The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1905-04-14
CULEBRA.

Lanai 6ohc' Z dnahld, mdIcu 49, l9U0.
So many of my friends have asked
me to write them relative to Panama,
the Canal, and knowing that most of
them get the NEWS beg space in
your columns to answer them col
lectiyely so that | may not slight
any OF them.
have been on the Ithmus a month
and have seen Canal from Colon to
Panama and must say that TO right
ly get conception OF the immense
quantity of work that is to be done
the readers will have TO come down
as | have done and view 1t for then-
selves. but knowing this to be i'm
possible in most cases will try and
give description Of the situation as
best / can. When the boat landed
at Colon the first thing that attracted
MY attention was the natives on the
wharf, handling the freight, and as
the boat was quite while in landing
the passengers | had time to sum up
the kind OF people that inhabit Pana
ma and at once concluded that they
We're the LATEST and most indifferent
people had ever seen and soon after
landing found that my surmise was
right and as l got better acquainted
IL tyin
of their stupidity and worthlessness
as laborers. After leaving the boat
that we had been on seven days we
went the roundes of Colon and
saw many very funny sights after the
manner OF shops. the mode of dress,
habits etc. and found the town built
without any survey and after the
paths as they had been at first cut
out of the jungles, and part of the
houses were on piles driven in the
mud and underneath was stagnated
swamp That of course was full of
fever germs and to these swamps is
lcoutiibulcu Nhc OauSc Vi tic ueduiy
yellow fever that killed so many of
the French while trying to dig the
ditch. SO after a thorough inyesti-
cation Of the town and being entire
ly disgusted with 1t we left on the
Panama Railroad up the Canal for
Panama and had a delightful run of
two hours through the jungles and
as we passed along the route of the
Canal and saw the flags that the sur
yeyors have set to establish the route
| commenced to wonder in amazement
at the great task that the Govern
ment has undertaken in digging the
Panama Canal. Yet we know that
time will accomplished the task and
give to commerce the shortest ocean
voyage from East to West.
All along the line of the Canal are
all kinds Of antiquated machinery left
by the French. 1t is rusting away
and it is all practically uesless as the
Government is placing more up-to-
date machinery of the latest type in
| its stead.
We will pass on to Panama the
Capitol of the new Republic. Here
| found the same people as at Colon,
but far better conditions as Pan
anna is built with more system above
the swamps, better shops better
streets and much nicer town than
Colon in every respect and the streets
have nice palm and cocoa nut shades
which is very comfortable, the eli
mate being so warm. After stroll
through the town looking for the
odd sights we returned to our Hotel
and had nice cool nights rest,
sleeping under two blankets and
would have been more comfortable
had we had another for the nights
are very cool as the breeze from the
Pacific comes in and cools the atmos-
phere. The following morning we
handed our Commissions to Mr.. Wal
lace, chief Engineer and were con-
signed to Culebra the largest open
cut in the world and in my next
letter win give a description of this
cut the way OF working It Before
taking to much space will now close.
! Very truly yours,
n Ralcher