River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-12-20

of the land being liz feet above low
tide. The slight undulations furnish
shallow, natural reservoirs or fresh
water breeding places for every varie-
ty of mosquito, and the ground tends
town was originally built no attempt
was made to fill the low ground, either
in the streets or on the building Sites
so that the entire surface was prac-
mire became impossible certain of the
streets were crudelv improved by fill
ing especially bad mud holes with soft
rock or other material. In September
1905, q systematic effort was begun to
formulate a 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
sewering. draining, guttering and pay
ing of the streets. Some four months
will be required before the work of
sewerage and street Improvement will
be completed, but the progress already
made is very marked bitches have
been dug through the town, connecting
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
diminution of mosquitoes. More bitches
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
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
reservoir proved to be of insufficient
capacity before the end of the dry
by. hauling water over the Panama
railroad, so that there was at Ill times
an ample supply of the very best
water: Since that time the new reser-
voir back of Mount Hope has been
practically completed. I visited this
reservoir. It. is a lake over a mile
carries some 5OO,O00,oO0 gallons of
| frst-class water. I forward herewith
| a photograph of this lake together
what 1 saw while was on the 18TH
mus. Nothing but a cataclysm will
dry season to haul water for the use
of Colon and Cristobal.
Colon Pavements.
I rode through the streets of Colon.
seeing them at the height of the rainy
season, after two days of almost I'M
exampled downpour. when n. they We're
whole they were undoubtedly very
bad; as bad as Pennsylvania avenue
in Washington before Grants admin
thoroughly satisfactory shape, how
ever Some of the side streets are
also in good condition. In others the
change in the streets is rapidly going
on. Through three-fourths of the
| town it is now possible to walk, even
during the period of tremendous rain.
| in low shoes without wetting ones
| feet, owing to the rapidity with which
| the surface water is carried away in
| the bitches. In the remaining one
| fourth of the streets the mud is very
| deep-about as deep as in the ordinary
| street of a 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 a year ego.
| The most superficial examination of
/ the town shows the progress that has
i been made and is being made in ma
/ cadamizing 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
i tain streets. On Investigation the COM
/ plaint proved we'll 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 appro-
The result of the investigation of