Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-30
PANAMA CANAL ZONE
Gov. Magoon Calls on the Pres
ident Today.
Mr.. BIGEOW'S STATEMENTS
Not Gained From Facts, but Persons
on Shipboard.
PROGRESS OF SANITATION
No Yellow Fever Gases in Seventy
Six Days-No Unsolvable En-
Mr.. BIGEOW'S STATEMENTS
PROGRESS OF SANITATION

Charles e. Magoon, governor of the Pam
anna canal zone, paid call of respect upon
the President today and arranged for a
long interview with the chief executive as
to canal affairs later on
Governor Magoon talked to a Star re-
porter as to conditions in the section he
has just come from. He referred to the
statements of Poultney Bigelow, and re-
iterated what he has said about Mr.. Bige-
low being on the isthmus but few hours
and having little or no opportunity to get
the Information he claimed to have had.
'Mr. Bigelow involved himself in large
number of misstatements,' said Governor
Magoon. He did not famliarize himself
with the facts by actual observation and
contact with well-informed people in the
canal zone, but it is understood that most
of his authority came from persons on
shipboard who talked with him his way
back to the United States
Sanitation of City of Panama.
Gov Magoon then spoke of the work
that is in progress for the sanitation of the
city of Panama which although not under
the jurisdiction of the United States, is, by
treaty obligations, to be put into sanitary
condition by this country, which reserves
the right to exercise police power in the
city in all matters affecting sanitation.
The work of sanitation is going right
ahead" said Gov. Magoon. THE water
works and sewerage systems are about 20
per cent completed and the streets are be-
ing paved as fast as the work can be done.
Brick is used on most of the streets. We
will continue paving until the principal
streets are put in attractive condition. Our
work of sanitation has been SO successful
that there has not been a single case Of
yellow fever in seventy-siX days. This is
considered phenomenal in Panama. The
mortuary records there have been well kept
for a hundred years. These records show
that during 100 years there were only
twenty-three days when the city was free
of yellow fever This record, though APP
plies to periods when there were non-m-
munes in the city, and does not hold good
at other times. The French suffered terri
bly, from yellow fever. OF course, we have
the advantage of the French in knowing
that yellow fever is produced by the mos
quito If they had had the benefit of this
knowledge they would have kept the death
list down. There were sxty-seven cases
of yellow fever in Panama last June, and
about half that number in July The num-
ber dwindled each month until more than
two and a half months have now passed
without case. In Colon. on the Pacific
side. there was one case in December
High License on the Isthmus.
When Gov. Magoon took charge of affairs
on the isthmus he found over 300 saloons
had been accustomed to paying varying
licenses, running from $15 to $50 year, ac-
cording to the stock on hand. Gov. Magoon
established a license fee of 5000 gold per
year, and this has reduced the number of
saloons to sixty-three. They sell mostly
light drinks, although native rum is a
favorite with the natives. In the city of
Panama, over which the canal authorities
have no power In the matter of internal af-
fairs except sanitation, there are 600 or 700
saloons. The Jamaica negroes who are la
borers on the canal drink something made
from native bush that tastes and looks
like old-fashioned strawberry pop as
Gov. Magoon put 1t. When the United
States government took charge it found the
Panama railroad selling drinks to its en-
ployes, having trains fitted up with appe-
tizing beverages and stimulants. This was
done away with.
No Unsolvable Engineering Problem.
Speaking of the physical conditions Of the
canal work. the governor strongly seconded