New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29


on his back But he is only an employt
Of the sanitary department of the Isthmi-
an Canal Commission sprinkling dedtr
dealing oil upon a breeding place OF the
MOSQUITO. the Insect which is merely a
nuisance In the north, but which IN th'
tropics has killed more people than al
the battles ever fought.
TIE HEALTH CONDITIONS.
Health conditions in Panama and Colon
were considerably improved during the
early mouths Of the American occupation
Of the Canal Zone, but not until the
work was placed under the army enei-
neers. IN 1901. did the isthmus become a
healthy locality. In that year Coiohe'
VIC. Gorgas. who had already been
placod 1t the head of the sanitary depart
mont I'm recognition of his wonderful Work
At Havana. was made a full member oi
the commission and given complete au-
thoritv. lie has bauished yellow loNei
from the Canal Zone, and he has ene'I"-
ally checked the iuroads Of malaria. 10
DAY the Canal Zone Is the healtmest local
itv in the tropics the world over. INC
Panama territory as observed in the natu-
raj color 'kinemacolor pictures at Ca'h.-
cie Lyceun shows this condition oil AZ
fairs.
Porto BelIo. unlike Panama is unln-
tcrestinC TO the tourist who cares Only
for the present and future. but 10 'ne
lover of the past il shares equally IN Al
urenent with the metropolis. II recalls
WILDLY TO mind the days when the clumsy
Spanish ealleous anchored IN inc IN.
bav 90 take on board the Peruvian soN
destined 10 swell the royal treasury al
Madrid. ...
In 10 1894 Non1bre De Dios was the
most important port Of the Atlantic pul
lin that year the King of Spain sent Woro
across the seas 70 transfer the loading OF
the galIeons 30 Porto Bcllo. Strong toru-
Acations were erected here and a con-
siderable town arose in the WildelneSs'
although the site was so unhealthy that
+be settlement showed few signs Of actiV-
NV until the galleons anchored In the
capacious harbor.
WHEN THE FLEET CAME
For months in a stretch Porto Belo
u,as like a city Of the dead: then sue
aorlv would come n message oN'ild"u
c-o,, O,5 Panama that the fleet rom
poru with its precious cargo I'd"
reached the Pacific port of the isti'u'u''
o,,t If the solitary Atlantic would S"oop
dun tho stately galleons from Oari"-
80 which were 10 take the treasures
20 Snain. BY the time that the ships ma"
reached their anchorageS Porto b'ilo was
,oused 90 feverish excitement. SoiuleIS'
,.ad.rs and hucksters thronsed inc
strects as though by magic. emerging il
= steady stream Of men by every Juhs''
trail. 49,. g.,
rben after long and arduous DAYS I'
,be wilderness. the tinlSle of bells on inc
,,,,,,o trains would be heard. ana "''
,'rocious caravans which had forced their
-. overiand from Old Panama Would
ad5 ,,air presence 10 the already over
circulated scenes in the streets ui
porto Rcllo. Gold. silver gems. su'ulse
ornaments and fine wool composed INC
hull, Of these fabulously precious car
..oos which came once each year over the
ir,br,us. Shin after ship, its white sails
enread in proud array. sailed into the
barbor. its guns booming and sailors
cheering. With gay banners hutterinG
from every point of vantage. Advent
,,,.ors Nv hundreds trudged with the
.aravans overland from Old Panama or
etrucsled through the Jungle from sell
Elements along the Atlantic coast. Great
fairs, were hastily. organized in the streets
gambling ran high In many suddenly
awakened ian and tmtrdicd vice reiened
supreme. Then the gailecns sailed away
for Spair and Porto Beilo's glory de
narted with them for another twelve
months Nothing Is left now To remind
lis OF these colorful days except Few
crumbling ruins rapidly disappearing I'M
der the iungles steady encroachments.
THE WET AND DRY PERIODS.
The best season for tourists In Panama
is from December to April. There are
but two seasons in the zone, and. un-
fortunately the wet period lasts twice
as long as the dry. From the middle OF
December 10 the middle Of April almost
no rain falls, but during the remaining
eight months showers are such common
places that the old resident pays little
attention 10 them The tourist, however,
o,.1- g. tho ts4ro1 Ioun in wet