Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-18

oie. Dr. Gorgas had both the marsh
anu pond drained and the brush GEAR
GU OIL so that now, when l went over
''e ground. 1t appeared ike a sinoo'h
'HeauoW intersected by drainage
bitches. The breeding places and shell
terlhs spots Of the dangerous mosqui-
Toes HGd been completely destroyed.
Inc result is that aCoroZal for the last
Blk months dixie La Boca. when Ior-
nef'y also had very insanltary rec
ord had lesi than / per cent week
admitted to the hospital. At Corozal
there Is big hotel filed with en-
pioSees or the isthmian canal colnlnls-
SION. some of them with their wives
anu FAMILIES. Yet this healthy anu at
tractlve spot was stigmatiZed as hog
wniiow' by one of the least scrupulous
an" most foolish of the professional
acknowledgements who from time 10 time
nave written about the commissions
work.
In Panama 80 per cent Of the streets
that are to he paved at all are already
paved with an excellent brick pave
meht laid In heavy concrete. few or
the streets being still in process OF paw
ing. The sewer and water services In
the city are Of the most modern by
glenlc type, some Of the service having
just been completed.
In september, 1905. i systematic eff
fort was begun to formulate a general
plan for the proper sanitation Of Co
lon. In February last temporary relief
measures We're taken, while In July the
prosecution Of the work was begun III
good earnest The results are already
visible In the sewering draining, gut
tering and paving Of the streets.
The new reservoir back OF Mount
Hope has been practically completed.
l visited this reservoir. 1t is lake
over mile long and half Il mile broad.
1t now carries some SOU, 900. OUU gallons
or first class water. Water mains have
been laid in the town, and nothing but
cataclysm will hereafter render it
necessary III the dry season to haul
water for the use of Colon and Cristo-
MS dishonest attacks made upon the
commission was in connection with
this reservoir. The writer in question
usually confined himself to vague gen
rfll mendacity. but in this case he
specifically stated that there was no
water in the vicinity tit for a reservoir
Il drank it. and 1t was excellent and
thaf this particular reservoir would
never hold water anyway. With typ
zeal American hulnor, the engineering
corps still at work at the reservoir
have christened Il large boat which is
now used ON the reservoir after the
individual who denied the possibility
Ut the reservoirs existence.
Colon Pavements.
rode through the streets Of Colon
after two days Of almost unexampled
downpour. when they We're at their
very worst. Taken as whole. they
were bad-as bad as PENNSYLVANIA
avenue in Washington before Grants
administration - but through three
fourths Of the town it is now possible
to walk, even during the period Of ire
nendOus rain. in low shoes without
wetting ones feet owing TO the rapid
ity with which the surface water ia
carried away in the bitches. All
men to Who9l l spoke We're unit in
saying that the conditions Of the Colon
streets We're. 200 per. cent better than
a year ago. Complaint was made to
NE by an entirely reputable man as to
the character OF some Of the material
used FOR repairing certain streets. On
the complaint proved
well founded, but it also appeared that
the use of the material in question had
been abandoned. the commission after
having tried it in one or two streets
finding 1t not appropriate.
Complaints Not Well Founded.
The result Of the investigation of
this honest complaint was typical Of
what occurred when / investigated
most Of the other honest complaints
made to me-that Is, where the COM
plants were not made wantOnly or
they almost always proved
due to failure to appreciate the utter
inability Of the commission to do ev-
at once.
In addition to attending to the health |
If the employees. it is necessary to
provide for policing the zone This is
lone by police force which at present
over 200 men under Captain
Stanton. About one-fifth Of the men
ire white aud the others black. In diff
erent places l questioned some TWEEN
y or thirty Of these men, taking them
It random. They were q fine set phys
cally and in discipline. With one ex-
'eption all the white men questioned |
lad served in the American army, usu-
lily In the Philippines, and belonged to |
he best type Of American soldier. All |
he black policemen I questioned had
erved either in the British army or In
he Jamaica or Barbados police. They
we're evidently contented and were do
ng their work well.
lnasmuch as many both Of the white
md colored employees have brought