The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-01-23
* TRIP TO PANAMA

mouth of the river when another o
charge to conduct us over the bars of
the South West Pass. 1t was nice
weather during tile whole voyage.
There are orange groves between ew
Orleans and the gulf. aud much of the
country is well settled. AS we entered
the Gulf we observed many long %jetties
which have been built by the govern
ment to protect the channel.
On Dec, 2Sth we arrived at Port
Barriers, Guatemala, where some
passengers We're discharged, and many
Others taken aboard, most of these be.
ing refugees who were leaving Mexico
on account of the revolution. Most of
them We're hound for South American
ports. On the 30th we arrived at Port
Limon GOstarica, Here we made q
stop of SO hours. and we were given an
opportunity to take in the town. There
for the first time in our lives we saw
tropical vegetation fully developed on
its own native soil. All inds of palms
magnolia, bread fruit and evergreens
of many kinds. Everything was green.
We started for San Jose at 10 a m
For the first fifty miles it is Jungle
along the sea level, then there is a rise
tn an elevation of 45Op feet in going a
distance of ~ miles. up to the city of
Garbage which stands on the divide.
near the volcano which two years ago
destroyed the city. The crater was
plainly eel from the train. From
Carriage to San Jose. the elevation de
creases to $500 feet. Here we saw the
best agricultural section any where on
the route. Fruit and vegetables grow
in abundance, but tie chief product is
coffee, which is of the finest quality
There is some open prairie, and the
climate is much more healthful than
on the lower ground zeal the sea level
When we arrived at San JOSE, the
/ bull fight was just over, ending with a
national feast which lasted several days.
There was a great display of military
music and the buildings were beauti-
fully decorated with flags. We visited
| he cathedral and other church build
ngs, erected several centuries AGO, and
1ne a not help noticing the Spanish
customs which prevail. The dwellings
IN San Jose are built mostly of adobe
hut are plastered and painted. The
business and public buildings are all
built mostly OF stone, and roofs covered
with tile until within the past few
years when galvanized roofing, impor-
ted from the U. S. is being used. The
streets are narrow like the streets Of
most cities plated several centnries
go Most sidewalks are so narrow
tsiat they accommodate only one per
son.
We started from San Jose at 9 a m.
the next day for Port Limon, and ar
rived thsreat 5p. IN. it being a distance
OF iNS miles, but tbe tine required was
due 10 many hills and curves.
Our ship was waiting in Port Limap
md we sailed for Colon where we ar
rived at s m, Jan. 2. Then we took
the train for Gatun Locks, which were
. great sight. This great engineering
work may be divided into three sepa-
rate classes 1st-the dam; End the
socks and Bird the spillway.
On the Bird We took the train for the
cry OF Panama where we stayed five
ltiays. While there we looked over the
! town, climbed Ancon hill where there
Is a good view of the city, harbor, and
the entrance to the canal from the
Pacifie side. On the 9th we took q
government sight seeing train to the
Mirafiores and Pedro Miguel locks.
q next day we took a Sightseeing
!, train into Culebra Cut. From the New
Panama Railroad about 4 miles from
Cniebra Gut toward the west one can
see.the elevation from which it is s,,n.
posed that Balboa first saw the waters
OF he Pacific ocean Here is where
the heaviest work is done and $50 train
loads # dirt and stone Of 20 cars each
are hauled out every day. Very few
people realize that the u S. govern
ment is engaged in the biggest Job in
me history OF man, in undertaking the
nstrnction Of the Panama canal.
The visitor to the Isthmus sees only
a of the work which is done. and
x is hard for him to get a comprehen-
Isive idea Of the gigantic proportions Of
2 undertaking, but the following
figures may be Interesting. Length
from ocean to ocean SO miles, average
bottom width $40 feet, depth 4l fee,
The Gatun dam and locks are the
largest IN the world Length 1900 feet
3Widtha bottom 1900 to 22an feet: height
OF crest of dam alb We sea level lis feet.
width OF crest 100 feet. The area Of
s4atun Lake which will be formed by.
this dam will be 1854 square miles.
Where are now forests and some
small towns aud the old track Of