The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-04-13
A Trip To Panama
az nerhert j. Drane. N. ID

Friday March is, was uneventful,
the voyagprS being tired.
Saturday, March 10, the ship was
anchored while we slept and when we
awoke we were in Limon bay, where,
through the miStS which were rapidly
disappearing under the influence o.
a tropical sun, our eyes beheld the
cities of Colon and Cristobal, at the
entrance to the canal. Yet Il little
while the miStS were gone. the sun
was on duty, and
The valley lay smiling before me"
Maybe from the waters. maybe from
the marshes, maybe from the noun
"a in tops, there came a flock OF great
birds, which ciTcled nearer and ever
nearer to our ship, and. 10, it was Il
great fleet OF hydrOplanes and air,
planes, manned by American boys,
who, as they came nearer, leaned out
to wave Il joyous welcome to the
folks from home" II was Il most
in Inspiring sight, and it was difficult to
say which produced the greater en-
thu"iaS m--the greater love of country,
those birds" OF the air or the little
launches which fairly made the wa
terS dance, as they darted here and
there and everywhere about u.s. They,
too, We're American boys and We're
here. near two thousand miles from
home, guarding this, the greatest en-
gineering feat of civilized man. A
dream of the ages came true and only
possible because America is the land
where dreams come true. As we
watched these first visitors. Il great
submarine rose out of the waters. al
hid II wnl9nnln nI1p chin hn6
made 2S9 miles the first day. 2S3 the
second. 2S9 the third. 2S3 the fourth,
260 the fifth and the balance of 600
the last
have not the temerity to attempt
a description OF the canal will
simply place you in charge OF the
pilot, who will conduct you through.
Suffice it to say that, in charge of a
most delightful party OF gentlemen,
officials OF the Canal Zone. we were
given every opportunity to see, to add
mire and to wonder. At Gatun docks
we were allowed to land and view the
great machinery which controlled the
| system of locks, which, while he may
understand, no layman will attempt
to describe.
Arriving, with the ship, at Pedro
4 Miguel locks, which is so nearly to
the Pacific side, we were conducted
to a waiting special train. and after
Il short run through wonderland, were
conducted by the American minister
| to Panama. Mr. Price, to Panama
City. The minister is a most charm
ing gentleman, going through the
train from seat to seat, introducing
himself to the passengers and max
ing them feel that he had known then
always. He has a remarkable facul
ty of never forgetting a name or 6
face and it was interesting, some
hours later, to see him recognize an(
call the names of our party, when ht
would meet them in the streets o
Panama. He treated us as OLE
friends, and we are now. Passing, en-
route, through the city of Balboa, w,
were lost in wonder at It's beauty.
reminds one more of a very beautiful
park than modern city of some thou
sands of people.
Every inch of real estate in Balboa
and every inch of real estate in tn,
Zone, from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and for width of five miles, i
owned by our government and n
one may live or have a place of bus
ness therein except the business en-
terpriSe be of the government In
few minutes we were at Panama an
were leaving the train on foreign siol
City of Panama
The present city of Panama va
founded about the year A. ID. 1900, al
. ter the old city OF Panama was de
: stroyed by Morgan the Buccaneel
who "buccanneered" so well that h
. was khighted by his king and is bes
: known to history as Sir" Henry MOI
gan. Emerging from the beautiful
. railroad station, owned by the Pana
! ma railroad which, in turn, is owne,
by our government, automobiles an
. little carriages, drawn by stallion
! ponies. were everywhere in evidence
and at price so low as to provok
. a smile from the poor victims o
Washington cabbies and chauffers-
ten cents per passenger to the Hote
Tivoli, on a mountain side a few hun
dred yards distant Being desirou
of regaining land legs" we chose t
walk the short distance to the hote
Crossing the street, l experienced
very severe shock, for there, on
prominent corner was a liquor hous
\ anu ooiOOh, Win CfOiy htAQ VI
wine, and beer in plain view, on tn
shelves, and no screen doors.
closed my eyes to hide the horn
sight from view, but upon openin
them again, counted seven such will
in the space of single city blocl
Arriving at the top of the hill, Xix
Lots wife. looked back, and saw s
many saloons that | went back t
count them and if, perchance, the ey
doth not behold, then the old familia
smell is there, so one can not mis
them. Last year the liquor tax c
the Republic of Panama was $1,513
900. and this revenue is now bein
pledged by the government as secu
ity for half million dollars of eigh
per cent national defense bonds @
| war bonds, in denominations OF tweI
ty-five and fifty dollars. in the impenc
ing war with Costa Rica. This city
the capital of the republic, and her
ar esituated the national palace, {
| capitol, and the presidents palace, {
residence, and other public building
| which are ornate and beautiful. AS
RUE, the architecture lis distinct
ugly; the walls are without ornamel