The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-30
Now for the better side of it.

OF Panama. This is hill of some
six hundred feet in height. On the
side of this is our famous Ancon
Hospital which was erected by the
French and perfected by the Ameri-
cans. When you think of hospital YOU
probably imagine some large lonesome
building that looks like cross be :.
tween barn and morgue, but this
is far from true. Ancon Hospital
consists of numerous beautiful
cottages which are designated as
wards. and bordered on either side by
fine macadamized drives which are
lined with royal palms and perpetual
tropical foliage. 4 The Pacific is on
the other side of the hill and there is
constantly good breeze which makes
you crawl under your covers the year
around. These cottages have large
verandas which are screened with fine
copper screening. 1t is indeed beau
tiful place. ! am at present quar-
tered in new bachelor building
situated outside of the entrance at
Ancon Gate. and in this house we
have electric lights. water and new
furniture provided by the Commits
sion. l am situated as we'll as l de-
sire to be In the shade, in this
climate. it is ideal. In the sun, it
is little warm at times. We get
little off at times with touch of
malaria. but some liberal doses Of
quinine bring US around all right.
While on my vacation this summer at
Denison. was miserable most of the
time either too internal cold or to ex-
cesssively hot. You have the ex-
tremes there. while here we have the
mean all the time.
Throughout the Canal Zone are
numerous pretty villages and here the
employees residing within the Zone are
quartered. The single men are pro-
vided with rooms in the bachelor
quarters. while the married men are
provided with pretty cottages where
there is practically the same comfort
as in the States.
Commissaries have been provided
by the commission. where practically
the same provisions as in the States
are provided, at reasonable prices.
Mess-halls have been established by
the Commission where good food is
obtained for $27.00 per month. The
food proposition is of course the hard
one. but tor one to come here now
and put up kick against anything
that is furnished him. is to make
some of US who have been here for a
couple of years, smile. There were
no strings tied to those who are COM
ing now to have prevented them
from coming a couple of years ago
when conditions were the real thing.
except cold feet. Since the place
has been turned upside down and we
have demonstrated that some of US
cannot be killed. they are tumbline
over themselves to serve their country
at better wages then they evel
dreamed of getting before.
To tell you of the canal. 1 wouldn' Z
no know where to begin as it is such
a big proposition. but it is being dug
and Geothals is truly making his
predecessors look like a couple of nine
spots. When we see what Goethals
and hi, co-workers are dong. We
have to come to the conclusion thai
we have better men in our Engineer
ing Crop of the army than any place
else. and that the others were tor
small for the proposition. Under the
former regime. one was often tolt
there are no strings tied to you
and "there are plenty of boats to tn,
States" but it's different now. Their.
are no pop-in-jays to guard the door!
and settle your difficulty without dis.
turbing their master. Goethals il
there waiting for you. and he viii
bring you face to face with the part,
against whom you complain and this
method of doing. brings the matter
to focus in short time. He want.
to hear from you and if there is 6
genuine cause for complaint he viii
rectify 1t and if not. you will probably
get, what's coming to you.
Large Y. M. G. A.. buildings are
being constructed at places on the
Zone and herein are installed baths,
billiards. bowling alleys. gymnasiums,
lecture rooms. etc.. and one is made
to forget as much as possible the con-
ditions that formerly were here.
When irresponsible persons like
Poultney Bigelow meander arounc
these works for less than twenty fou,
hours and then go home and write the
articles they do. they become simply
laughing stock and miserable liars II
the eyes Of those of US who know
the true conditions. think know
something Of what goes on here. In
| the reservoir at Colon which he rem.