The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-03

lCOnyriEnt, l5lf, ny EIdhh
penter.)
In IN, Pacific Ocean, of the coast OF
Colombia.
am seated on the deck Of the Pc
ruyian steamer Huallaga, sailing
soutnward along the west coast OF the
South American continent. we lett
Balboa and the anam Canal two
dAys ago, going out as the sun was
,ust setting over the fortiflcationS on
the Islands Of Flamenco. Perico ana
Naos. We sailed past these n
n when not far from Taboga turn
er southwark. We are now a nttle
north Of the equator, moving along |
the coast Of Colombia. We are In the
doldrums or zone of equatorial Gains,
where there Is so little wind that sail
ing vessels will hardly be able 10
reach the canal. The air is almost
still. and were il not for the sllght
breeze we have from the northeast
trade winds it would be sitting. AS
IL is. the sea seems to steam. Inc
ocean Is a vast sheet Of molten silver,
which now and then, rippled by the
light winds, is transformed into a
moving ocean of diamonds under the
tropical sun. In the shadow OF the
vessel the water is indigo blue, but
on the opposite side there is notnins
but a vast expanse of this dazzling
steaming sea.
This is the mighty 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 it's waters stretch from where l
now am, a distance of almost 10000
miles before they reach Asia. The
Pacific Ocean has three-eights OF all
the salt water on the globe, and with
in a few 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 Japan has several
lines under way. and there is hardly
a great port in Europe that is not
preparing to sem ships to Panama.
All down this west coast of South
America they are planning to take
advantage of the new waterway. The
vessel on which am travelling is sub
sidized by the Peruvian government
Another line of ships sailing along
this coast belongs to the Chileans, ano
the day ! left Panama one Of n lar
gest vessels OF the Pacific Steam Nav
igation Company, the old British line
started south, to call at the west coas
ports the same day. I could have
gone to Guayaauil on the ManavL. Blu
thai ship would nave taken clever
lays to have made the less tina 80t
miles between the two ports, whereai
the Huallaga made it in less thai
three. The Manavl Is a little British
boat of 1000 tons, n its passense
rates are over 10 cents a mile. TIL
fare from Panama to Guayaquil i
$3.50. 1t is SO high that if you ha'
to pay at the same rate, 1t would Coz
you $500 to cross the Atlantic fror
the United States to Europe. an
something like $500 to go from Sa
Francisco to Shanghai. I have bough
rO,oh DAccoO o FROM pQn0ma Z
Callao, Peru, on this steamer, an
have paid for 1t just about 500. TIL
distance direct is only 1896 miles, c
about as far IS from New York t
New Orleans, a trip that can be mac
by rail for less than one-third tn
amount.
And still l like these Peruvia
steamers. They are unlike those
any other part of the world. TT
cabins are large and they open o.
upon deck with windows and dOOr
You can sit in your room as thong
on a porch. and look out over II
ocean. and the windows and doc
can be kept open both day and nigf
Thes hip carries much Of its own Ii
stock on board, and l awake eve
morning thinking ] am IN my mou
tain farm in Virginia There is
growing Of roosters and a cackling
6CSoN oAo NN>NS wv -
fowls on board, and the stewar
gather the eggs every morning. T
Omelet / had for breakfast today "
almost fresh from the hen, and it "
Tar better than the cold storage e
that one gets at Uncle Sans hot
on the isthmus.
We have breakfast at IL o'clo<
which my boy Carl says Is a peach
a time for the meal. The times
eating here are strictly Latin Anne
can. They begin with desayul
which Is a cup OF black coffee and
cracker served in you room UP
rising. After that comes afmuer.
or the first breakfast, at II, consi
ing Of a soup and fish. steak or eg
with bananas n oranges at /,
close We have tea at 4 o'clock
the afternoon. and at I table oh
dinner. The cooking Is Spanish.
is not at all bad. The walters
natives, and the bills Of fare are