Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-03-02
Panama Canal


WHAT He SEES AND PRE-
sENrs PICTURES OF Ao'
TUAL CONDITIONS.
Colon, Feb / '06.
7 do not remember what part OF
nv notes | have copied for you.
but trust | do not repeat in giving
the incidents of our excursion to
the biggest banana plantation IN
the world-that Of the United
Fruit Company, a few miles up
the Chanquinola river the last day
of our stay at Bocas. The trip
was made in electric launches. The
river is dredged by the fruit COM
panies for the transportationof oa-
nanas. The plantations embracing
10000 acres, is superintendent BY
Mr. J NJ Reyes, whose guests we
we're at dinner. The plantation
station is situated on II low bluff,
with long stretches of the broad
and beautiful river in both direc-
tions
From an upper gallery | had a
view of many miles OF waving
plants. Immediately around The
residence in associations with
oranges and lemons, were patches
of the familiar bean. pea, mustard
and okra-the first | have seen
since leaving home.
Enroute | saw for the first time
a flock of parrots and other bright
plumaged birds. Many cranes and
other water fowl permitted us to
view them at close range, as il un-
aware of danger, and several fell
victims to marksmen in the party.
The monkey persistently kept out
If view, although we were in To-
cality in which they abound.
That night q party of resident
gentlemen took supper with us
aboard the Anselm, and shortly at
tprward the vessel got under way
for Colon, which port was reached
at 6 A NJ, Wednesday. A tug came
out to the anchored ship to trans
port the party to the docks. but
pitched and rolled so violently from
the ground swell that Capt Riyara
decided that it would be unsafe to
attempt the transfer, and accord
ingly lifted anchor and steamed to
the dock. While these movements
were in progress found amuse-
ment in the varied scenes most OF
which were strange to me. A pl-
rogue (Indian dugoutl, under an
immense stretch Of canvas, and
containing four men and cargo
of bananas moved with smooi hness
in water that tossed the tugs as it
thew were made Of cork. A large
shark suddenly appeared alongside
and looked vicious. Man-of war
gulls and other sea birds circlel
about.
Owing to the delay. we landed
lust in time to board the train for
the city of Panama. Col Gorgas
and other canal commission and
fruit company officials met US, and
had attached to the train for our
use an observation coach, and we
proceeded merrily on the journey,
accompanied by the gentlemen
mentioned, who posted us OH all
points Of interest en- route.
Monkey Hill, the famous ceme-
terv wherein are inferred the bones
of thousands who fell vict MS to
disease while working on the rail-
road and the canal, was viewed
with interest by all who were ia
! miliar with its melancholy history,
The Chagres river was pleasing
| disappointing. At the several
points where it parallels the road
it is narrow, clear and flows be-
tween banks clear of heritage and
mud. 1t is as innocent looking as
nurth Alabama streams. At a
lumber of points rock and gravel
sh4lyed down into the water. and
at these places groups of women
were washing clothes. This is the
dry season, and was told that the
Chagres is on its best behavior. In
the rainy season it becomes, swoll.
Ell and riotous.
Culpbra. 80 feet above sea level
marks the watershed Of the 18th.