The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-18
ny FnAvr1 G. CARPENTER.

Panama city, Panama.
~ He Pansmanian government is re-
building the road 70 old Panama.
l. This road runs over the way
picked out by the Spaniards centuries
ago. and much OF the new pavement
IL relaid with the cobblcstones over
which tho Indians and mules carried
their csrgoes OF gold from tho Allan
tic to tho Pacific. All tho treasures or
the Incas which Pizarro stole passed
over this highway. They amounted 10
millions and were enough to have al
most paved u with gold. Tho road
went from here over the old Cruces
trail. II was originally covered with
neid rock, and our government is now
planning TO reopen IL. and 1t Will ma
cada mize the highway as far as
Cruces on the chagres River. distance
OF about eighteen miles 1t vas over
that road that Henry Morgan. the buc-
cancer came to capture old Panama,
and IL remained the chief Highway
across rho Istmus until 1855. when
the Spanish treasure ships stopped call
Ing al Porto Beilo.
In old Panama.
drove on, over this road to-day
10 visit OLD Panama. Governor Mau-
rice II Thatcher. who VIII have charge
OF the repairs on the Cruces road was
the work now being done on the road
10 old Panama.
Leaving Ancon. We skirted the savan-
mas or open grazing country outside.
crossed the limits OF tho Canal Zone
and after "a ride OF about seven or
eight miles came to the old Spanish
bridge beyond which are tho ruins OF
what was once tho most Important
town on our hemisphere
Old Panama was founded Just about
100 years before our Pilgrim Fathers
landed on Plymouth Rock. 1t was fe.!
b. the riches of Peru, which were
brought for shipment across TIC 18TH
mus and rapidly grew. As time went
on the city increased in Importance
and mighty buildings were erected.
One Of these was q cathedral, the tower
and some of the walls " wnich are
stu standing. ! have climbed into the
tower and had myself Photographed
IN one o; the second story windows
The tower Is. 1 judge 100 feet high.
and at one side Of ii is great well
containing the stairway which led TO
the bell on its summit.
These ruins are now overgrown with
vegetation. They are half buried in
the earth, and in places trees have
sprouted and now shade the ruins.
Inside the walls of the cathedral is
-one tree more than 100 feet high.
Others have spread their roots about
tho walls as though TO protect them,
and some have raised parts of the
walls and carried them up with them.
the whole country about is covered
with the debris of the old masonry,
Including bricks and pieces OF pottery
and carved stone All wero a part of
the Panama OF three centuries ago.
In making the new roadway great
deal of The old site has been dug over
and the land reminds one OF the plowed
fields about Carthage in Northern
LAfrica.
Panama in 1000.
1t is said by the best authorities that
old Panam was considerably larger
than the Panama of to-day. When
destroyed by the pirates it had over
fifty thousand inhabitants 1t had
200 warehouses. 1000 fine dwellings
and 5000 houses of ordinary build
Many of it's buildings wero Of brick
The bricks were made square and were
about two inches thick they were
burnt red. Many of these bricks lie
jabout the ruins to-day.
am told that it is the intention
,of the Panama government 10 max C