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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1906)
THE MORNING OKEGONIAN, SATURDAY, MAY 1906. PANftWlft ftSITIS UNDER UNGLE Si Isthmian Capital Is Aroused From Slumber of Centuries. HAS LATEST IMPROVEMENT American - Rustling Amid Spanish ' lethargy Gorgas and His Mos quito Theory Irritate Na tives Amador's Road. BT "WOOD WORTH CLUM. PANAMA, April 14. (Special Corre spondence. Just 3S7 years ago an ad venturesome navigator. Pedrarias by name, cast anchor In this Immediate vi cinity, and extabllBhed the City of Pana ma, so we must not think, as we stand here gazing at her cathedral spires and low rambling roots, that we have dis covered something. In 1871 Mr. Morgan, not J. Pierpont, but a a English pirate oC considerable Infamy, happened along, observed the city, con tented, peaceful and prosperous, and promptly sot upon it with his firebrand buccaneers. The city was destroyed, but, phoenix-like, she rose from her own ashes, and for a subsequent two cen turies and a half she has managed to dodge the wandering pirates and keep lier municipal head above tide-water. We can readily understand then why Panama presents the appearance of a permanently established community. We ore not surprised to find children romping in the streets or playing tag In the spa clous plaxas; to And men engaged . in various business enterprises, and actually satisfied with, their envlronement. And, - withal, there is that delightful Spanish American atmosphere of oaae deightful so long as- It retains Ha novelty for we are In the-land of "manana, senor, man ana," where time Is not the stuff of which life is mado, our esteemed Benja min FVanklln to the contrary notwith standing. Americans Disturb Lethargy. Panama, aroused from her four cen turies of lethargy by the music of Anglo Saxon progress, has taken on new life. We find here the same conditions that prevail throughout most all Spanish American oiUea a condition that makes us proud of our Americanism, for with the advent of Northern enterprise there comes a host of modern municipal im provements. The pretty legends of the centuries ago may still linger In the cob webbed corners of the old adobes, but at nightfall these same corners reveal their every crevice beneath an array of elec trio lights; the spacious homes that for 200 years have been unmolested now echo and re-echo to the ringing of telephone bells and the whistles of the relentless engines. We breathe an atmosphere half modern, half medieval, altogethercharm lng. Let us go out Into the streets and see what the Americans have done. We find the "Avenlda Central," Panama's princi pal thoroughfare, paved ...with .fvttrtJled brick, and we sr paving gangs 'working on many of the. side streets. We encoun ter a drove of' municipal "white wings" Industriously shoving their big brushes In front of them. They are endeavoring to clean the streets, but conditions are against them, and they are meeting with poor success Pretty fountains have been built In the plazas; sewage and running water have been installed: a great wagon, labeled "United Stales Mall," hurries by on its way to the railroad station. We are passed by a handsome victoria, drawn by two big bay horses, and conveying one of the officials of the. Canal Commission. And yet we are standing In the shadow of buildings that were erected In the 17th century. Great Contrast to. Colon. Twice a week tro band plays in the plasa. The dark-eyed senorita and the dusky cavalier mingle with the folks from Hoboken, Harlem and Nebraska. When the band Is silent the palms and the co coanuts rustle their leaves. In unison. The walls of the old cathedral give back the lnughter of the children. In the distanss there Is the barking of dogs and the bray ing of burros. When the programme has been concluded, the air rings with the soft music of a ' thousand "buenos noches"; the folks from Hoboken bid farewell to the folks from Harlem and Nebraska, and the pageant' drifts away into the darkness of the night. Did we see any of this In Colon? No, 1 should say not. Colon has no plazas, no fountains and no music, save the shrill shriek of the wooden wheels upon their uuanointed axles, or the toot and clung i'f the whistles and bells of the engines sp they promenade beneath your window. There Is no opportunity for recreation oC any sort, unless the blazing lights' and flowing liquors In the many saloons may be termed recreation. .In Panama there is an opportunity for respectable com panionship, in Colon such opportunities are extremely limited. Last Kail & block of houses In the cen ter of Colon burned to the ground. Now tho carpenters are hammering away as hard as they can to rebuild on a grander scale. Remember, all this ground is owned by the United States, and leased to the capitalists, who build the houses. So I askod the chief sanitary officer why the space could not be reserved for a park or a plaza, to be colloquial. All the action necessary would be the refusal to continue the leases on the property and the ex penditure of a few hundred dollars in the construction of a bandstand, a score of benches, and the transplanting of half a hundred trees, but no; the desire to make Colon really habitable docs not seem to have taken hold of the Government. Com parative criticism teaches us that moral and esthetic defects are very closely re lated, and I have heard from the lips of a dozen young men in Colon ' that they havo taken to drink and gambling merely because there was no other available way lor killing time. But tue sanitary officer shrugged his shoulders and said there was no reason why a plaza should be re served. The rainy season win be' here within a week, and the people will go to and from their homes on stilts, and the old regime of miserable existence, not living, will be resumed. Grrgas and His Mosquito Theory. Panama, to be sure, does not approach the American standard for modern mu nicipalities. Her streets are narrow and crtoked and overhung with quatnt bal conies. The sewer system installed by tne American Government does not give satisfaction, because of the fact that the sewers are built without traps for the re tention of noxious gases. Colonel Go r gas decreed that sewer traps would afford breeding places for the dreaded yellow fever mosquito, and the result is that of fensive odors are encountered at almost every street corner. The native pan amans complain that the remedy is worse than the disease, and. as a matter of fact, the Americans are alone In their quaking fear of the mosquito. Another innovation of the Health De partment that has caused great discom fort to resident Panamans is the order abolishing rain gutters. Colonel Oorgas believes that these gutters are 'proline breeding places for the same old mosqui to, and hereafter the rain must run riot from the corrugated iron roofs and blow In any old direction, preferably into the open -windows and doors. It ls.no won dor that the people, who have lived all their lives without American ideas, should object to healthful regulations at the price of discomfort. But if, as a scientific prin ciple. Colonel Gorgas is rigu. with ml mosquito theory, there can be no Just criticism against his course. Here also I found many soreheads, and complaints without number were poured into my ears. But I have heard the same class of complaints in great er numbers in our leading American cities, and they are significant only as evidence of a lack of absolute perfec tion. Another year of American con trol should see Panama more material ly improved upon such basic municipal principles as are calculated to success fully support the great commercial metropolis, the Panama of the years to come. Poor Food at High Prices. The hotels are poor. I stopped for a few moments at the American Ex change, where I exchanged $1.80 for a very poor meal. $1 for a haircut, 60 cents for a shave, and 40 cents for a shoe shine. Then I went up to the Hotel Central th. VmCal-v 1 lence of Panama, and there I exchanged more money for less to eat. The city has no gastronomic virtues. Good veg etables and fruits are at a premium, and choice meats are seldom offered on the public tables. When the surrounding- country becomes -dotted with flOurishtnff-Struolr rr, .. j u - - ou.uui.s uuu ojo- tem for the proper refrigeration of i.dia .a eaiu.uusnea, men, ana not un til then, will eating in Panama become a pleasure. The sleeping facilities are better. The Panamanians are excel lent sleepers. The beds are good, and when you are safely tucked beneath a canopy of mosquito netting you are as near as you will ever get in this coun try to all the comforts of home. Across the plaza from the hotel is the bishop's palace, the first floor of which Is occupied by the Panama Lot tery Company. The church and the lottery work hand in hand. Very few Panamanians, be they rich or poor, do not indulge in lottery tickets, and the venders, with their plaintive cry of "Boleta. senor? Boleta, senor?" are encountered everywhere. The tickets are sold by old, decrepit women in valid men. and often by little boys and girls. The price ranges from 20 cents to J2. The drawings are held every Sunday, and the holder of the lucky number receives about 13000 in the coin of the realm. The same lottery company has an office In Colon, where It does a flourishing business. It is forbidden in the Canal Zone. Good Service on Railroad. At the railroad yards we find the same activity as at Colon. Trains are hurrying hither and thither, carrying laborers and supplies In every direc tion. The cars used for the transpor tation of laborers resemble the Sum mer cars on the street railroads in the states, and to all appearances they are ?hnftae, and more hygienic than the first-class coaches. An excel lent, station has been constructed at Panama, and the dispatch of trains is faCrityP"Shed Wlyi precIslon " ' "egu- ( CI a" is not the best In the world. It is permeated with the vile ti?Kif a PubIlc latrine, and this is Til. . stone's throw of Colonel Gor gas office, but Sam Boyd, the genial Postmaster.General of Panama, when thi, aSmr0UJrnt to hls ention. said Rut if k H WouW soon be remedied, fh-i ha" ben.th.'way since when emr5r men runneth not to the contrary, and it Is not probable that it win be altered in the immediate fu- Amadpr and" Hi Summer Home. On- our way down the street we bass e2 'mprtn'-lng mansion guart! -nfee UtUe aof chlnkP" Policemen h i. 6 fellows. as spic and span '"J, ' an, you please. We are told that tnts 1, the palace of the President. Dr Amador, the first chief executive of the new republic of Panama. Under the guidance of Postmaster-General ?rLWVnter and are "oelved by the hllhf 1 S t fireman of medium ? i"l 1Uild' with a trlad-to-see-you handshake, and a superb idea of nS Z" LmPrtance. He has no army, and his former commanding General. Mr. Huertas, has Just sold his beautiful home at auction. The walls of the pal ace are decorated with the portraits of somebody's ancestors. Dr Amador will explain, in broken English, just who they are and the na ture of their service to their country. He will -tell you that the republic of Panama is doing very nicely, thank you. and that the stories that he in tends to resign are nothing but base canard. Then if you have time he will drive you along a beautiful macadam ized road to his Summer home at the Savannas, six miles out of town. The disgruntled Americans claim that Gov ernor Magoon ordered this road to the Savannas constructed before the main thoroughfares of Panama were built, and that the ease and comfort of the Panamanian aristocracy were given precedence over the more pressing needs of the commercial districts. Be this as it may. the drive is most pleas ant, and at the Savannas we find many -more or less delightful suburban homes. Road Through Graveyards. Taking a coach, we drive to La Boca, the town at the Pacific terminus of the canal, four or five miles from Panama. Like the Appiaa Way that leads to Rome, this thoroughfare to La Boca is bordered by the tombs of the departed. Each nationality seems to have its own necropolis exclusiveness, even in death. First; we pass the Panamanian cemetery, where the graves are marked with plain black crosses. Then there is the burylng-ground of the Chinese, with queer monuments and inscrip tions. Finally, we come to the foreign cemetery,' monopolized by the French and Americans, with more Imposing monuments and more intelligible In scriptions. Beyond these cheerless spots the road is more pleasing, and at La Boca we find more railroad yards, lumber yards, and a general supply station, all of which will greatly in crease in activity whenever Congress shall declare its wishes concerning the type of canal. How do the people of Panama -welcome this Invasion? The answer is to be found In a leading editorial of Pan ama's best newspaper, in a copy pub lished a few days ago. This able scribe passed quickly over the many things the Americans have done and are do ing, and while agreeing that some progress toward a better city was be ing made,- asked most impertinently why a public library, museum and a few other municipal luxuries should not be immediately constructed. And this, mind you. from people that had lived In the same old way for 400 years before we interrupted their slumbers. Money Flows Back Eastward. NEW YORK. -May 4. A return flow of the millions of dollars sent to the Pa ciflo Coast during the past fortnight has set in. The National City Bank was to day advised that its correspondent at Oakland has arranged to transfer $500, 000 by telegraph to this city, and other banks and financial institutions have re ceived similar advices. Mint Paid Out Over $7,000,000. SAN FRANCISCO. May 4. The United States mint, which is being used as the general clearing-house for the hanks, has paid out . between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000 to depositors sine it opened Tuesday last. SOURCE OF QUAKE Mountain Range Split Open Along Summit. HUGE CRACK MILES LONG Geologists Find That- San Francisco Disaster Was Due to Formation of Crevice in Range JTear.- Redwood City. 9 AN' FRANCISCO. May 4. Geologists who have been at work since the earth quake with the object of finding traces that would establish the cause of the dis turbances have found In .the mountain range west of Redwood City what appears to be indisputable evidence that their the ory of the parting of the mountain ranges along the crest is a correct one. At the summit of the mountains a short distance above the village of Woodside there is an immense crevice- in the earth, the pres ence of which indicates that the range split at the top and the side nearer the ocean fell away toward tho sea. Traced Crack Four Miles. This crevice is at places three to six inches wide: it has been followed by the surveyors for a distance of more than four miles along the crest of the range. At places the crack in the range is of con siderable depth, and at other points the evidences show that the parting of the great mass of rock and earth was fol lowed by a partial closing of the gap. The split follows the line of the range, north and south, this being the general direction of the earthquake shock. Dr. John C. Branner, head of the de partment of geology at Stanford Univer sity, has sent a number of assistants into the field to make an exhaustive study of all the changes in the geological forma tion. They have examined the fault along the mountain range and have made maps of the entire district. A year ago Dr. Branner's class in geology- mapped the same region. Their in vestigations now show that in the Inter val between that time and the present the region west of the crevice now appearing at the crest of the range has fallen away toward the sea. At places the discrepancy is as much as two feet, thus showing that the extreme western side of the range is parting from the old location and moving toward the ocean. The sliding of such an Immense body of ground would be suffi cient, say the geologists, to cause such a shock as that of April 18. Student Hurt by Xew Quake. Luther Lane, a student engaged upon the work under the direction of the geo logical corps, was injured the other day and has been taken to his home at 9an Jose In great suffering. He was standing on the eastern side of the crevice when there was a heavy rumble, followed by a shower of. stones and earth that almost covered him. His companions hurried to his aid and dug him out. After the accident, which was caused by one of the series of earthquake shocks that have followed the initial shock of April 18, It was ascertained that there had been a further widening of the crev ice in some places. EVEN, ASHES WILIi BE TTSEFUIj W ill Fill Flats and Blake Worthless Area Valuable. SAN FRANCISCO. Hay 4: Even the ashes of San Francisco are to be uti lized in the wori of rebuilding the city. With debris from the ruins, the Ocean Shore Railway intends to fill up the Islals Creek flats, transforming a marsh Into 80 blocks of valuable land, and also make the worthless acres behind and beyond the Fishermen's wharf jetty available for building purposes. It is roughly esti mated that there are about 9,000,000 cubic yards of debris to be removed. Although an early rush of the retail trade was made toward Fillmore street. It now seems probable that the majority of the larger retail dealers will establish themselves on Van Ness avenue. An as sociation has been formed among many of the well-known houses for the pur pose of keeping the business center as far downtown as possible. This associ ation has secured some options on avail able sites and is arranging to secure oth ers along Van Ness avenue. It is in tended to erect temporary qne-story buildings, which will serve as stores un til arrangements can be made to move back to the old quarters. Besides the members of the association, other retail ers have secured locations along Van Ness avenue. Two of the big department houses have already established them selves on that thoroughfare. Despite the fierce flames which swept through the Tax Collector's office, every thing in -the vault was found in perfect condition', and,, as far as the records are concerned, the work in Collector Nichol' office is on as good a basis as before the disaster. - The tax rolls, representing $1,600,000, and $35,000 in cash and checks which had not -.- been turned Into the Treasurer's hands, were saved. The bus iness -in the -Tax Collector's office has increased almost to a normal average. HOSPITAL WORK REARING END Surgeon-Major Farrell Will Soon Go Home to Chicago. BAN FRANCISCO. May 4. Surgeon Major P. J. H. Farrell, of Chicago, who was formerly surgeon of the First Cali fornia Volunteer Regiment, Is now sta tioned at the Army General Hospital at the Presidio. He came here with the Chi cago citizens' committee, at their request, and since his arrival has had charge of 36 surgeons and 100 nurses, distributed at different hospitals. He also has charge of inspection of all incoming and outgoing ferryboats and steamers. The surgeons and nurses at the emergency hospitals and the refugee camps have also been un der his direction. Dr. Farrell said today that the condi tions at the various hospitals are Improv ing to such an extent that he regards his work as almost completed, and that he hopes to return to his home in Chicago within a week. Dr. B. L. Reitman, also of Chicago, has been pathologist at the General Hospital at the Presidio since hts arrival in the city, and his bacteriological work has been highly appreciated by the medioal men In charge of that Institution. Sell Rare Stamps for Relief Fund. NEW TORK. May 4. A novel resolu- ! WEDDING I t AND VISITING CARDS I W.G. SMITHS CO. j I Washington Building I ARTISTIC PICTURE FRAMING , List of Bargains for Japanese Silk Waists Values to $7.50 at The very newest in Ladies' Waists, of finest quality Jap Silk, in both white and black a most beautiful assortment of fancy Lingerie Styles, elaborately trimmed with lace and hemstitching; also in silk embroidered effects; also a full line of plain tailored effects. These Waists are made in this sea son's popular elbow and long-length sleeve styles. An enor mous assortment to choose from; every Waist entirely new; every Waist a model of perfection in fit, finish, style and workmanship. ' - Trimmed Dress Hats $6aoovand$zfod On Special Sale at $2.25 Our aim being to make quick clearance of certain lines of Trimmed Hats. Every one this season's make. Each Hat is new, clean and up to the minute in style, shape, trimming, etc. In fact, many have only been on the tables a week. Small, medium and large Hats, trimmed with Flowers, Rib bons, Quills, etc. Variety large enough to suit most every one. Full range of colors $2.25. Seasonable Bargains in Ladies' Knit Underwear Ladies' white Cotton Bibbed Vests, low neck and sleeve less ; plain or neat trimmings ; 25c quality, special. .. ;19 Ladies' white Mercerized Vests, low neck and sleeveless ; lace ior crochet trimmings; 35c quality, special, each... 25 $ Ladies' white Lisle Vests, low neck, sleeveless, lace trimmed front and shoulders ; 63c quality, each .48 Ladies' Umbrella Pants, lace trimmed, extra fine, lxi rib; 35c quality, special, pr. 25 May White Sale French Lingerie, Italian .Silk Underwear and Domestic Mus lin Underwear on sale at great ly reduced prices. Every gar ment in the entire stock reduced in price. . Most tempting bar gains. . GOWNS. Of cambric, lawn, mtuilin; great special values at 49c, 85c, 93c, $1.10, $1.25, $1.45 to $5.25. DRAWERS. Great special values at, special, 25c, 29c, 39c, 49c, 59c, 85c to $4.50. lion to help the San Francisco sufferers has been adopted by the New York Stamp Society. The society, which la composeo solely of collectors of rare postage stamps. requests all philatelists and the public CARTERS 5PITTLE IIVER U PILLS S10K HEADACHE Positively cured by thee Little Pills. They also relicre Distress from Dyipepsta, Indigestion and Too Hearty Eating. A petv feet remedy for Dizziness, Nausea, Drowsi ness, Bad Taste in the Mouth, Coated Tonga Pain in the Side, TORPID LIVER. They Regulate the Bowels. Purely Vegetable. em&ll PIH. Small Doss, Small Prlca. Bargains in MEN'S FURNISHINGS 75c UNDERWEAR, 50h We have just received a new shipment of seasonable Un derwear for Men; one lot of fancy Balbriggans in stripes and fancy colors ; striped blue, pink and black; these goods are finished in the best possible manner and are reg ular 75c quality. We will place these on sale at. .50 Alio, a lot of men's fancy Socks, in checks, stripes, plaids and plain colors ; these goods have sold freely at 35c. For Saturday, per pair.25V SKIRTS. Of muslin and cambric, with lawn flounces . and ruffles; great special values at 79c, 98c, $1.10, $1.25, $1.65, $1.85 to $18.50. r CORSET COVERS. In endless assortment; great special values at 25c, 29c, 39c, 49c, 59c, 79c, 85c, $1.10 to $2.98. CHEMISE. In short and combination styles ; great special values at 42c, 49c, - 69c, 85c, $1.10, $1.25, $1.45, $1.65 to $5.10.; . at laree to assist in this movement, "each contributing- one or more stamps, to be San Francisco, April 21, 1906. - Our business will continue as always, shipping all goods direct from our New York house. PROMPT DELIVERIES ASSURED Temporary Office, 3600 Clay Street, San Francisco HOFFMAN, ROTHCHILD 6 CO., Wholesale Clothiers Coupon Free Yellowstone Park Trip (NATION'S WONDERLAND) ALONG THE COLUMBIA RIVER, THROUGH BOISE AN SALT LAKE, VIA O. R. fc N. One Vote for........ THIS COUPON MUST BE VOTED ON OR BEFORE MAY 12, 1906 Saturday 75c to $1.25 WOMEN'S FINE HOSIERY AT Magnificent bargains in Fine Hosiery for every body; 3000 pairs of Fine Hosiery, the prime product of world - famous manufacturers. Hosiery of high standard grade, Hermsdorf dye. Big variety of plain and fancy weaves, in Lisle Thread and Cotton. Black, tan, champagne, biscuit, sage, Alice blue, gray, navy, brown, Dresden, green, bronze, fancy stripes, plaids, lace boot, lace all-over, drop-stitch, polka dots, embroidered figures, solid colors, etc. $45, $50, 60 Highest-Class Novelty Tailor-Made Suits at $33.75 We will sell all our highest . class Novelty Tailor-Made Suits, in Eton. Pony jacket and novelty styles, made of finest chiffon, Panama cloth, imported fancy " serges, in cream grounds and fancy stripes, imported broadcloth and fancy tweeds, in black, navy, Alice blue, -rose, reseda and greens; every garment new and up-to-date; made with elbow sleeves, plain and fancy trimmed with the new plaited circular skirta. 20,000 Yards of Ribbons Sacrificed A grand round-up of beautiful novelty and plain Ribbons ; , stock-righting time in the Ribbon Store, and the follow ing bargains await you here today, . . , . 50c Ribbons 22c 6-inch Satin Changeable Florentine Ribbon, in beau ' tiful color combinations. Polka Dot Ribbons 35c 4-inch-wide, best quality taf feta polka dot Ribbons, in large assortment ; popular colored art combinations, in white, black and colored grounds. May Sale of Curtains Newest Cluny, Renaissance, Irish Point, Battenberg, Not tingham, Cable Net Lace Curtains ; all at reduced prices. $ 1.25 $ 1.50 $ 2.00 $ 2.50 $ 3.00 $ 4.00 5.00 $6.00 $ 7.50 $10.00 $11.00 Curtains . . Curtains . . Curtains . . Curtains Curtains, . . Curtains Curtains Curtains ; . Curtains .. Curtains Curtains . . ..$ .98 .$1.15 S1.53 ,.$1.98 .$2.33 .$3.15 .$3.89 $4.68 t5.98 7.89 .$8.68 Isold at auction at the society's rooms I here on May 18. I (Bregonmn. WINDOW SHADES MADE TO ORDER Shoppers 60c Ribbons 33c Extra quality all silk warp Print Dresden Ribbons, full .6 inches wide, in this sea son's prettiest patterns. 25c Taffeta Rib'ns 19c 4-inch plain taffeta Ribbons, in white, black and all the newest and most popular shades. Extra good qual ity, worth 25c at i9 Lipman, Wolfe 6c Go. ONLY CUT-RATE DRUG STORE IN PORTLAND We Sell Every thing at Cut Prices All Patent Medicines, Plas ters.. Salves, Pills, Liniments, Tablets, Salts, Waters . and Household Drugs at LESS THAN DRUGSTORE PRICES. Try us once you'll come again. ' A" Dnpece S'uruk Quarter Size ARROW If Cents each, 9 for 39 Cents OLUtTT, PKABODY 4k OO. Choose ,Dr-Graves' Tooth Powder Dentists say "it is the best denti frice and antiseptic in the world for the teeth and gums leaves the enamel white and gleaming; alsdV leaves a delicious after taste ' In handy matal cans or bottles,. SSo. , Dr- Cravss' Tccih Pcwd $r C:; rv ... v.