Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-20

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Colon. C. Z.-Fraquently the on
cials OF the Republic OF Panama
the minor ores-hsve been ridi-
culed for the combination Of stu
pidity and pomposity that governs
their conduct. Sometimes the rid
icule 10 not deserved, but often It ID.
Some months ago an American resi-
dent Of tho city Of Panama imported .
pair of riding boots from the states,
and In his manifest submitted to the
native customs authorities he 20 listed
them. with the price, $3.50. The paper
was returned to him with curt instruo-
lions to correct 1t. Not knowing how
he had erred. he consulted the customs
man and was told the boots must b
listed a. two separate articles, thus:
Zone riding boot, value $4.76; one rid
ing boot, value 34.76." Mr.. American
complied silently. and received his
boots.
The Isthmus Of Panama does not
belong to the English, never did, and
there are not many real rnglishmen
there. Yet tho presence Of large
number of British subjeots-the ia
maican negroes--has forced on tho In
habitants an English custom. that Of
vehicles taking the left side Of the
road. Probably this = due to the fact
thak ot =
maicans. All the people Of that island
are intensely proud Of being subjects
Of King George, and they are tenacious
OF such British customs 10 they know.
Every cabby In Panama and Colon
and their number Is legion carries
either . bicycle gong or IN automobile
horn with. which to warn other We
hicles and pedestrians of his approach.
and on busy day tho noise IL more
unpleasant than that Of the blasting
In the Culebra cut.
Speaking Of the blasting reminds me
that one Of the very high up engineers
ON the canal Job Is exceedingly afraid
of dynamite. He IL also q strict dis
ciplinarian and does not allow the
workmen to loaf Whenever one Of
the frequent "doby shots" or small
blasts is to be fired, the nearest steam
shovel emits series of short, quick
toots and the men scurry to cover. As
soon as Mr.. Engineer appears in the
cut to see that the laborers are losing
no time. the warning whistles are
heard from steam shovels al along the
way and he speedily returns to his ".
Aco on the hill, leaving the unprodded
workmen TO resume their leisurely
gait
Tourists nocked to the canal sone
n such increasing numbers that the
Panama Railway company-which
means the United States government
decided to erect new Washington
hotel In Colon to supplant the old hos
+! telry Of that name. Tho architect de-
signed 1 handsome four-story struc-
tire Of concrete and, to take full adj
/ vantage OF the cool breeses from the
! Atlantic, provided In his plans for .
large roof garden and two dumb walt
ers running up to 1t. The builders made
the roof ali right. and put in the dumb
walters, but when the hotel was near
! ing completion some ono discovered
there was no opening In the roof for
| the aforesaid dumb walters. The NEG
essary changes would cost several hun
! dred dollars, and the government Of.
ficial who passed upon tho expendi.
lures decided against making them as
the hotel already had cost more than
had been expected. Consequently
those two dumb walters run up to the
ceiling Of the fourth story and there
stop. while the roof garden, having no
service, remains unopened.
Charlie Ying, q moOn.faced celestial.
had prospered on the isthmus and de.
cided not long ago to open an "Ameri-
can bar" He knew some English for
he used to work on the docks at Can
ton. but when it came to the impor-
tant matter OF wording his sign he
thought best to consult another China
man, who formerly lived in Chicago.
This was the result Of their Joint Of.
| fort:
AMERICAN BAR
i WE SERVE WHISKY COOKIES
AND GIN RICKTAILS.