Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-03-22
Is The POOH BAH OF GUAM
How Difficulties Have Been SurmOnnted
by Coy. Leary.
Lieut. Leopold and Ills Construction Of Water
Works, Steam Launch, Rfisoalius Plant
and Sewers-DoeS Duty As Surgeon.

Washington, March From the lat.
est reports of Captain Leary, Cover.
nor of Guam, 1t appears that the well
fare of that isolated community has
been greatly enhanced through the
energetic ingenuity of an officer be-
longing to that corps of the service
which the Navy Department is trying
to obliterate by far fetched interpreta-
lions of the personnel amalgamation
law, all recent rulings of the officials
having been directed against the prac-
tical technicalities of the service.
For time the autocrat of Guam con-
tented himself with appeals to Wash
ington for Ice factories, distilling appa-
ratus, libraries, and such refinements
OF civilization as were needed when he
took possessions, or to fill demands
created by his occupation. These re-
uisitions consumed month or more
In transit, and more than twice as long
In filling, and nothing that he has
asked for has actually reached him yet
except the small distilling plant from
Manila.
But fortunately he has discovered n
jewel in Lieut. Harry G.. Leopold. Of the
Engineer Corps, who is described by
his colleagues in Washington as a
queer fellow, eccentric, but brilliant,
and one Of the best all around men in
every branch of his profession. He was
Just the man for Guam, where all the
| nffinnrS hal xx,ss
yard storehouse to draw from for every
little accustomed luxury or necessity
that had been forgotten when their
ship left New York. The first catas-
trophe that stared the Governor In the
face was the lack Of a steam launch.
Leopold found an old Spanish scow,
built boiler and firebox out Of odds
and ends In the scrap heap, fixed up a
little old engine that might once have
driven a blower, and soon turned out
one of the most commodious and COM
Portable steam cutters in the United
States naval service--a vessel that has
higher reputation for trustwortli.-
ness than for speed, but which has tie
characteristic of ARRIVING" so notable
In her builder.
Then he erected the evaporatiug
plant sent up from Manila to provide
the most urgent needs of the garrison
Tor potable water. which was PRACTICAL
~ unknown at Agana and San Luis
dApra. With his economical engin-
eering instinct, he quickly came to
the conclusion that distilled water
would, In the long run, cost more than
Deer, and perhaps as much as cham
payne, as every drop Of water was OBJ
tanned at the expense of coal brought
all the way from Cardiff, Philadelphia |
or Norfolk, Va. So he reconnoitred the |
nils around Agana and found pools of |
water collected from rain and dew.
He dug trenches connecting several or /
these ponds, and then gathered to-
gether all the old pipe he could find in
the machine shop and aboard the col
hers and transports that visited the
port, and laid water main composed
OF odd sizes of every kind of boiler
tubing and gas piping, which led the
water couple Of miles and gave the
town fair supply of fine fresh water.
which, however, did not fill the de-
mand until he drove a number of ar
tesian wells ana added them to his
Then he turned his attention to
sewerage. ana at the time of Governor
Leary's last report he had improved
ne sanitary condition of Guam's capt.
al to such an extent that the epidemic
u typhoid fever among the natives
vas rapidly waning, and all the Ameri-
ans In the hospital were convalescent.
In addition to the public works he
las established, Lieut.. Leopold has
lrilled the natives In the science of
litching and convinced them of the |
OF specializing their labor
o that the good work may be con- !,
inued under the immediate direction
4 superintendent Of his own teach
ng, while he devotes himself to other
ssentials, such as putting the ice fac
Dry into operation as soon as possible
tier 1t arrives. The Yosemite. the
tation ship at Guam, is equipped with
miniature refrigerating plant, which
sufficient ice part of the time
Dr. the sick In the hospital ashore and :
'r the commandments personal use.
ut 1t has been out of order at thu
lost inopportune times, particularly,
periods Of aggravated drouth. and 6
re coming or the five ton Ice plant is is
igerly awaited. 10
According to the Governor, Lieut..
eopold Is veritable Pooh Bah, being I
ot only steam, civil, hydraulic and N
nitary engineer, but principal aid a.
Id assistant In all practical matters
the Governor, as well as to the chief
rgeOn