Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-18

COLON, October 6.-colon is gro
tesque in Its ugliness- Ancon Is
tropical spotless town. pretty and fresh
as a water-color sketch. Panama Is an
ancient Spanish city of soft colors and
indolent ways, where the ships OF the
world have set down samples OF
dozen races. All the cities of the 18TH
mus are exotics, such as could not ex-
list anywhere else in the world.
Colon is at tho Atlantic entrance to
the canal and is the principal port OF
the isthmus. Once 1t was a feverIin-
tested swamp, where a few natives led
a precarious existence. The present
city stands upon land made by the canal
builders 1t has been made healthful,
but not beautiful. The greater part OF
the town is tumble of twe-story
frame houses, painted a dingy blue,
where live innumerable swarming fam
lilies of Panamans, Jamafcans, Span
tards, Italians and Cinnamon, whose
progeny wander naked about the mar
row streets and dispute with dogs and
parrots and monkeys for stray bits of
food.
Such is the native part of Colon. At
one end of it. across the zone line, are
the splendid government terminals,
reaching out like brown and brawny
arms to the ships in Limon bay. Back
Of them are neat, little buff and red Of
fees, representing all the principal
steamship companies that ply regu-
larly through the canal. Here, too. are
the screened-in houses of the canal en-
ployes, perched upon posts in fnical
isolation, each in the middle of tiny
lawn, with a couple OF cocoanut palms
nodding above.
4
FIRE. The last one occurred only few
months a o.
Colon Undergoes 1t swept
Publication by Fire. Of blocks of
the fimsy frame structures, leaving
hundreds Of natives homeless. Ameri-
can army tents have been set up In
long rows to accommodate them, and
there tho refugees live in perfect con-
tentment, occasionally even expert
menting with the shower baths which
Uncle Sam has thrown In for good
measure.
It Ia provided by law that no house
can be replaced except by a f1reproof
structure There have been seven
great fires in Colon in five years. 1t
Is only a matter Of time until all Of the
present town of finder and squalor will
be swept away and replaced with neat,
concrete sctuctures.
At the other end of the canal are
Balboa, Ancon and Panama City. An
con. the choicest residence village of
looking the bay. where the coolest
breezes blow. 1t has all been laid out in
one beautiful lawn without fences or
coping. Great mango trees here
spread their generous shade, and
stately royal palms wave over pretty
hedges where the red hibiscus flares.
Roads as perfect as floors wind like
ribbons about Ancon hill. and the neat
jitney bus with ~. g." painted on its
side saves the fortunate employees the
trouble Of walking.
The new administration building at
Balboa splendidly typifes the perma-
nent regime upon the Canal Zone. 1t
is perched on a hill that commands a
magnificent view OF Panama bay and
back door there is view still more
enhancing to the old canal employe
Standing there, he can see the tunnels
and stacks Of the great steamers pass !
ing through the canal.
The administration building Is the |
central ofioe of all canal business. It
is built Of steel
Central Office Of and hollow tile
Canal Business. an, ,na ,.s onnefs ssn., in
sance style. It's walls are of a buff
color that glows pleasantlNsin the soft