Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-16

ments inaugurated by the military and civil
governments. but, of course, many, many
years of the grand and noble work that
has been carried on during the past four
years will be necessary to get it out OF the
300 years of Spanish neglect or to make 1t
equal or superior to the English and Dutch
colonies nearby.
mo other country or city that 1 have
seen suffers from the lack Of up-to-dateness
30 much. as Manila and the Philippines.
This is markedly % in regard to sanitary
matters. in which I am more or less inter-
ested, having been up to the time OF my
leaving In charge of the sanitary super
vision of the water supply of Manila, since
which time have seen the working of the
many cities in the orient which in regard to
situation and elevation are similar to Ma
Mia. The danger Of cholera infection of
the water supply Of Manila was called to
its protection by my report to the civil au-
thorities right after the outbreak of the
epidemic. March 20, 1902. The report
caused prompt action. as the nature Of the
country and the towns surrounding the
source of water supply was recognized as
of the greatest danger to the 3ov, 600 people
in Manila. It Is not generally known that
at this time this area Of country was
turned over to the military authorities for
protection, as the Importance of the strict
est quarantine possible was felt, and any
epidemic Of the Mariquina valley border
ing the river of the same name would
jeopardize the whole city Of Manila
II do not wish it understood that Manila
Is death trap for Americans. for such Is
not the case. With our knowledge of sani-
tary laws we are able to live in the midst
Of pestilence with degree Of safety, which
the health statistics of the islands show
With the Filipino, am sorry to say, it is
different. Not having the least conception
of sanitary ma tiers, he rebels most per-
sistently against all the regulations insti-
tuted for his protection, even to his re-
fusai to drink distilled water when it is
furnished free at his door. This rebellion
Of the Filipino against living has been most
successful, as the mortality from Asiatic
cholera has reached the 1OO,OO mark, and
on the day left Manila, October /, 1902,
the report for the islands for the preceding
twenty-four hours numbered $500 cases,
with 1900 deaths.
Great Mortality Reported.
'In Egypt the mortality from cholera
reached 10000. but when was there which
was at the end of the third month, the cpl
demfc was almost entirely wiped out.
THAT cholera can be quarantined against
successfully has been demonstrated in the
history Of cholera in our own country and
In the military quarantine Of the water sup
ply Of Manila. Any land quarantine with
more difficulties would be hard to imagine,
presenting as 1t does the people antago-
nistic to every sanitary effort and living to
the number Of 10000 on the watershed OF
the Mariqutna river, the source of the water
supply.
1.-The Mariquina river covers a distance Of
about thirty miles above the intake-six-
teen miles courses through picturesque
canons and over rocky beds, and fourteen
miles through a thickly populated valley
of 10000 inhabitants, dist ributed between
three towns of nipa and bamboo shanties
or bungalows. These towns are built with
IN twenty yards to one hundred yards of
the river. Before the outbreak of cholera
in Manila these people had free access to
the river and made use of it for bathing
washing of clothes and caraboas and the
disposal of wastes. Now, when 1t is under
stood that the last town is only mile
from the intake pipe, and that the water Is
pumped four miles into a reservoir that
has no facilities for filtration, except what
might occur from precipitation by stand
ing twentyfour hours. the Importance OF
preventing an epidemic in this fourteen-mile
valley and the need of a new system of
water supply becomes quite apparent. With
a cholera outbreak of any size In the valley