Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-10-06

- of land through foreign terri
tory and built therein the
great Panama canal, Uncle
Sam quite naturally felt that, as the
work neared completion. there also
should be a capital city from which the
strip could be governed and the canal
managed. Therefore he built Balboa.
Balboa is the permanent town at the
southern end of the canal, is the seat
Of government, the residence of the
governor and the headquarters of ca
nal construction and management. In
short, it is to the Canal Zone what
Washington is to the United States.
Balboa was named in honor of Vasco
Nunez de Balboa, who, "silent, upon
a peak in Darien." first saw the dis
tant waters of the Pacific ocean and
thus became known to history as it's
discoverer. writes II. II. Updegraff, in
the st. Louis Republic.
The town of Balboa is not the first
village that Uncle Sam has built along
the route of the canal. 1t probably
will be the last, however. But, unlike
these others, which were no more than
permanent in character. 1t is to last
as long as the CANAL which. indeed, is
as long as time itself. There is an
other difference between this new
town, this capital of the Canal Zone.
and the other canal villages, and that
is that much more money has been
and is being spent to make it the most
attractive place of residence on the
entire isthmus. In fact, 1T is Uncle
Sans model town.
An American Community.
Notwithstanding its wholly unamer-
can name. Balboa is thoroughly
American community. Its inhabitants
are all American, for 1t was built with
the intention of giving the American
canal workers and operatives an ideal
spot in which to have their homes, in
which to rear their children under
proper American surroundings, and
where it would be possible to have q
wholesome American atmosphere. The
only foreigners who are part of the life
In Balboa are the West Indian negro
servants, most of whom, however, live
elsewhere.
While Balboa is wholly American, II
is yet quite unlike any American city
or town Of its size "back home" in the
states. 1t has absolutely no political
atmosphere. 1t is difficult to conceive
an American town, no matter how
small, that has no mayor no city coun
ell, no political boss and hence nc
politics. Balboa has none of these.
The Canal Zone is prohibition terri
tory and, therefore, Balboa has not 9
single saloon within it's limits. In thi:
respect it also is different from a ma
jority of the cities and towns "bacl
home" The poor mans club" i!
wholly unknown, not only because
there are no poor men on the Cana
Zone, but also because they are pro
hibited. The occasional tippler mus
either maintain his own private littl,
bar in his own home or journey to til,
neighboring city of Panama, where tn,
"cantinas" are both numerous ant
well stocked and where everything /!
| wide open and the bars never close.
In place of the poor mans club
of the cities "back home" there is tn,
spacious building of the Young Men!
Christian association which fills all tn,
needs of club for the men, meetin,
| 60 tho
playhouse fer the children. A separate
! as well as general, room or rooms 4
reserved for each. Not far away Il
the 25-acre athletic field which is nov
under construction with lavishnes
and detail such as no politically self
governed city in the United States cal
boast of. 1t was all done without ex
pense to the population for there ar
no taxes to be paid in this model tow
of Uncle Sans.
Site Was Once a Swamp.
The site Of Balboa, between AncOl
and Sosa hills, originally was swami
which was filled In. 1t was chosen be
cause of its proximity to the huge ma
chine shops and other canal activitie
at the southern end Of the waterway
1t also was chosen because it woul,
be near the capital city. Panama, o
the Republic Of Panama and would
therefore, place the two capitals int
quick communication. This was neces
sary because Of the varied interels
tionship between the two countries du
to the building and operation Of tn
Panama canal.
Only q small portion, however. 1