The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-29
LIFE IN PANAMA
Is INTERESTING
CONGRESSMAN PLEASANT r
CHAPMAN IN CAIRO EN-
ROUTE HOME FROM
TRIP TO lSTHMuS.
CLIMATE IS NOT BAD
ARD Sanitary Conditions Are Ex-
cellent Due to U. s. Govern
ment's Work There.

Congress sman Pleasant T. Chap
man OF Vienna, Arrived In Cairo yes
Iterlay en- route home from 4 visit to
the Panama canal with a party Of
IS other congressman.
Congressman Chapman is great
believe III tae ca1al and Is enthu-
siestie en- the subjec A Bulletin
representative had most interesting
audience with him regarding his
;rip and bis observations of Panama.
he refutes many old ideas as to the
unsanitary condition OF Panama and
says that the q. S, government has
done everything possible To ameliu-
rate conditions which formerly ob-
tanned making the place unhealthy
until COW there is little danger OF
fever The mosquito has been eimi-
mated and with him went train OF
attendant feyers AS regards the
china with the exception OF two or
three hours tn the middle of the day
when the sun shines torridly making
1T rather uncomfortable the tempera
htre is not at all unbearable. Work
men OUT work at II a. m. and enjoy
siesta through the heated hours
until D. nj. when they resume their
labors' Men and women wear cool.
white clothing and eajoy the tropical
life where one can go out and pluck
bananas, cocoanuts lines and other
delicious things from their native
trees not to mention numerous otter
edibles such as bread fruit. etc,
which are not seen in this part Of the
world.
The distance from the Atlantic
ocean to the Pacific ocean at Pan
anna is about As miles. The great
canal will join the two oceans and
thus save marines and ocean travel
ers the enormous distance around
Cape Horn.
The e. S. government has been
obliged TO provide for every possible
need ard emergency for the laborers
who are engaged on the canal work
There is a hospital churches, schools
and a sanitarium for the workmen
and their families. There are about
10000 men employed in the work.
Some are Spaniards, some Italians
and some from the smaller Islands of
the seas.
Congressman Chapman says that
work done by the Fre1ch on the canal
is excellent and that our government
received full value for whaf Ii paid
for this part Of the work. The canal
as many readers of The Bulletin are
aware is not a simple ditch canal but
a large lake connected with the
oceans by ditch-canals.
Regarding the city of Panama, Con
gresham Chapman says it is rapidly
becoming a modem city with paved
streets and other up-jo-date improve
ments From his description one
gets an entirely different view Of life
in the canal country from that given
IN most written accounts and life as
a canal laborer does not sound half
bad from his account Of the beautiful
couatry ihereabouts.
Congressman Chapman gained con
siderable in weight while on the trip
and If life in Panama is enervating be
did not get enough of il in week 10
cause any had results. In fact Con-
gresham Chapman aever looked in
better health.
While on the Tsthmus Congressman
Chapman met DR.. Henry r. Carter
who is the second officer in comman !
Of the government hospital service
there. Dr. Carter was once stationed
in Cairo n charge of the United
States Marine hospital.
Congressman Chapman went to
his home in Vienna yesterday where
he will remain this summer. Mrs
Chapman will join him there in June
after the close Of sch.Ol IN Washing
ton where their son is student
Miss Marian Chapman. Their daugh-
ter. is expected to pass through
Cairo today en- route home from Cod
frey. ill.,, where she attends Month
cello Seminary. She will spend the