Gilpin observer., 1906-12-20
t n y
eated

n. the land being 1ik feet above low
tde. The slight undulations furnish
sna.low. natural reservoirs or fresh
water breeding places for every varie-
ty OF mosquito. and the ground tends
to be lowest in the middle When the
town was originally built no attempt
was made TO MI the low ground. either
in the streets or on the building sites.
so that the entire surface was prac-
mire became impassable certain of the
streets We're crndclv improved bV fill
ing especially bad mud holes with soft
rock or other material In september.
1905. n systematic effort was begun to
formulate general plan for the prop
er sanitation of the city; in February
last temporary relief measures were
taken. while In July the prosecution of
the work was begun in good earnest.
sewcring. draining. gutterinS and pay
ing OF the streets, Some four months
sewerage and street Improvement will
be completed but the progress already
made is very marked. bitches have
the salt water on both sides. and into
these the ponds, which have served as
breeding places for the mosquitoes, are
drained These bitches have answered
their purpose. for they are probably
the chief cause of the astonishing
Of the kind are being constructed.
Colon Water Supply.
1t was not practicable. with the
force at the commissions disposal. and
In view of the need that the force
should be used in the larger town OF
early last winter. Water mains WE wore
then laid In the town and water was
furnished to the people early in March
from temporary reservoir. This
reservoir proved to be of insufficient
capacity before the end of the dry
season and the shortage was made up
by hauling water over the Panama
railroad. so that there was at all times
an "mnl" sunnlv Of the very hest
volr back OF Mount Hope has been
practically completed. visited this
reservoir, II Is a lake over a mile
SrE ana som n" e ooo ronns m now y"
first class water. forward herewith
a PHOTOGRAPH Of this lake. together
what / saw while l was on the 18TH
mus. Nothing but cataclysm will
hereafter render IL necessary in the
of Colon and Cristobai.
Colon Pavements.
rode through the streets OF Colon.
seeing them Mt the height OF the rainy
season after two days OF almost un-
at their very worst Taken as
whole they, were undoubtedly very
in Washington before Grants admin
istration. Front street IL already In
Thoroughly SATISFACTORY act, shape; how
also In good condition. In others the
change In the streets is rapidly going
on. Through three -fourths OF the
town II is now possible to walk. even
during the period of tremendous rain.
In low shoes without wettlng ones
feet. owing to the rapidity with which
the surface water is carried away in
the ditches. In the remaining one
fourth of the streets the mud Is very
deep-about ms deep as In the ordinary
street of n low-lying prairie river town
of the same size In the United states
during early spring. All men to whom
spoke were a unit in saying that the
conditions OF the Colon streets were
100 per cent better than n year ago.
The most superficial examination of
the town shows the progress that has
been made and Is being made In ma
cadnmizing the streets. Complaint was
made to me by an entirely reputable
man as to the character of some OF
the material used for repairing GER
tain streets. On investigation the COM
piaint proved well founded, but II also
appeared that the use OF the material
In question had been abandoned the
commi sslon after having tried II In one
or two streets finding II not appro-
pirate.