The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-02-09
DESCRIBES CANAL ZONE.
SUPERINTENDENT D. c. o'CoNNoR
WRITES INTERESTING LETTER.
TELLS OF MIXED POPULATION
Indians, Negroes, Chinese, Spaniards
and Americans Minge on the 18TH
mus-Natives are shiftIess and Have
Good Reason to be.

ceived by DR.. Salter from ID. G. O'Con-
nor superintendent of education in
the Canal Zone:
Dear Friend: have been on the 18TH
mus now just little more than a
month. If family and friends were
here I should say am delighted with
this land which summer seems to be-
Siege on every side"
My travels on the isthmus so far
have been limited quite strictly to the
Canal Zone, and the towns of Colon
and Panama. Though limited they
have been very interesting indeed
Colon is a town of from seven to
eight thousand; portions of it pretty
and fascinating, but most of 1t lies
low. "squatty" and dirty. No surprise
at all should be expressed that fever
should prevail here at times. There
are two parts, however, that are ideal
ly beautiful and delightfully."- located.
With reference to the bay whose shore
line is crescent form, Colon occupies
the middle part, Cristobal one horn,
and the railroad offices and residences
the other. These last two places are
built on points jutting out into the
sea and receive fresh breezes from
every direction. Cristobal Point has
been artificially constructed, that is,
reclaimed or filled land. Manzanilo
point has been partially filled. On
Crstobal point were built the palaces
Of DeLesseps and his son. These were
imposing frame structures, now being
used for offices Of the Canal commits
sion. On this point also have been
and are being constructed the resi-
dences Of the American canal en-
ployes employed at the Colon termi-
nus. Borders of handsome cocoa-nut
palms and other tropical plants adorn
the fringes of beach at Cristobal and
Nanzanillo points, and of course en-
hance the beauty and attractiveness
of these places.
Mixed Population.
AS you already know, the popula-
ton of Colon (Columbus) is decidedly
mixed. Here are admiXtures of Span
ish, French, Panamanian Indian, ne
gro and Chinese. Some retain pure
and distinct types, but many blend
the blood of all the above in the same
veins. This last observation may be
applied to the general population of
the city of Panama as well as to Colon.
The people are the slowest-going peo-
pie | have ever seen. They seem to
act on the principle that they have
"all summer" to complete the task and
it is unnecessary to hurry now.
The Chinese seem to be the most
industrious, inoffensive and may add,
skillful of the mixtures just enumerat-
ed.
Nature Provides.
There perhaps is a sufficient reason
for the shiftlessness and Incidence so
common among these people. They
seem to be little troubled with the
ambition of Caesar or Napoleon.
The sun supplies fuel for the warm
ing of their homes, the banana, the
cocoa-nut, the orange and the agava
afford them food, and the bamboo
shack, shelter. For laborers, low
wages is better than high. They
can live on Csc per day easily. When
they received this sum they worked
every day. When wages increased to
SO cents they worked one day and
rested two days. This am told is the
general custom. Though | take it
there must be numerous exceptions,
almost all burdens to be borne, such
as baskets of vegetables, jugs of wa
ter, sacks of fruit, are carried on the
head. This is done by men and wo-
men. A jamaican negro was ordered
to take a wheel barrow from one place
to another about quarter of a mile
distant. He picked it up, placed it on
his head and walked away The ma
tives seem to prefer close, warm, stiff
ling rooms to fresh, clean, breezy
rooms. | see them every day, no mat
ter how it may be, men and women
huddle about in small, dark, dirty, cub
by holes, enjoying ease apparently,
while a few yards away they might
enjoy sunlight and fresh air in abun-
dance. This will explain why Colon
and Panama are pest breeding nests.
The sanitary officers here are doing
much to change these conditions. Sys-
tematic work of draining and clean
ing these cities is now going on. The
lower classes of people are sent out
OF their places until the latter are fun
igated, washed and white washed. At
first this interference was resented but
they are gradually submitting to the
"yoke."
Schools Will Help.
One thing I believe the schools may
do here that is to aid these people in
learning and obeying certain laws of
hygiene; also to make them more SEN
sitive as to personal appearance.
1t is common to see children several
years old-chiehy boys-on the prin-
cipal streets and plazas absolutely
naked. The better classes, however,
both Panamanian and Spanish, take