The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-12
PRAISES
PANAMA
CANAL.
WORK

George Reed son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Reed, OF the Elks, is now in Panama.
going direct from here 10 New YORK,
where he sailed on government
steamer for the tropics, being on the
ship that for days was tossed by q
heavy tyrhoon that for twentyfonr
hours threatened to destroy the YES.
sci Mr. Reed wrote two letters. one
to 4 fricnd ana one to The Leader,
both Interesting and timely. since the
worldwide enterprise Of The new
canal has turned the public ear and
eve in that direction
The letter says: 1T is Sunday night
Ia Sunday in a land strange TO me
and filled with sights my eyes neyar
dreamed Of | hear the fellows play
ing a Merry Widow waltz on the
plane Off IN the other quarter can be
heard the quaint strains OF the ma
lives instruments offering thanks to
God for His blessings, and to my way
Of thinking He gave them but few.
we arrived here last Sunday night
at 70 O'Clock. and ali considered our
selves lucky though forty-nine hours
late. We arrived in time to catch the
regular train-a model rnn By the gov
ernment and fully equipped with all
modern convenieuces. AT Bas Obisno
thome at present. we were assigned
quarters and ! am well pleased with
mine. There are baths and YOU are
required 10 take them as the super
intendent orders The first trouble
off the ship was with the money
Panama coin being half par. and
American money the same as every
where All electric lights burn Of
nights and when bne chances 10 see
he heavens il IS not SO ord.
My first days were unevcnttls,
asccr,aining my DUTIES, as 20 what na-
ture, etc
1T was getting here that caused ne
TO watt TO pray Tho storm struck
MS off The Haucras inlet and The
time when 10 left was none 100 soon
in bidding goodbye The Officers OF
The ship and the men were alarmed
and al were glad we We're far out, as
the grounding OF a vessel on The back
current OF The Gulf streams Is not rel
ished even by those who are veterans
in the service oil the water
"Firs;-ciass railroad travel here
costs two cents per mile tall Amcri'
cans are designated as firsD, and see
ond-class fare is TWO and half cents
per mile and natives are always sec
1nd.class talthough Of course this Isl
not mentioned when YOU return home)
1T IS forty-seven miles from Colon,
ON the Atlantic side, TO Panama, Pa.
clflc side (Atlantic side is referred
10 as east and Pacific as west al
though Panama is southeast of Colon
the land strip running almost east
and west. Ed. and we are allowed
a free pass once each week My wock
Is keeping the time of $500 workers
On the canal proper. and thus was !
thrown right into the midst OF the
workers. but that causes one 20 lose
his homesick feeling; besides the rules
are that no one can go TO bed IN The
government hotels until he has gone
10 work--the army regulations prevail
ing and he who gets from this crowd
that which was not yet earned viii
be pensioned by those who have tried
and failed. However, that is all right
for the canal officials are men who
appreciate good service and are said
70 be quick 20 advance the men able
10 make a proper showing.
'All hotels, save those at Panama
and Colon. are run by the government
and all rooms have baths, and we &c
la square foot OF space in the rooms
for every dollar per monthly stipend.
tMy room is thus smaller than | hope
81 win be IN one years.
II have four American bows in The
office under me-, and five Spaniards
work on the outside keeping tab ON
time foremen red tape making 90 oo-
llgaiory that we know the time, no
guosses allowed ME or the assistants.
Many things were strange FOR a
day only For instance good SUI nt
clothes cost SI.5O, and while tho
clothes are white duck. Of the bes
quality hey are also handiailored
and would cost $50 al home The nu.
tiYes are not inclined 10 oyerdress
their small children, aud 4 FROST would !
create brooches panir all alers The
iincs.
"The cigarette hahii will pcycr
leave bis people, pT tte ciimyte aud |
rigaFs costing filten cents each IA
Chicago on Guthrie, are TO hc had !
for -four or five CENTS, arcoriins 20
wheihor we use thc native pauama,
Mexican or Puerto Ricap weed
..AllNQnld Ne surprised gs ihe ciassl
4 - llibns hHe ikeY are from afi
.s1fls ot she, e,conniry hd, the oideg and
stronger employees are those who have
seen service ia the Philippines and |
who we've hardened 70 The tropics !
when they came Tie Chagres river,
ard the mountain cuts are an of in'
tcrest Pages would not tell the story /
but 10 me. although an mierurban !
electric service before my college dass
save NE experience. The actual segy
ice Of the mon-tO watch thow pro-
coed. ard the splendid manner OF dss-
clpline. Is a story no one VIII ever tell
IA Us entirety. because 4 Is Diegcf
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