
palace and few OF the nearby build
ings, the remainder being used as
dwellings for the clerical force. The
United States government has just
overhauled these buildings, putting in
bathrooms and all modern improve
ments. They are all SO built as to
have windows on both sides, thus al
lowing the full benefit Of the perpetual
breeze which comes with such force
both day and night as to cause the
temper ature-which Is eighty to eighty
five degrees In the day and seventy
five at night-to seem at least ten
degrees cooler than it really is, and
necessitating light covering when sleep
ing. So few mosquitoes remain that
some of the men sleep without bars,
Notwithstanding they have brought
these articles with them, but am told
that when the rainy season commences
they viii be compelled to unpack their
bars.
The government has established
large commissary which supplies all
staple articles at about the same prices
as they can be had for In the states.
Mosquito bars cost from $40 to 81. 68
according to size, quality, etc. Owing
to the absence Of a cold-storage ware
house, American perishable foods are
a little high and scarce, but the COM
missary carries a complete line OF
canned and non-perishabIe American
goods which it retails at ten per cent
below actual cost, which is little
less than the retailers prices in the
states. This regulates prices OF pri-
vate firms, which would otherwise be
exorbitant. Most of the storekeepers
are Chinese and japanese, who sell
their goods for as much as they can
get out OF the purchaser. They price
their goods in Panamaian silver and
new arrivals frequently hand over
United States money, in their ignor-
ance, paying double the price asked,
note grin on the Chinaman's face,
but discover their mistakes too late to
nectify them. Chinese silks and some
.oreign goods are to be had at a frae- |
ion of the American price, but new |
arrivals frequently get very inferior
grades, still believing they have pur-
,hased a fine article. While the ma
ives are very polite and courteous, q
lew arrival must always have an un-
lerstanding as TO prices to be charged,
or have known of instances of some
paying $3.50 for having their baggage
moved less than 200 yards, when the
ocular price to any part of Cristobal
md Colon is ten cents per valise and
twenty-five cents per trunk.
AS rule, cigars and cigarettes cost
bout the same as in the states, but as
!. fVe-cent sack Of "Duke's Mixturep
nd q ten sack OF "Durh ann
ach cost fifteen cents, a smoker would
o well to bring a supply with his
aggage, canal employees being al
owed TO bring in free of duty any,
ling for their personal use and not
attended for sale. A tailor-made suit !
t khaki, which is worn almost uni
ersally, can be had as low as $3.50.
verybody agrees that a quantity Of
aggage is a nuisance and that the 4 :
CIV arrival should, II possible, put
Il his baggage in either a steamer
unk or a couple OF grips. but he
light do well to provide himself be- I
re leaving the states with good e
nbrella, linen for single bed, pneu- a
attic pillow or cushion, summer I'M Ia
arwear. negligee shirts and light g
ggins. i
Table boards costs S22. so to 1926 per t
onth, and as every body seems to Q
ink it great deal better than they {
,pected there appears no dissatisfac- |,
on over it. Laundry costs stan &
ard price OF So per month, and as the Il
'yernment supplies furnished quar- n
rs with lanitor, etc., included, there o
no other compulsory expense to the s.
nal employees. 4 spendthrift can tr
ID plenty OF ways to get rid of his c,
oney, but will get about the same
tisfaetion that he would in an or .,
nary small country town, though a 5:
rson who likes hunting and fishing 4
II have paradise. :
At present the laundry problem is =
tie Yexino-first.nlass Nunnlr se