The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-11-24

w-A VERYONE has heard of Colon, |
I'D the Atlantic terminal of the
Panama canal, and Of Crfsto-
bal, the American colony locat-
ed in the Canal Zone; but how many
of you know that they are twin towns
located on the Island of ManZanillo
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 ce-
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
ullChliOn, tDCh yOuL DOuL ink w "
stop and a government health officer
comes aboard to inspect the passen-
gers before they land. After this ex-
animation you slowly pull up to an
m 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 liy-
ing in Cristobal and a number of fam
lilies residing in Colon, which city has
a 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
q bell. No, 1t is not the fire depafG-
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 a street lined with wonder
full coconut palm trees. This is
EDaJD,,g rs, GsD aACOro1fSt ouan1n ond ha-
fore the big docks and Office buildings
were erected in Cristobal it was the
choice residence section of the town,
commanding an uninterrupted view out
owe the ~changeable waters of the Ca
ribbean sea, north toward homeland
The big deserted-looking building al
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
track into Colon, where you see the
big commissary that furnishes Ameri
cans with everything from shoes to
Christmas turkey and then 1t is just
Colon, smelly, quaint, native Colon
with her hundred different races and
numberless types, her sweltering
streets and alluring Hindoo and Chi
nese shops.
You turn a corner and a line of state
ly royal palms gives you a dignified
greeting. This is Slifer park, where
the native Panamanians and others
gather several times a week to lister
to the band and gossip. For 40 Span
ish city is complete without a "ParQut
Central" and a band, 10 matter how
poor nor how small both the city anC
the band may be. At the end of the
. park is the Washington hotel. 1t is OF
Spanish architecture, with wide veran
das looking out to sea There is 6
garden on all sides, where palms, love
ly red hibiscus and roses grow ii
abundance. A sea wall runs along the
a front of the hotel grounds and q love
lier walk cannot be found. This wal
brings you to the outdoor swimming
pool connected with the hotel. 1t Il
fed with ocean water and here for iv'