Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-29
The CLEANSING of Manila,

cal Record gives an interesting picture
of the great difficulties being overcome
by the American authorities in the
sanitary regeneration OF Manila. The
chief obstacle to be overcome is the
utter lack of sewers, or even the crud-
est system. OF drainage Kitchen ref
use is consumed by chick ems, dogs and
pigs before it has Il chance to become
offensive or dangerous. Many houses
, have their own cesspools, but these are
usually inside the foundation walls,
and Il ave been so carelcssly constructed
| and so ina dequately cared for that the
soil OF the city has been impreg-
mated TO an appalling degree.
| Where an attempt, has been made
in a few high class dwellings, to
employ water to remove this
| filth the plumbing is SO badly designed
| that it does not serve its purpose; and
no general application of water is
possible, first, because there is not
| sufficient supply, and, second, because
| there are no sewers The expediency
of constructing the latter is made
doubtful. moreover, by the fact that
the Phiirip mes are subject to earth
quakes. which might disrupt and ruin
an elaborate pipe system III q single
day.
| The American authorities have not
| been daunted by this situation, how
ever. Already they have established a
number of public latrnes in the dis
tricts occupied exclusively by the ma
tivos, and the people are compelled to
use them. TO keep the latrines in
proper condition an elaborate bucket
and scow service has been organized.
Some day, after means have been
found for giving THE city more water,
it is likely that a system of open drains
viii be developed. BY keeping the
which lead to the Pasig free from
vegetation that sire am can be utilized
to carry off all filth into the bay 1t
would then be an easy matter, the
Medical Records correspond ent be
icves, to set rid of the mosquitoes.
| The development of other sanitary
Philippines has gone on in fashion
which this authority declares will re-
dound to the credit Of the new rulers
in that archipelago. a magnificent
quarantine station has been estab-
lished at Marivelcs, 80 miles from the
city proper The pra cticc there is
modelled on Japan's, which in turn is
only an admirable imitation of that of
the United States ma'ine hospital ser
vice. Provision for rigid inspection,
detention Of suspects and fumigation
nas also been made at six other ports
of entry. Tho thoroughn ess of these
precautions justif:es the hope that u
marked decrease in mortality from
cholera and the bubonic plague will
soon BE observed.
The New York Tribune draws a
! A,ralie which shows that the task so
hravcly assumed at Manila is far more
Formidable than the one so effectively
performed by the United States in Ha-
vana. Tho population of the former
city, including its suburbs, is 50 per
cent. larger, and the average civiliza-
ton of its iniaa bitants vastly inferior.
So far as latitude gees the two cities
are about on a par. Havana enjoys a
slight advantage in this respect but
not enough to count for much. Still
anot her point of difference is the char
acter of the countries with which the
Cuban capital conducts trade. If the
vigilance of local authorities in Mexi-
lean, Central American and other in
sular ports in the West Indies is not
IDEAL. it probably equals or surpasses
that of China. Moreover, a large
proportion of the commerce of Havana
lis with the United States, from which
lis in no danger whatever. The posi-
Utilities of Infection from it's environ
ment are much smaller than those
which bcsct the chief city OF this
country's Asiatic possessions. Never
ltheless, modern science and a broad
philanthropy now promise to work
lgreat Improvement in the healthfuness
lof Manila within the next few years.
Thus VIII be afforded a new and power
full cause of gratitude for the political
lchanCes to which it's redemption will
be due.
This week two well known baseball
players in the big league have suS-