The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-18

ways, most of them being colored meI
of the ordinary laborer stamp. No
only are the men carefully cared fol
whenever they apply for care, but sc
far as practicable watch is kept t.
see that If they need it they are sent
to the hospitals, whether they desire
to 60 or not. From no responsible
source did any complaint come to me
as to the management of the hospital
service, although occasionally a very
ignorant West India negro when he is
first brought into the hospital becomes
frightened by the ordinary hospital
routine.
Health Showing Remarkable.
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 that it can possibly continue at
quite its present average. Thus, early
in the present year band Of several
hundred Spaniards were brought to
the isthmus as laborers and additions
to their number have been made from
| time to time; yet since their arrival in
February last but one of those Span
the canal has died of disease, and he
| Of typhoid fever. Two others were
killed, one in a railroad accident and
one by a dynamite explosion. There
has been for the last six months a
well nigh steady decline in the death
rate for the population of the zone.
this being largely due to the decrease
In deaths from pneumonia, which has
been the most fatal disease on the
isthmus. In October there were ninety
nine deaths Of every kind among the
employees of the isthmus. There were
then on the rolls $500 whites, seven
Fights of them being Americans. OF
these whites but two died of disease
and as it happened neither man was
an American. OF the 5000 white Amer
leans, including some 1900 women and
children, not single death has &C.
CURED in the past three months,
whereas in an average city in the
United States the number of deaths
for a similar number of people in that
time would have been about thirty
from disease. This very remarkable
showing can not of course permanent
ly obtain. but it certainly goes to prove
that II good care is taken the isthmus
is not a particularly unhealthy place.
In October of the 10000 negroes on the
roll eighty-six died from disease, pneu.
monia being the most destructive dis.
ease and malarial fever coming sec.
ond. The difficulty of exercising
thorough supervision over the colored
laborers is of course greater than is
the case among the whites and they
are also less competent to take care
OF themselves, which accounts for the
fact that their death rate Is so much
higher than that Of the whites, in spite
Of the fact that they have been used
to similar climatic conditions. Even
among the colored employees 1t will be
seen that the death rate is not high.
Diminution Of Mosquitoes.
In Panama and Colon the death rate
has also been greatly reduced. this be-
ing directly due to the vigorous work
Of the special brigade of employees who
have been inspecting houses where the
stegomyia mosquito is to be found and
destroying its larvae and breeding
places and doing similar work in ex-
terminating the malarial mosquitoes
In short, in performing all kinds of
hygienic labor. A little over a year
ago all kinds of mosquitoes. including
the two fatal species, were numerous
about the Culebra cut. In this cut
during last October every room Of
every house was carefully examined
and only two mosquitoes. neither of
them of the two fatal species, were
found. Unfaltering energy in inspec.
tion and in disinfecting and in the
work of draining and of clearing brush
are responsible for the change. ap-
pend DR.. Gorgas' report on the health
conditions; also letter from Surgeon
General Rixey to DR.. Gorgas. The
surgeon general reported to me that
the hygtenic conditions on the 18th.
mus were about as good as. for in
stance. those in the Norfolk hayward.
The sanitation work in the cities of
Panama and Colon has been just as
important as in the zone itself and in
many respects much more difficult;
because 1t was necessary to deal with
the already existing population, which
naturally had scant sympathy with
revolutionary changes, the value of
which they were for long time not
able to perceive. Yet astonishing
progress has been made in both cities.
~
that are to be paved at all are already
paved with an excellent brick pave
ment laid in heavy concrete, a few of
the streets being still in process of
paving. The sewer and water services
In the city are of the most modern
hygienic type, some of the service hav.
Ing just been completed.
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
Panama, to begin this work before
early last winter. Water mains were
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, 30 that there was at all times
an ample supply of the very best
water. Since that time the new res.
eryoir back Of Mount Hope has been
practically completed. visited this
reservoir It ia q lake over a mile