Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-03
transportation for these trips being fur
aished them free by the commission.
Have Separate Houses.

Have Separate Houses.
The married men have separate houses
at Coroxal. For instance being married.
have a house. situated on high ground and
consisting OF two large rooms and two
smaller ones, which bed room.
parlor, kitchen and bath. respectively. ana
q spacious porch surrounding the house on
two sides serves as sitting. living and
dihing room. The house and porch Is com
pletely screened. making IL proof against
mosquitoes and other tropical insects. We
get our own meals. and by having some one
TO go to town every day able to get
fresh meat and vegetables. The above is
merely an example of how eight or ten
families are living In Corozal l forgot to
add that we can keep cool. and have cool
ooiled water IN our own home. as an
ample supply OF ice is furnished every day
from Colon. The health at this point has
been remarkably good. due to the good sys-
TEN OF drainage and general cleanliness of
the place The water conduit leading from
large conduit at Rio Grande Is now COM
pleted and in a couple of weeks the water
pipes Will be put in our houses and We will
have an abundance OF water for all pur-
poses
The city of Panama is being thoroughly
cleaned up The streets are swept every
day, something unheard OF In Panama be-
fore. and strict sanitary regulations are in
force. the Inhabitants being compelled to
live up to them or be subjected to fine and
Imprisonment. Every house In Panama Is
several times, Whenever a case of suspect
ed fever Is discovered, the patient Is imme-
diately isolated. the house fupigated, as
also all the houses which he visited for
1--WE days prior to his being taken sick. :.
las the city OF Panama has been cleaned
up. so also Is the whole isthmus being treat
ed. Jungles have been cut down. swamps
drained and all camps placed in sanitary
condition. large forces of men being en-
pioyed for this purpose. Every day men
armed with buckets of mosquito oil visit ;
the edges of swamps and all places where
water has collected and where mosquitoes
would likely breed and treat the eggs of
these pests to a dose OF oil. All this tends
to reduce the liability OF epidemics.
Water System.
zone of the main features of improve
ment since l have been here is the partial
completion of the water works and the in
stallation OF water and sanitary plumbing
in the building occupied by the officers OF
the commission and many houses. Water
Is now under the streets of Panama. and
the supply is good and plentiful. The sewer
system is also rapidly being pushed to com.
pletlon. The first day that the water was
turned on was a great day for Panama.
Heretofore water has been sold In the
streets by peddiers from large carts,
just like milk other products would
be sold at home. AS the price exorbi-
tant, the poor people suffered a good deal
from this inconvenience. When the valves
were turned and water for the first time
In the history of the country flowed from
pipes the populace went wild with enthu-
siasm. Men. women and children gathered
around the hydrants with buckets. pitchers
and anything else that would hold water
for free supply of the precious fluid. Some
Of the children threw themselves down In
it and got their first real bath. The water
and sewers will tend greatly to reduce sick
ness In and around Panama
hnr &c.
alarm, and those panic-stricken people who
are returning are actuated by distorted ru-
mors rather than honest facts causing
them to make very ridiculous statements.
They become misinformed as soon as they
strike the isthmus. refuse to be reconcIled.
believe all gossipmongers' statements and
then 1t is away for the states or course.
we are not exactly living like kings. and
many things ought to be done to better
conditions. but 1t takes time and patience
to accomplish much 50 far away from a
base of supplies.
'On the part of the men and women who
are here and are making the best of 1t we
wish to assure our friends that we are
really alive, and manage in a way to enjoy
life."