The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-04-27

a very Int Iligent lcea OF the worn
along The line A number If PHOTO
graphs were ken nd We all espresso
much 'ausfsctipn at tbs Appearance
OF the woik, tie txtt nsive oleaIi1 q
mt only alongside the tracks but
around the stations themselves; also
the screening of old houses and char
acier and hunter of the new house.
going up
Full Of Satisfaction.
In fact there was nc ADVERSE crlti-
clsm or statement made, and Nr. Bige.
low parted from me Mt Panama full OF
expressions of satisfaction with the
ndition be had found thiugs in. He
haa bnt few ho1rs 10 Panama, as
ne was returning BY the Trent carly
the next morning, the train to con-
meet leaving, | believe, before
O'Clock. -
saw Mr.. Lockitt again the day
after our arrival in Panama, and ne
had read Mr.. Bigelow's report, and he
further went on to say; 1T is incred-
ible to me that such statements could
have been made, and Bigelow could
not have either seen or heard all that
he states. Further than this, I have
been all over the city today and find
that a wonderful work has been going
on since my arrival here, over three
months ago."
1t must be admitted that state
ment like this from a we'll known and
exceptionally intelligent Englishman,
must be Of value and is certainly very
gratifying. l would like to touch
briefly on my personal observations
and interviews, as they will bring our
readers in touch with conditions up
to date and every day under the pres
ent regime shows a change for the
better
Before making any statement of
Panama, l took occasion to study the
"boca" end first There is quite a
large camp here, and over 700 men at
this station. | had several hours in
this one place, and talked with
one of the principal engineers on
the dredging work; also with one of
the assistants in the pay Office, as
well as various mechanics and skilled
laborers, men who are earning from
81 200 to $500 a year.
l found all these men enthusiastic
over general conditions. They stated
that they were now excellently quar-
tered in clean, sanitary houses and
they found a great change for the bet
ter in the food TIE screening Ct tkc
houses had been very thoroughly done.
All this l SAL, and personally IL
spected the houses and mess-rooms.
Hc-2!!...cy cc:-:..,!!t...-,7e.
OF course, there are a great many
of the old shanties and cane houses
of the negroes, and many of the low
rambling and dilapidated sheds which
were put up by the French, and yet
the conditions of these are not unlike
any healthy tropical place Jamaica,
for instance, but even these are get
ting a whitewashing and a burning
out, too, and, naturally, this cannot
be done all at once.
Panama itself as city is chaos, but
it is the chaos of house cleaning
Every householder knows the agony
Of that proposition. l was given al
excellent opportunity to inspect the
work not only in the Town but aions
the line. In Panama, the population
is now perhaps 100000. l went in and
out, and through forty seven streets
many of these in the poorest quarters.
In every one of these it was evident
that there was something doing"
Either paving, or excavating for
drains, or connecting Of houses with
sewers, or razing houses altogether I
for new building or air spaces. The
street paving in the main thorough
fares was progressing rapidly. gangs
of negroes working under white over
seefs, and working well, constantly
kept up to the scratch, and very or
Derby.
It may well be said here that if the
black is lazy, and doesn't produce to
he extent that would be desirable, he
S peaceful and not brawler. They
IRE as q whole a happy and not quar-
'elsome people, and quite different to
he Rotos of some of the farther South
american countries. The new build !
ng which is going on in Panama and !,
II along the line of railway is really :
One sees enormous lum :
er yards in every direction, and these 6
re being rapidly drawn on and filled
p again with fresh supplies. !