Omaha daily bee., 1914-02-01
Carpenter on Colombia and Panama Canal
copyrighted, 1914, BY Frank @ Carpenter

NCopyrlghteds 1919, by Frank c. CArponter)
N the Pacific ocean off the
LM coast OF Colombia am
EX seated on the deck OF the
lH...u Peruvian steamer Huallaga.
1&0RF sailing southwark along the
- west coast of the South Amer
can continent We left BaItoa and
the Panama canal two DAYS ago.
Going out as the sun was Just set.
ting over our Notifications on the Islands
OF Flamenco, Perico and Naos. we
sailed past these islands, and when not
far from Tabagoga turned southward.
We are now little north OF the equator,
moving along the coast OF Colombia. we
are in the doldrums or one of equatorial
calms where there Is so little wind that
sailing vessels will hardly be able TO reach
the canal. The air is almost still, ant
were it not for the slight breeze we have
from the northeast trade winds 1t would
be sitting. As 1t is. the sea seems to
steam. The ocean is a vast sheet Of
molten silver, which now and then, rip
pies into moving ocean of diamonds
under the tropical sun In the shadow OF
the vessel the water is indigo blue, out
on the opposite side there Is nothing but
vast eNpanse of this dazzling steamlng
sea.
On the Biggest of Oceans.
ms rs the mishty Pacific, into the
heart OF which we have cut our way by
the Panama canal. 1t Is here at the
equator that the ocean is widest; and its
waters stretch from where I now am, a
distance Of almost 10000 miles before
they rench Asia. The Pacific ocean has
three-eishths of all the salt water on the
globe, and within a rew years it will be
covered with trade routes whose focus
will be the Isthmus Of Panama. Many
OF the countries OF the world are already
building steamers. Japan has several
lines under way. and there is hardly
great port in Europe that is not prepar-
ing to send ships to Panama.
All down this west coast of South
America they are planning to take ad-
vantage of the new waterway. The YES
sci on which am travelling is subsidized
by the Peruvian government. Another
line of ships sailing along this coass be-
longs to the Chileans. and the day left
Panama one of the largest vessels % the
Pacific Steam Navigation company, the
old British line, started south, 70 call at
the west coast ports the same day. ]
could have gone to Guayaquil ON the
Manavi, but that ship would nave taken
eleven days to have made the less than
800 miles between the two ports, whereas
the Huallaga made II in less than three. |
The Manavi is little British boat of 1000 |
tons, and its passenger rates are ever
10 cents a mile. The fare from Panama |
to Guayaquil is $3.50. IT is so hign that
II you had to pay at the same rate. 1t |
would cost you $500 to cross the Atlantic |
from the United States to Europe. and
something like $500 to go from San Fran
cisco to Shanghai I have bought !
through passage from Panama to Callao |
Peru, on this steamer and have paid for
is just about 500. The distance iiraat is
only 1,S4s miles or about as far as from
New York to New Orleans, a trip that
can be made by rail for less than one
third the amount.
Ship Like n Farmyard.
And still 1 like these Peruvian steam
ers. They are unlike those OF any other
part of the world The cabins are large |
and they open out upon deck with win
dows and doors. You can sit In your
room as though on a porch, and loo9 cut
over the ocean, and the windows and
doors can be kept open both Say and
night The ship carries much Of it's own
live stock on board, and / awake every
morning thinking / am on my mountain
farm in Virginia. There is Growing of
roosters and a cackling of geese and A,
ducks. We carry about 200 fowls on
board, and the stewards gather the eggs
every morning. The omeet / had for
breakfast today was almost fresh from
the hen, and 1t was far better than the
cold storage egg that one gets at Uncle
Sans hotels on the isthmus.
New BOnt TO Ride On.
We have breakfast at II o'clock, which
my boy Carl says is peach Of a time
for the meal. The times of eating here
are strictly IAtin-American. They begin
with desayuno, which is a cup of black
coffee and a cracker served in your room
upon rising. After that comes almuerzzo
o. the first breakfast. at II, consisting OF
a soup and fish. steak or eggs, with ba-
nanas and oranges at the close, We have
tea at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. and at
table d'hote dinner. The cooking is
Spanish, and Is not at all bad. The
walters are natives, and the bills of fare
are in Spanish. so that Carl takes his
dictionary to the table to order his meals.
CoIombia's Pacific Port.
The Huallaga has just about 5000 tons.
IT is new boat made in France about
two years ago. 1t burns oil as fuel, and
it can make sixteen knots an hour. 1t is
very steady and is exceedingly comfort-
able.
Just now we are moving rapidly down
the west coast Of Colombia, but so far
out that the land cannot be seen. II is
only the small steamers like the Manayi
that call at the ports on that coast, and
this will be the case until the Panama
canal is opened.
There are a half dozen Colombian ports
on tho Pacific, the largest Of which are