The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-11-24

VERYONE has heard Of Colon,
- the Atlantic terminal of the
Panama canal, and of Cristo-
bal, the American colony lOcat-
ed In the Canal Zone; but how many
of you know that they are twin towns
and named for Columbus? In the Span
ish language Christopher is "Cristobal"
and Columbus would be ."COlOn"-so
Cristobal Colon really Is "Christopher
Columbus"
Approaching Colon harbor you no
tice two long lines projecting out into
Limon bay; these are the east and
west breakwaters, built of massive &C.
ment blocks and piles driven down
many feet into the water. They pro-
tect the harbor from the heavy storms
and 'northers" that sweep along the
coast, writes Alice Sims Mcqueen in
the Los Angeles Times.
Passing between the breakwaters
the New Washington hotel on Colon
beach, owned and built by the United
States government, first attracts your
attention, then your boat comes to a
stop and government health officer
comes aboard to inspect the passen-
gers before they land. After this ex-
animation you slowly pull up to an
enormous concrete pier, one of five,
and you are in Cristobal, Canal Zone,
where Uncle Sans workers on the At
lantic side of the canal chiefly reside.
There are around 1000 Americans liv-
ing in Cristobal and number of fam
lilies residing in Colon, which city has
population of approximately 10000.
Before you land, however, the massive
steel Orders of the new Cristobal coal
ing plant attract your attention. This
is where ships are supplied with coal
before continuing their journey
through the canal or nOrthward.
On the dock the customs officer in
spects your baggage. This ordeal be-
ing over you try to decide which Of
the dilapidated looking coaches with
their underfed, weary horses will be
most apt to carry you safely to the
hotel. There being no choice you take
the first. Jingle, jangle! loudly peals
bell. No, 1t Is not the fire depart
ment, but your driver warning the
crowd that he Is coming, while your
poor old steed does his best at a run.
Along Roosevelt Avenue.
Out past the new Terminal building
of the Panama Railroad company you
drive into street lined with wonder
full cOcOnut palm trees. This Is
"Palm" or Roosevelt" avenue, and be-
fore the big docks and Office buildings
were erected in Crlstobal it was the
choice residence. section Of the town,
commanding an uninterrupted view out
over the changeable waters Of the Ca
ribbean sea, north toward homeland.
The big deserted-looking building at
your left Is the offices of the Hamburg
American Steamship line, little used
since the European war; next is the
United Fruit company's building, while
last Of all is the American fire station,
with its big white horses peering out
Of their stalls as you pass. All this
looks quite hOmelike, save the palms,
but wait until you cross the railroad
Etrack into Colon, where you see the
big commissary that furnishes Ameri-
cans with everything from shoes to
christmas turkey and then it is just
EEOlon, smelly, quaint, native Colon,
$ith her hundred different races and
umberless types, her sweltering
treets and alluring IHindoo and Chi.
ese shops.
You turn cornerand line Of state
royal palms gives you dignified
teeting. This Is Slifer park, where
e native Panamanians and others
Their several times week to listen
the band and gossip. For no Span
b city is complete without "Parque
kntral" and band, no matter how
Tor nor how small both the city and
- band may be. At the end Of the
fk L. the Washington hotel. 1t is OF
Danish architecture, with wide veran.
3 looking out to sea. There is q
drden on all sides, where palms, love
80 red hibiscus and roses grow In
i abundance. A sea wall runs along the
s0nt Of the hotel grounds and love.
3 ri walk cannot be found. This wall
bgs you to the outdoor swimming
. connected with the hotel. It IL
s with ocean water and here for five