Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-20
What His Report May Be.

1t Is considered entirely possible by some
well-informed men that Major Blacks re-
port may be of such a nature as to effectu-
ally call a halt on the Panama canal pro-
ject 1t Is believed that that report may
suggest a very large sum of money for the
sanitation OF the line of the canal and the
cities of Panama and Colon. and there are
men who know the isthmus we'll who de-
clare that they would not be surprised If the
report should be practically to the effect
that no amount OF sanitation will make the
conditions on the fsthmuS very much bet
ter than they were when the French COM
pany was operating there. In that event
they are not sanguine about the prosecution
of the work. especially II the reports that
are reaching this city to the effect that the
Colombian congress will amend the treaty
providing that $50 900 900 instead of $40 OOO,-
900 shall be paid Colombia in the transac-
ton transferring the canal from the French
company to the United States government
prove upon further advices to be true.
Work Done by the French Company.
1t Is said that the idea that has prevailed
among some people to the effect that the
French company was Indifferent to the
sanitation of the isthmus while there Is
very erroneous. While confidence Is ex-
pressed that our government could doubt
less do more than was done by the French
In the way of sanitation, yet 1t Is pointed
out that great deal of money was spent
secure healthful conditions Their hospital
service was pronounced by every one who
visited their hospitals as beyond criticism
Money was spent practically without limit
In order to provide satisfactory buildings
and to give to patients the best treatment
that could be devised This treatment was
accorded to every laborer from the West
indies and to Colombians without stint
Among the vast army of workmen the doc
tor was the most popular OF men and next
to going home after two or three years OF
service with store of money, the laborer
looked forward to time spent In the COM
panys hospitals as the most pleasant PROS
pect In view.
Built a Town for It's Employees.
Not only was a splendid hospital service
provided on a scale often criticised as too
lavish. but the company undertook and
did build beautiful town In a swamp
north OF Colon as a headquarters for its
employees. This town was short distance
from Colon and was known as Cristobol CO.
ION There winding avenues OF gravel were
Dordered by cutters of artificial stone and
shaded with palm trees set out symmetri-
cally. The houses were Of the kind that
might be found In any suburban town in
this country In which the well-to-do have
their homes. This city, reclaimed from the
swamp was the result of an effort Of the
French company to provide for its employees
the most healthful conditions possible to
secure.
In the Investigations being made by Major
BLACK the former efforts Of the French COM
pany will be made familiar and he will be
able to form a Judgment as to whether this
government can provide for the sanitation
or the isthmus more satisfactorily than the
fanama company was able to do So His
report will be received as of Importance
almost equal to the report on the feasibility
or the project for the construction OF the
canal there by the engineers themselves