Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-20
Problem to Be Worked Out
by Major Black.
THE PANAMA ROUTE
PERHAPS IT CANNOT BE MADE
HEALTHFUL.
On Account of His Experience in Cuba
the Majors Report Is Awaited.
With Much Interest.

The continued presence OF Mai. VIM. M
Black, Corps of Engineers. United States
army, on the Isthmus of Panama Is CIV
ing rise to great interest on the part of
those who are watching events connected
with the canal project and who feel that
the selection OF the Panama route is far
from being finality.
Maj. Black went to the isthmus with Ad-
mral Walker and others of the old
isthmian canal commission, whose mission
was at the time announced to be to de-
termine what work the new Panama Canal
Company had done since 1t made its offer
to the United States to sell it's property for
$40. 100000. Members of the commission re-
manned on the isthmus between two and
three weeks and then returned to this
country. but Maj Black stayed there to
complete the work for which he was es-
pecially selected.
Sanitary Conditions Of the Isthmus.
That work related to a determination Of
the sanitary condition of the isthmus
with view of improving 1t to such a de-
gree that American engineers and others
could go there with the largest possible
safety before work on the canal Is actively
undertaken by the United States. Maj.
Blacks continued presence On the tsthmus
indicates that the investigation he Is car
rying on Ia to be thorough His career In
Cuba along the same lines of sanitation
was attended with such success as to cause
great confidence In the result. Above all
many men who await Maj. Blacks report
on conditions on the isthmus feel especlal
interest in the outcome. because they 90
not think he will risk his reputation on
report to the effect that the route OF tne
canal can be made comparatively sanitary
and free from the terribly death-deallns
conditions that prevailed there while the
French company was prosecuting ltS Worh
unless he feels confident OF the result.
Problems to Be Determined.
They regard Major Black as a man who
has too great a pride In his professional
standing to hold out to this country pros
poets of comparatively healthful conditions
for the isthmus unless he Is thoroughly
satisfied that they can be secured. In
order to satisfy himself on this question
very thorough inspection OF the route OF
the canal will be made by him. He Will
first determine whether conditions can De
made better than they were under the
French. how much 1t Will cost I" secure
The best results and how long 1t Will take
to do the work. He will also have TO de-
termIne to what extent. II any. existing
buildings on the isthmus will have to be
destroyed. and what the cost OF such os
struction will be- Also whether this work
can be carried to a successful conclusion
by Joint commission composed or Co
lombians and Americans as provided IN the
treaty that has been ratified by our Con-
gress and is now awaiting ratification by
the Colombian congress.
Brick buildings on the isthmus are few In
number Most of the buildings that make
up the great cities of Panama and Colon.
as well as in the case OF structures along
the route of the canal. are of wood Very
few OF these buildings have been built In the
last twenty years. and almost none In the
last fifteen years. They are largely in a
state Of decay. which adds very much to
the problem of sanitation to be worked
out by Major Black.
This problem will have to be considered
from the point of view Of the time when the
isthmus takes on the activity attending
canal construction. with the vast increase in
the population. largely of a class of people
who neither know nor, care anything about
sanitation. All in all the problem of sani-
tation on the Isthmus of Panama Is re-
garded by well-informed men as greater to-
day than ii was when the French company
began It's work. because of the fact that
the great cities Of wood built there at that
time have become old, with the attending
bad results.