Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-22
ANCIENT TRAILS OF PANAMA.
Taxicab Emblematical of Great
Changes Taking Place.

route struggled to reach the Pacific
the tourist today may jump into a tax
icab and bowl along finely kept roads
for many miles.
Tie taxi has just made it's appear
ance in Panama. The business has
started off with a rush, and the We
hicles now here will be added to in a
few weeks by several more which have
been ordered by the local company.
Automobile trips cannot extend all
the way across the isthmus. for there
is no highway from ocean to ocean, nor
is ii probable that any such road will
be built in the near future, because
the construction of the Panama canal
has formed a lake in the middle of the
isthmus l64 square miles in area, with
broad arms stretching out in all di-
rectians into the holloWs between the
hills. Only one location for such a
road is practicable and that is along
the right of way of the Panama rail-
road. which skirts the eastern side of
the lake. This would be very costly
construction.
North of this lake, however, toward
the Atlantic ocean. there is good
macadam road leading from Gatun
half a dozen motor cars for hire in CO.
Ion. and it is only a matter of en- hour
to take the ride from the city of Ga
tun. And it is worth while, too, be-
cause every inch of the way is inter-
esting. the elimination coming at Ca
tun, where the locks and dam are UNI
der construction. and from whose hill
one can see the Atlantic entrance to
the canal, with the dredges at work
there and the water lying beyond the
roofs Of Colon.
In Colon itself there is a road along
the waterfront. past the hospital, that
has certain quiet charm, but on the
whole that city is tawdry looking and
full of strange smells, although really
it is very clean
South of Gatun lake. between the
village of Gorgona and the city of Pan
anna, there is q number of good high
ways. each offering some special in
ducement for the automebilist. Tour
lists seem to favor the trip from the
present city To the site of the old city
of Panama. a distance of about seven
miles This is over good macadam
road which runs along the foot Of
low ridge with rolling sabanas
stretching out toward the bay. Here
and there from the top of some rise
in the highway a glimpse of the ocean
may be obtained. The last mile of the
tourney is over the location of the Ca
nina Real" or Kings highway. along
which the rich trade of old Panama
was carried long ago.
There is little to see. for Panama
i,fs
towns today. probably never NUMBER
ing more than 10000 persons. and With
in the walls was only part OF TINS
popuiation. After the pirate morgan
capt ared the city, on January ~, lefi'
the governor burned it, and three years
later new town was started on the
site of the present city OF PANAMA.
ONLY few cid masonry walls, nan u
dozen beautiful arches and an impos-
ing looking tower mark the site of one
of the three great cities of the ne"
world three centuries ago.
From the romance of other days To
that of the present is but an houf
rid in Panama, for by turning hofeh-
ward from the road to OLD Pahaiiia
ones car can be sent along soou
highway that runs along the Panama
canal far % miles. The glimpse az
forded of the canal construction as the
motor car glides along is not close en-
ous. to permit of any real knowledge
of the work, but it is comprehensive
for If includes dredging in the Paclhc
entrance. lock construction at Mira
cores and Pedro Miguel, and the eX-
cavation in Culebra cut.
of
highway leaves the edge of the canal
to run behind Cold hill for two mics
or more. The hill shuts off the busy
life of the canal, and one may HOOK
across She valley of the Pedro Misuei
river upon as tangled a bit OF tropie'h
Jungle as will be found in Central Am
erica. the hill once passed. the cahai
again appears, with Culepfa CUT
stretching away into the distance. Inc
roar of dynamite blasts, the whls.iilis
of n score of locomotives, the efuhch-
ING of the heavily-laden art trains.
and the monctonous hammering oi
drills heat upon the ear, while the eye
;s hold by a sweep of green hills on
whose stones are the homes of the can
al builders Immediately in the fore
ground is the yawning chasm that has
been dug.
At Empire the ear turns and crosses
the canal on a temporary suspension
brid ge Always there is a stop Of sew
eral minutes here. for from this point
can be obtained the best intimate
view of the great Culebra cut. where
up to a few days ago in the deep
trench 80 giant steam shovels were
digging away. so trains were shifting
here and there and 5000 men We're
working.
During the rest of the ride the road
is so far removed from the canal that
only the noises Of the excavation indi-
cate where the work is going on. The
road runs through fertile but untitled
rolling country. down the main streets
of three canal villages, past the camps
Of the army and marine corps. into the
village of Gorgona, where the great
machine shops, now practically desert
ed, lie spread out before you, and the
water of Gatun lake puts an END TO
the ride.
There are several shorter rides On
the canal zone, each with peculiar
interest One of these is on tie ROAD
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