Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-01-02
Trips the Auto Can Make-Tourists
May See Many Interesting Sights,
but Cannot Motor From
Ocean to Ocean.

New York.-Along the trail where
the pirate Morgan and his men made
their way more than 200 years ago.
and where the '49ers who chose the
isthmian route. struggled to reach the
Pacific. the tourist today may jump
into a taxicab and bowl along finely
kept roads for many miles.
The taxi has just made its appear
ance in Panama, writes the Panama
correspondent of the New York
Times. The business has started on
with a rush and the vehicles now here
will be added to in a few weeks by
several more which have been or
dered by the local company.
Automobile trips cannot extend all
the way across the isthmus. for there
is no highway from ocean to ocean.
nor is 1t probable that any such road
will be built in the near future. be-
cause the construction Of the Panama
canal has formed lake in the middle
of the isthmus 1874 square miles In
area. with broad arms stretching out
in all directions into the hollows be-
tween the hills. Only one location for
such a road is practicable. and that
is along the right of way Of the Pana-
ma railroad. which skirts the eastern
side of the lake. This would be very
costly construction.
: North of this lake. however, toward
the Atlantic ocean. there Is a good
macadam road leading from Gatun
locks to the city Of Colon. There are
half a dozen motor cars for hire tn
Colon. and it is only a matter Of an
hour to take the ride from the city
to Gatun. And It is worth while. too.
because every inch Of the way is In.
teresting. the elimination coming at
Gatun, where the locks and dam are
under construction. and from whose
hill one can see the Atlantic entrance
to the canal. with the dredges al
work there and the water lying be-
yond the roofs Of Colon.
In Colon itself there h q road
along the water front. past the hos
pital. that has a certain quiet charm
but on the whole that city IL tawdry
looking and full of strange smells
although It is very clean.
South Of Gatun lake, between the
village Of Gorgona and the city ol
Panama, there Is q number Of goot
highways. each offering some specia
inducement for the automobilist
Tourists seem to favor the trip from
the present city to the site Of the oil
city Of Panama, q distance Of abou
seven miles. This IL over a goot
macadam road, which runs along thu
foot of low ridge. with rolling saba
mas stretching out toward the bay
Here and there from the top of SOM
rise in the highway a glimpse Of tn
ocean may be obtained. The las
mile of the Journey is over the locs
ton of the Gamma Real" or king
highway. along which the rich trad
of old Panama was carried long age
There is little to see. for Panam
was not a large city. as tourists kno,
towns today. probably never number
ing more than 10000 persons. an
within the walls was only part G
this population. After the pirate Mo-
gan captured the city. on Jan. II
1911, the governor burned It. an
three years later new town wa
started on the site of the present cit
of Panama, Only a few old masonr
walls. half q dozen beautiful archie
and an imposing looking tower mar
the site of one Of the three great Ct
les of the new world three centurie
ago.
From the romance of other days
that of the present Is but an hour