Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-04-06

garbage, stencil, and disease-breed-
ing germs in evidence all over the
city. Deaths from typhoid fever and
malaria by the thousands, vile
drinking water and sometimes none
at all; such was what the United
States found when it entered Pana-
ma with the right to "clean up the
city" And how great has been the
change. The dirt and filth has been
cleaned up, complete underground
sewerage and waterworks system is
being rapidly installed, pure water
is furnished from modern plants;
the city is being paved with brick,
garbage disposal regulated, yellow
fever eliminated, and in fact trans
formed into respectable, modern
city, where the citizens have become
imbued with the American spirit;
they are now thrifty, Industrious,
hopeful, and fast becoming prosper
Gus.
The stores are mostly about Tx
Is feet in size, with little room in
the rear where the proprietor and
family live. Wide open doorways
face the street, which are the only
means of getting light and sunlight.
In the store room is generally found
a saloon on one side, with ranges
of bottled goods reaching to the
ceiling and a small bar or counter
in front. On the opposite side may
be found groceries, meats, fish, etc.
and oftentimes counters and shelv-
ing of dry goods. notions, ETC.. while
frequently tables are found in the
room or on the sidewalk in front,
where lunches are served. There are
few larger stores, more modern in
style, conducted by Americans or
Cinnamon, but these are the eX-
ception.
There are fine plazas in the prin-
cipal parts of the city, where are to
be found band stands, settees, flow
ers and beautiful royal palm trees.
Here in the evenings, usually Sun
days, fine band gives concert and
the people promenade backward and
forward listening to the music, there
being a distinct division of the diff.
ferent classes. In the center the
Americans, well-to-do Spaniards and
foreigners promenade on the cross.
| walks, while on the inner portion
of the circular walk around tht
plaza the wealthy class of Panama
mans, officials, etc. promenade
while the outer portion is left fol
the poorer classes.
The Panamanians also take much
interest in the lottery system, and
daily old women and children may
be found on the streets selling the
tickets. The drawings are made
every Sunday morning at ten
o'clock. The first prize is $500
with various lower prizes, and this
amount is doubled at Christmas and
other holiday times. The lottery is
under the supervision of the govern
ment, and 40 per cent of the rev.
enue obtained therefrom goes to the
church.
The streets are regularly paroled
by about 400 policemen. and al
though there is much drinking and
gambling, yet the people are COM
paratively peaceful. The slightest
disobedience of law is cause for ar
rest. and severe penalties are in
1icted.
People do their cooking mainly in
little kitchens" outside of the
houses. These are about the size
of dry goods box, approximately
three feet square and five feet high
usually made of galvanized iron, and
inside is little charcoal stove, over
which all their food is cooked.
The market is one of the sights
to see in each of the cities. Here
under an open roof is gathered each
morning everything that the people
may wish to buy, meats, fish, gro.
ceries, vegetables, drinks, dry goods
clothing, notions. Early in the
morning the women may be seen 60
ing to and from the market carrying
huge baskets or trays upon their
heads loaded with the supplies they
have for sale or have purchased for
the days use 1t is indeed wonder
full how much they carry in this
manner, and the ease with which
they seem to do it.
Along the beach is also one OF
their principle market-places. Here
are fruit-smacks, large "dug-out''
boats made entire from the trunk OF
single tree, dug out with sharp in
struments like an Indian canoe, to
which sails are attached. The ma
tives come down the coast with
these boats loaded with fruit and
other edibles from the interior, run
up close to the sea-wall and lodge
their boats on the sandy beach in
high tide, so close to each other that