Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-12-21
cULEBRA CUT SHOWING FRENCH AMERICAN LEVELS
cal five het below, the rrsetAme

an level.
factory working out of the problem of
getting and keeping sufficient labor
supply, would have been disastrous.
The first great problem to be solv-
ed, upon the solution of which the sue
cess of the rest of the work depended,
was the problem of sanitation.
Care is taken by the inspectors Of
the health department to secure
cleanliness in the houses and proper
hygienic conditions of every kind.
inspected between 20 and 80 water
closets, both those used by the white
employees and those used by the col
ored laborers. In almost every case
I found the conditions perfect.
l inspected the large hospitals at
Ancon and Colon, which are excellent
examples of what tropical hospitals
should be. l also inspected the re-
ceiving hospitals in various settle
ments. | went through a number of
the wards in which the colored men
are treated, a number of those in
which the white men are treated
Americans and Spaniards. Both white
men and black men are treated ex-
actly alike, and their treatment is as
good as that which could be obtained
in our first-class hospitals at home.
Just at present the health showing
on the isthmus is remarkably good
so much better than in most sections
of the United States that do not be-
lieve it can possibly continue at quite
its present average.
Colon Water Supply.
Water mains were laid in Colon
and water was furnished to the peo-
pie early in March from temporary
reservoir. This reservoir proved to
be of insufficient capacity before the
end of the dry season and the short
age was made up by hauling water
over the Panama railroad, so that
there was at all times an ample sup
ply of the very best water. Since
that time the new reservoir back of
Mount Hope has been practically COM
pleted. 1 visited this reservoir. It is
a lake over mile long and half q
mile broad. 1t carries now some 500,-
100000 gallons of first-class water.
One of the most amusing Gas well
as dishonesty attacks made upon the
commission was in connection with
this reservoir. The writer in question
usually confined himself to vague
he specifically stated that there was
no water in the vicinity fit for res
ervoir Il drank it, and it was excel.
lent, and that this particular reser-
voir would never hold water anyway.
With typical American humor, the
engineering corps still at work at the
reservoir have christened large boat
which is now used on the reservoir
by the name of the individual who
ervoir's existence
Care and forethought have been ex-
ercised by the commission, and moth
ing has reflected more credit upon
them than their refusal either to 60
ahead too fast or to be deferred by
the fear Of criticism from not going
ahead fast enough. 1t is curious to
note the fact that many of the most
severe critics of the commission criti-
CloC luGll lOl plSIloOly OppOolL0 Iod-
sons, some complaining bitterly that
the work is not in more advanced
condition, while the others complain
that it has been rushed with such
haste that there has been insufficient
preparation for the hygiene and COM
fort of the employees. AS a matter Of
fact neither criticism is just 1t would
have been impossible to go quicker
than the commission has gone, for
such quiclSness would have meant in
sufficient preparation. On the other
hand, to refuse to do anything until
every possible future contingency had
been met would have caused wholly
unwarranted delay. The right course
to follow was exactly the course
which has Deen followed.
In addition to attending to the
health of the employees, it is of course
necessary to provide for policing the
: zone. This Is done by force which
at present numbers over 200 men.
About one-fifth of the men are white
l and the others black. In different
places | questioned some 20 or 80 OF
these men. taking them at random.
l They were fine set physically and
in discipline. Where possible the po-
: lcemen are used TO control people OF