The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-05
GLOWING REPORTS
FROM PANAMA
Davis and Barrett Tell How
Things Are Going.
GIVE YELLOW FEVER FACTS
Cases Plenty, But There Is No Epi-
demic-Progress on the Canal
Excavations Rapid.
GIVE YELLOW FEVER FACTS

| |~~~SA-~ 49,
Governor General Davis eabled the
War Department yesterday that reporfs
of yellow fever on the isthEnt1s were ex
Exaggerated, and expressed the belief that
| the disease would be absolutely stamped
out in a short time. His message was as
| follows:
| Sensational newspaper reports of con-
dittons as to health cruelty exaggerat-
ed. Of canal employees and their families
| from the United States since May i
| there have been three cases of yellow
fever and one death: of canal employees
hired On the isthmus. five cases and one
death; Americans. not employees, includ-
ing crew of Boston, nine cases and five
deaths.
| American Cases
twenty-five cases since the American
control have been treated by American
doctors, of these there have been seven
| deaths. Others originating on the 18th.
mus reported elsewhere there have beer
seven cases and two deaths.
| The total number OF cases original
| ing on the isthmus Is thirty-two. of
/ which nine have had a fatal terrnina
| ton. OF the above now here six cases
are eonvaleseing. Since American &C.
| eupat1on two cases of smallpox irn-
| ported; none originated) developed here.
| No plague or typhoid fever, and very
| little dysentery- The total number OF
canal employees is over 1000 OF whom
| only per cent are in the sick hospital
The ordinary army hospital rate Of the
/ United States Of America is about szs
! per cent.
Plenty of Food.
! Sanitation is progressing as eff
| GENTLY as any city in the United States.
Until completion of water works-in
! about three months-the water supply
| from wells and springs will be sold in
| the same manner as heretofore. The
| material and appliances for controlling
| the yellow fever situation have been
| sufficient for all requirements
1T required February to September
| 10 obliterate yellow fever in Havana,
which had over 1000 cases. Confident
of same results here very soon. Canal
employees from United States have been
| assigned quarters in public buildings,
! except { lew, who have decided TO re-
main in llired city buildings rather than
remove to newly renovated ward OF
/ hospital
/ THE coTnnissary has complete
soTtnent of home provisions. They will
be sold at cost. including transporta-
I ton ana incidentais'
Barrett's Views.
United States Minister john Barrett
sends to the State Department 8 report
upon the status OF the mechanical
progress Of the Isthmus canal since July
Il OF last year. After investigation he
declared:
IF the next six months show a
progress eorresponding to that Of the
past six, it is the conviction Of the best
engineers On the isthnlus that a sea
| level c:tual can be constructed in ter.
years, and be ready for large vessels by
January 1, 1915
! Cost Reduced.
| He says that at Culebrs. the quantity
/ Of material now moved per month is
about double what it was at the time
the commission took over the work ard
organization. and the cost has been re-
duced 80 per cent a cubic yard Four
thousand cubic yards OF earth and rock
are now being excavated per day. It Is
iiI2tended that this shall be Increased to
| 1900 yards by July 1, 1905
| In the vicinity OF Cuiebra twenty-.our
miles Of railroad tracks have been pro-
vided, four miles being entirely new
| tracks and roadbeds
| - careful survey mas been made OF
| Colon harhor Soundings and borings
have been completed which give fllu
| information in regard to the sub-foun-
dattons in the harbor and for some five
miles up the canal
| Plans and specifications have been
made for the dredging Of the inner
| or second harbor, raising the level Of
the city of Colon. IN filling IN the ex-
| tensive swamps adjacent thereto.
New Waterworks.
i Large areas of jungle have been
| cleared away in the vicinity of Colon.
railroad tracks repaired and put into
| serviceable condition. and a temporary
wharf has been constructed for the
| unloading of material consigned TO the
canal work.
| He reports that the installation Of
| American machinery is going on rapid
| ly, and that surveys along the entire
/ route OF the canal are being pushed 4
careful system OF reports and cost keep.
ing has been put into effect which
gives accurate information as to the
cost of every movement connected with
the work
He further announces that Panama
within three months will be equipped
IN the matter OF sewerage and water
works as well as any city IN the United
States About $500 men are employed
IN the engineering and construction de-
partments, thus making, approximately,
5000 now working for the United states
On the Isthmus.