The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-05-22

sold at very low price. One steward
exchanged a bottle of Schlitz beer for a
parrot. At Port Limon we stopped
about one day, then proceeded to Colon.
1t was on arrival at Colon that we were.
many of US, hurried off to the quarantine
station for a couple of days as we had
not been on the voyage long enough to
clear US from that law. We had to
make twenty-five dollar deposit for
quarantine when we bought our tickets.
Imagine being put in place to suffer
and having to pay for it, besides rum
ming the risk OF taking some disease
While there, as there were hundreds of
Passengers from other ships in quaran-
tine and if one case of yellow fever broke
out we were all elected to stay ten days.
These are some of the trials and tribu-
lations of a traveller while in the tropics.
We were only too glad to reach the
new Hotel Washington, just completed
at Colon. 1t has all modern improve
ments, including a fine large swimming
pool for the use of the guests and canal
employees.
Panama never before in it's history has
had such busy year. Millions of tour
lists have come from all parts of the
world to view the big Ditch before
the water is let in. Many new buildings
and streets have been built since was
there last year. The new hotel has been
overlooking and thousands Of tourists
were there trying to get booking on
some ship for the north. 1t was with
great difficulty that was able to secure
one, although there were ships leaving
daily. Business is rushing and thousands
OF Panama hats and Culebra cut stones
have been sold to the tourists this year
as souvenirs. The whole place seems full
of energetic Americans and life on the
isthmus has become very gay. Work is
progressing rapidly along the canal.
The construction work is divided into
three divisions. First, the Atlantic di-
vivision extending to Gatun Lake, in
GLIDING the locks and dam. Second, the
central division. extending from Gatun
to Pedro Miguel. Third, the Pacific di-
vision extending from Pedro Miguel to
the Pacific Ocean. The Canal Zone is
strip of territory 10 miles wide, extend
ing 5 miles on each side of the center line
of the Canal. The city of Colon and
Panama do not belong to the u S. A.
but in matters of sanitation are subject
to the jurisdiction of the U. S. A. To the
newcomer it is hard to realize where
Cristobal begins and Colon leaves off and
also at Ancon and Panama. The Allan
tic side of the isthmus is very low. The
interior is billy, and one hill near Culebra
is over 800 feet. The Pacific side is more
broken along the shore. The whole way
across the isthmus is dotted with little
towns. The tropical vegetation is beau
tiful. Most interesting to the average
tourists are the locks. and especially
those at Gatun, which are nearing COM
pletlon. There are twin locks here which
have a width of 10 feet, and disable
length Of a thousand feet A lock con-
sists of two high walls and bottom of
concrete and water tight gates at the
end. Every precaution and new device
has been adopted to make these locks
safe and at Gatun it is planned to have
ships towed through by electric locomo-
tlves running on the walls at the sides
of the locks. Two million three hundred
thousand yards of concrete will have
been placed in Gatuu Locks and spillway
when 1T is finished. 1t is at these locks
at present that work is most dangerous.
Ten miles from Panama city is Culebra,
where the big cut has been made. FIRE.
quent land slides have interfered great
deal with the work at this place. The
French began the work here and at the
time the U. S. A bought the canal many
millions of cubic yards of rock and earth
had been excavated. The formation of
the land is such that people fear that
there will always be trouble from these
land slides. There are about IS, 900 canal
employees, including all colors and kinds.
The canal when finished will be fifty
miles long, elevation about eighty-five
feet, minimum depth Of about forty
one feet and is to have five locks. 1t is
the opinion of many that the canal will
cost many millions more than was esti-
mated and when finished will operate at
loss. But all who visited the Isthmus
this year are convinced that the big
Ditch" will surely be completed.
sailed on United Fruit Line for New
Orleans and upon arrival there took
Forty-hour Limited for New York.