The Dickinson press., 1909-04-24
PANAMA cANAL

PANAMA CANAL
J. E. Phelan Gives Opinions of the
Canal From Personal Observa-
tion-Will Tell In Next
Letters of Work in Detail.
Dickinson. N. D.
April %. 1909.
To The Editor
Jamaica is an island 144 miles long
and 40 miles wide at its greatest length
or width. 6S5, 600 population, lying
about 500 miles almost due south
from New York. 1t has many mountain
peaks ranging from 1000 to 7,423 feet
altitude. The island has ZIG miles of
railroad. 1t has a delightful climate.
One al have it hot, warm or temperate
according to the altitude of ones loca-
ton. It has 2. 900 miles of macadamized
highways.
One of the resretful things of the
trip wat our not being able to remain
longer in Jamaica. But it has some
drawbacks. As we rounded Port Hender-
son entering Kingston Harbor, old Port
Royal was in evidence-once the
''Wickedest Spot on Earth but totally
destroyed by earthquake and tidal wave
in 1892.
On landing at Kingston Sunday morn
ing, January 31st, the majority of the
passengers were booked for a railroad
trip across the island to Port Antonio,
IS miles. but we elected to remain at
Kingston. As we walked up from the
docks we saw the evidence of destruction
wrought by the earthquake in January
1907, though two years have passed
many of the ruins still remain. but now
active work in rebuilding is going on.
The new store buildings are Of reinforced
concrete. Much of the tourist business
was frightened away and the tide of
travel has not yet returned.
We took in the city of So. 900 inhabi-
tants by riding around three different
routes of the trolley line-colored con-
ductors and motor men all talking
English. In the afternoon we landed at
the Hope Botanic Garden. much to my
wife's delight, in fact, she INDUCED in
a regular jag of delight, though w had
not INDUCED in anything stronger than
atmosphere all day. We lunched at the
Constant Springs hotel, six miles from
town and 700 feet above the sea level.
A large tourist hotel set in beautiful
grounds, well managed. where they give
you rates in pounds. shillings and pence.
We had native. sweet ORANGES pared to
one end and set on q fork and eaten
from the fork-a delightful treat. The
bananas were ripe and wholesome. We
ate out on the veranda. and, with the
celebrating air and sunshine. we were
all glad we were alive.
The doctor and l left our wives in Hope
Garden amid its beautiful trees and
and tropical vegetation finely cultivated,
while we went back to the Oceana for
our satchels and returned to Constant
Springs hotel for the night. The air was
cool and bracing, the surroundings com
Portable and inviting, and the following
morning when we departed for the city.
our main desire was that we might re-
main longer.
On the road to town we passed the
natives who prodded the little donkeys
laden with produce for the market.
Colored women gracefully balancing
baskets laden with bananas or othel
produce on their heads. while they
moved along with confident stride. 1t wa.
a day of sunshine as we went about
among the stores in the city and late
bargained with the darkies on the docl
for coral beads and other wares tina
they held high until the steamer wa
nearly due to leave. when one coult
have anything in sight by naming {
price.
The diving darkies were in abundanc,
about the boat, treadine the water ant
diving for the occasional coin thrown
into the water from the passengers on
the boats. Here a kitchen employee o.
the steamer, just before the boa
started. tried to trade a five cent CAKE
of pink toilet soap to a young darky fol
q string of beads. Both were willing
but neither would trust the other to
throw first. so the trade was lost. Lacl
of confidence between Germany ant
Africa.
At Kingston the Oceana was coaled
by a swarm of darkies. men and women,
carrying tie sixty-ive pound baskets on
their heads from coal pile to steamer.
and before delivering the coal to the
chutes, each person with a basket Of
coal received a penny from one of the