The National tribune., 1911-02-09

would be possible in any other aggre-
CATION on earth. The Panama Railroad
spans a distance of about AS miles
from Cristobal and Colon on the Allan
tic side to Panama and La Boca on
the Pacific. Ancon is the American
suburb of Panama, where the great
hospitals are located, and Cristobal
holds a like relation to Colon. Both
are on United States territory, govern
ed by our laws, and are occupied by
canal employees.
Leaving Colon, on the railroad, our
train passes thru such principal towns
as Gatun, seven miles distant. This
is the location of the great dam, with
Eight of three locks. This dam checks
The impetuous and unruly Chagres
River, and will form a lake of an area
Of about 10 square miles, the lake
level being about IS feet above the
main level and with a mean depth of
about 65 feet.
GorgoDa is town of nearly 5000
people. Matachin, two and a half miles
from Gorgona, is notable as the scene
of n scourge of yellow fever, sweeping
more than $500 Cinnamon from the
earth. This was under the De Lesseps
regime in 1887. Obispo, a mile be-
yond, is settlement of nearly 800
souls. Las Cascadas is two miles
farther on. and two miles farther is
the important and beautiful town of
Empire. with an estimated population
of 1000 Inhabitants. East of the rail-
road station is hill some 300 feet
high. This eminence was a fortifica-
ton in use in the old days of eruption
of the Panamancans. 1t is now very
attractive place of residence, overlook
ing a magnificent panorama of busy
work, jungle, hills and happy homes.
The disbursing. office is located at EN-
pirc, and a fine Y. NJ. c. A. building.
In parentheses it is proper to say here
that this great Association has build
ings scattered all along the Zone in it's
principal towns.
A mile or so beyond Empire is sit
uated Culebra, on what is known as
he continental divide" and near the
great cut, the bette noir of so many
wise Alexanders who predict failure of
the construction Of the canal. A prom
inent ex-senator who is able to have
la haircut without removing his hat,
gravely informed the writer recently
that the Culebra Cut would never be
properly finished. While in the Senate
he voted for the Nicaraguan route.
See?
Paraiso is the next stop. eight miles
| from Panama, mile and half beyond
Pedro Miguel, irreverently called
Peter McGilI"; and mile farther is
the city of Panama secures its water
supply. Finally comes CoroZal, on the
| edge of a mangrove swamp, three miles
from the Pacific Ocean, and the ter
mini of the railroad at Panama and La
Boca, the south entrance to the great
| canal.
| The Climate.
The hottest time of the day is from
TO p. m. At that time the average
temperature ranges from 81, in No
| vember, to Sc, in March. The coolest
hour is from to a. m. The nights
are delightfully."- COOL a heavy blanket
being comfortable. This is the saving
| clause Of the whole climatic situation.
i The average humidity is IS degrees,
and the rainfall comes down first rate,
1 as the Frenchman said OF Niagara Al
l Colon the average rainfall is about I 2
i feet yearly, but the inhabitants seem
unmindful of such disorderly conducI
on the part of our old friend Pluvius.
AS one nears the Pacific the rainfall
decreases. At Panama the figure is
about five feet in the year. It's damp
enough, nj that
The Builders.
I Approximately there are now en-
ployed about $4,000 men on the Zone
OF these. 5000 are paid in gold. and
i the others in silvers For the purposes