New-York tribune., 1906-12-18

are drained. These bitches have answered their
. purpose for they are probably the chief cause
OF the astonishing diminution in the number of
inoSqultoeS. More bitches of the kind are be-
ing constructed. "
1t was not practicable with the force at the
Cotn1nlsSlons disposal, and in view OF the need
'4'O 'iie Iorce should be used in the larger town
,., or Panama, 10 begin this
Solon water work before early last WIN
supply. ter. Water mains We're then
laid in the town and water
was furnished TO the people early in March from
temporary reservoir. This reservoir proved
10 be OF insufficient capacity before the end of
the dry season and the shortage was made m
by hauling water over the Panama Railroad so
that there at all times an ample supply of
the very best water. Since that time the new
reservoir back of Mount Hope has been practi-
caly completed l visited this reservoir 1t is
lake over mile long and half a mile broad
1t now carries some 5OOOOOO00 gallons of first
class water. / forward herewith a photograph
Of this lake, together with certain other photo
graphs or what 1 saw while I was on the
iSthmuS. Nothing but a cataclysrn will here
after render 1t necessary IN the dry season TO
haul water for the use of Colon and CristobaI .
One Of the most amusing (as well as dishonesty
attacks made upon the commission was i'm con-
nection with this reservoir The writer in uues-
uon usually confined himself to vague general
mendacity; but in this case he specffcally stated
that there was no water in the vicinity fit for a
reservoir q drank it, and it excellent) and
that this particular reservoir would never hold
water. anyway. Accompanying this message as
I have said above. is a photograph of the
reservoir as I myself saw it, and as il has been
in existence since the article i'm question
was published. With typical American humor
the engineering corps still at work at the reser-
voir have christened large boat which is now
used on the reservoir by the name of the individ-
ual who thus denied the possibility Of the reser-
voir's existence.
rode through the streets of Colon. seeing
them at the height of the rainy season after
two days of almost unexampled downpour when
they at their very
Colon worst Taken as q vhola
favemenrs they were undoubtedly very
bad; bad as Pennsyl-
vania avenue in Washington before Grants ad-
ministratiOn. Front street is already in thor
oughly satisfactory shape. however. Some CT
the side streets are also in good condition. In
others the change in the streets is rapidly going
on. Through three-fourthS of the town IL is
now possible TO walk, during the period of
tremendous rain, IN low shoes without wettins
ones feet, owing to the rapidity with which the
surface water is carried away in the bitches.
In the remaining one-fourth Of the streets the
mud is very deep-about deep In the ordi-
nary street of a low lying prairie river town OF
the same size in the United States during early
spring. All men TO whom / spoke We're a unit
in saying that the conditions of the Colon streets
were 100 per cent better than year ago. Tho
most superficial examination OF the town shows
the progress that has been made and is beine,
made in macadamiZtng the streets. Complaint
was made to me by entirely reputable man
as to the character of some OF the material used
for repairing certain streets on investigation
the complaint proved well founded but IL also
appeared that the OF the material I'm ques-
ton had been abandoned. the commission after