The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-15
GRAVES WILL MARK THE
ROUTE Of CANAL UNLESS
CONDITIONS Be CHANGED
Extensive Sanitary Reforms Nee
essary Before Work Is Begun
on the Isthmus.
PROBLEM FOR EXPERTS
Views of Surgeon Major Guy L.
Edie, Who Has Studied the
Situation.
MUCH LOWLYING GROUND
That Breeds Deadly Fevers and
Mosquitoes That Inocculate
Mankind with Disease.
MUCH LOWLYING GROUNI

From the Journals Special Commissioners.
COLON. r. p, Dec. N.-The first and
actually the greatest, problem which will
confront the United States when ii sets out
In earnest on the isthmian canal problem
will be that of making the isthmus habitable
by white men, 1t is to this work that the
United States must devote itself for weeks
and months before any real attempt is made
TO cut the waterway. and il is a work which
will can for the expenditure of millions in
money. Should this feature of the isthman
problem be in any way neglected our gov
ernment would be as guilty if 1t were TO
send large bodies of men through slaugh-
terhOuse TO open graves. That the authori-
ties at Washington realize the Importance Of
giving attention first to the sanitary aspect
OF this problem is demonstrated by The fact
that II has already caused a complete sani-
tary survey Of the canal zone and all con-
tiguous territory to be made by experts.
Col. William Murray Black. L. S. A. who
Is representing the United States govern
ment on the work now in progress on the
great Culebra cut, and who. with his own
hands. raised the first Panamaian flag ever
flung to the breezes in this city, is 1.-The man
who cleaned up Havana" He was in full
charge OF the sanitary work in the Cuban
capital during the American military occu-
patton. with what praiseworthy results ev-
erybody knows, Havana having under his
direction been transformed from pesthOle
into delightful winter health resort Col.
Black has now been stationed here for
months, and while his work has been pure
ly OF an engineering quality, he has made a
close study of isthmian sanitary conditions
ana requirements
On one of the earliest steamers leaving
New York after the establishment of the
rev republic Surgeon Major Guy l.. Edie,
IFr4fsn 81 4nWn f0r
the isthnus. DIR. Edie was the man in
charge Of the sanitary work In Manila dur
ing the American military occupation of the
Philippine metropolis. and his work there
was successful was that done by Col.
Black In Havana. DIR. Edie has just sailed
from the isthmus for the States, having ex-
ecuted his mission. which was. by direction
Of the War Department. TO thoroughly study
the problem OF sanitation on the isthmus
what IL will be necessary for the United
States 10 do in order 10 make this fit place
Tor white men 10 live in
EXPERTS VIEWS OF PROBLEM.
In previous letters have sketched. from
the IaYman,s viewpoint. the deadly unsan-
itary state of this strip of land between
the two oceans. Before Dr. Edie sailed
from Colon l had an interview with him.
in the course OF which he explained the
situation from the viewpoint of the expe-
rienced expert.
the isthmus must be divided into three
parts" said DIR. Edie. 1.-The first division
extends from Colon to Bohio distance oe
about fourteen miles: the second from Bo-
hio to Corozai, on the Pacific side, a dis
tance of about twenty-eight miles, and the
third from COrOZai TO Panama. five miles.
The cities OF Colon and Panama. over
which we secure in the new treaty sanitary
control. included in the first and third
divisions. respectively. In the first division
one begins TO strike the hill country about
seven and One-half miles from Colon. Ad-
vancing from west 10 east through the
third division, rising ground is found about
five miles from Panama, while the second
division lies almost entirely an the high
ground.
THE city of Colon stands upon a coral
island which lies very low in the water,
and which is surrounded on two sides by
vast and almost impossible swamps The
only elevations in that vicinity are abrupt
hills. or volcanic peaks. Between Gatun
and BOhiO, in the first division, there is an
elevated country. but this is all surround
ed by the same vast swamps and morass
except on the east. where the high ground
stretches away into the mountains
"AH OF this first division is unhealthy
dehantly so. The prolific cause of disease
in this division is found in the low-lying
ground. the entire absence of drainage the
frequency OF pools. ponds and quagmires
where mosquitoes may be bred unmolested:
the absence Of an adequate supply of pure
water and the utterly unsanitary mode of
living. These conditions are of such long
as well in the whole of the first division
is infected with the germs OF yellow fever
and smallpox Life amid such surroundings
has been. and still Is, merely question of
the survival OF the fittest.' There are no
reliable mortality figures or percentages
procurable anywhere on the 'isthmus, but
scant records OF the Colombian army that
the death rate has been excessive in the
high land Well the low. and espe-
cially I'm the first Division
NOT. NEC'F-SS ARTIY nANCEROT-c
From Bohio TO Paraiso. in the second di-
vision. the altitude above sea level is 100 to
45O feet. This is exceptionally good hill
country. we'll supplied with natural drain
age. having ample supply of good. pure
water. and furnishing numerous very ad-
nirable sites. There Is no reason what
ever why this section should be any more
unhealthy for people who know how to
live right in a sanitary sense than in any
other tropical country where the rainfall
IS Continuous and excessive.
''Papamit lies much better than does
Colon, being erected upon a volcanic rock
having good natural drainage. The ac-
cumUlated filth OF the city is largely washed
away by the heavy rains. Many of the
buildings are. 20 be sure, infected with the
germs OF yellow fever. smallpox and other
infectious diseases: but this is a condition
which can be easily remedied. | should. in
fact. say that In the city of Panama and in
the third division Of the isthmus there are
presented no serious problems Of sanitary
engineering. a sewerage system, pure water
and plenty OF IL and vigorous disnfection
OF all the houses being about all that will
b. required
My Investigations here have convinced
me that the sanitary question. as il is pre-
sented on the isthmus. is not more stubborn
than other similar problems with which the
army has dealt IN the last five wears. Ma
Mia was IN worse condition when we oc-
cupied that Csty than is Panama to-day. and
what We did there and in Havana has given
Us an experience upon which we can RELY in
dealing with the situation here The work
OF establishing good sanitary conditions
here II nothing more serious than a question
OF money. We know just what should be
done and how 10 do IL. and. with ADEQUATE
allowances. the work can be done speedily
and effectively. that IL should be done and
carried 10 completion before any active II.
fort is made 10 dig the canal Is apparent
For 20 SEND men from northern climates tc
work IN this country. with IL I'm its present
state. would be- heinous
MUST EDUCATE THE PEOPLE.
Far more serious than making this coun.
try sanitary. and, therefore. habitable, viii
/ be the task OF compelling the people now
here. and the labor 10 be imported for tn,
"a H..