The Elbert County tribune., 1911-10-06

1enjebrilo, which bears a close resemblance to
the famous blue grass of Kentucky
The region is abundantly watered Every few
miies river or creek intersects the forest. but
In the dry season all but the largest OF these
fail 1t is where the interval between streams is
unusually great. say. seven or eight miles, that
the monte gives way to open grassland. The
slope OF the ground and the porosity of the soil
Insure perfect drainage and there Is entire abb
sence of swamps, save for the Inevitable manglare
strips along the coast.
When the development of Chiriqui shall have
fairly set In, irrigation will surely become i'm
portant factor In the agricultural industries Good
reservoir sites are plentiful, and the lay OF the
land is perfectly suitable to the installation of
simple. inexpensive gravity systems.
The climate of this section is subtropical and
somewhat like that OF Florida. The tenn
perature is about rs degrees f. and the extreme
variations do not exceed 15 per cent in either d.
rectfon. The heat of the day is usually tempered
by Dreezes. and the night is cool at all times. The
dry season extends over the first four months OF
the year, and recurs for few weeks in September
and Octcher. During the remaining period there is
almost d..iiy rain which seldom extends through
more than three four hours in any "a and is
preceded and followed by clear weather Excess
sive humidity Is of rare occurrence. Destructive
storms. hurricanes and tornadoes virtually
unknown.
The climate is distinctly favorable to man and
beast Few diseases, II any. attributable to It,
The Inhabitants OF Chiriqui enjoy exceptionally
good health, and this statement applies to the
are number settled in the province.
In the past 20 years, and perhaps much longer.
epidemic disease has appeared among
animals in the province. Cattle singuarly
free from the complaints which commonly af-
fict them elsewhere. Peuropneumonia and anth
have been heard Of Blackleg once
made its appearance. but was readily checked by
vaccination.
The land in this portion of Chiriqui is of
generally level character. with gentle but con-
stantly prevailing slope toward the ocean. The
llanos may be traversed in any direction by the
lightest vehicles with the which would be ex-
perienced in crossing a lawn. Cart roads are
easily constructed through the forest stretches,
in many cases nothing more being necessary than
to clear the monte and remove rocks and the
larger stones. The existing roads maintain COM
munication between all centers OF habitation and
quite equal to the requirements of any traffic
which they may be called upon to support for
some years to come They not macadamized
but the natural material OF which they are COM
posed is such as to pack well and erode but lit
tle | have extremely heavy downpours OF
rain of them without miring 1t may be re-
peated that the drainage of the entire section un
der consideration is perfect
In the Divala country all nonfordabie streams
bridged. Telegraph and telephone wires con-
meet all the principal points. Extensive improve
highway system and other means of intercom-
munication.
The Pacific Mail and National Navigation com
pany maintain a weekly service between Panama
and David. carrying passengers. mail and freight
including live stock. and calling at way ports, on
a journey occupying from three to six days The
length of time is mainly to be accounted for by
the difficulty In navigating the rivers at low tide
A fast service has lately been introduced. with