Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09

is carefully inspected for mosquito larvae
in water containers placed therein. The
work of the inspectors Is also suhiclently
checked. so that we know that the work
Is being properly and thoroughly DONE
During July, 1865, $50 house and yard
inspections were made, and the mosquito
larvae (mostly in the early stages or de-
velopmenD were found in $40 of the houses
inspected. By,means of this continuous in
spection at short intervals the mosquito lar
vac are destroyed before they reach the
pupal stage.
During the months that yellow fever ex-
listed in the zone an important feature OF
the sanitary corps work was the fumiga-
ton of patients house.
AS soon as a case of yellow fever was
reported by one of the several native physl-
clans in the employ Of the commission who
are in charge of certain districts In the
cities, the patient was generally immeoiate-
ly removed to hospital, and the house was
thoroughly fumigated, thus killing the mos
quitoes therein and avoiding all risk OF the
diseases spread In case 1t was deemed
advisable to move the patient from his
home. however, guard or orderly. furnish
ed by the commission, was at once sent 10
the patients residence. This orderly saw
to it that the sufferer was Immediately
screened and remained constantly on duty
until his recovery or DEATH the orderiy's
sole duty being to see that the proper pre-
cautions were being taken In the matter CT
screening and protection from mosquitoes
the termination of the patients illness.
How Culebra Was Cleaned.
The cleaning Of Culehra, where a large
non-immune population lives, has been rep
Yesentative The streets, although badly
paved at present, are kept as clean as
washington's Pennsylvania avenue. For the
first time in years the surface drains per-
form their functions, not being choked up
with filth. Garbage and night soil from
the existing pail closets are regularly re-
moved and destroyed, and the vicinity OF
the town is as clean as the town itself, all
| brush and debris having been carefully re-
| moved. No hogs are allowed In the town,
| and to keep the existing system of drainage
| from being ruined all horses and COWS are
| kept tied to stakes. Both natives and en-
ployes have been instructed how to keep
themselves and their respective environ
ments clean and wholesome.
In its fight in and around Culebra against
the yellow fever and Misunderstanding
mosquitoes. the sanitary corps has kept
the surface drains oiled continually, ali
water containers found buried under the
heaps of brush have been removed and all
mosquito-proof water barrels are kept in
perfect condition According TO Colonel
Gorgas, the malarial parasite exists in the
blood of practically so per cent of the
population The chances, therefore, for our
employees becoming infected would be great
were the sanitary corps not diligent in
It's work against the anopheles, well as
the stagomyla-
Rebuilding Panama City.
Not only has the city Of Panama been
constantly subjected to fumigation since
the advent of Colonel Gorgas; it is also
being largely rebuilt for sanitary reasons
A complete and up-to-date sewerage sys-
tenn was begun on October 10, 1904, to take
the place OF the worse than useless surface
drains. All the material is on the ground,
and about 80 per cent of it had been laid
by the 1st Of last October.
In August of 1901 the construction Of
system of waterworks. to cost $40, coo
| (gold), was begun. The system includes
| storage reservoir on the Rio Grande river,
supply pipe line extending from this
| reservoir to a distribution reservoir at An
con, Just outside Panama. and distribu-
| ton system throughout the city of Panama.
There was small reservoir in existence
on the Rio Grande which had been con-
structed by the French with a dam of
| strong masonry about thirty-fve feet high
| This dam has been raised 10 about double
| that height and has been strengthened by
| buttress of concrete at its base and
| massive gate chamber in its center
During the construction the water In the
! original reservoir drawn off and the
/ basin cleared of a large number of stuTnps
| logs and quantity OF mud and muck
| the enlarged reservoir is 4o0, Geo 900 gallons
! which will be ample to supply 1900 600
| gallons per day during the dry season, the
/ average leEgth OF which does not exceed
| $50 days.
] The present population of Panama is less
| than 10000. and the maximum future popu-
lation is estimated at 10000. A total daily
! consumption of sixty SALONS per capita was
| assured. The water shed area tributary
! 10 the reservoir is ample to furnish the
requisite amount of water
! Water was let into pipe line as far as
Ancon on June 20. 1905 In tho city of
| Panama about 70 per cent OF the water
! mains have been laid and about that per-
centage OF the City Is now supplied with
and pure, being obtained from mountain
streams and springs that cannot be polluted
| IN ordinary ways. Many of the old cisterns
on which the city formerly wholly depend
ed for its water supply have been filed I'D,
| and eventually all will be.
/ Excavation for the distributing reservoir
| at Ancon has been completed, but, pending
| the construction of the concrete basin the
| city is being supplied with water by direct
pressure
More Water Works.
| Colon has also got its water from cis-
/ terms filed during the wet season from time
immeniorial In April of this year water
works system to cost S412oo gold, was
! begun. 1t includes a distribution system
| fer cristobal. The number of men avail
/ able fos the work has been very small from
/ the start, and all efforts have been conce,a-
! trated upon the construction OF ternpor-
/, airy impounding reservoir on one branch OF
| the BRACES brook The area cleared and
| Hooded at this temporary dam will servo
| as 4 portion of the future permanent res
/ ervoir.
AtSEniebra new collecting reservoir has
been Duilt west OF the town, taking water
from Q series of springs, aud the old
treAch system at this plaza has been other
| wise improved and enlarged. Temporary
| arrangements for water supply have been
made nj various other places along the line
of the canal.
! when tho permanent gystcms are estab-