Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-12
HEALTH ON The IsTHMUS
LESSENING DEATH RATE NOTED
IN THE CANAL ZONE.
Provision Made by the Government for
the Entertainment and Support
Of the Employees.

The first copy of the newspaper, the
Canal Record. published under the au-
thority and supervision of the isthmian
canal commission at Ancon Canal Zone.
Panama. has reached Washington. and is
full Of interesting articles and statistics In
regard to the work on the canal
One of the notes says that there was less
qunine dispensed by the medical depart
ment on the zone in July than in any pre-
vious month of the present year. In May
452. 10 pounds were issued and in January
1920 pounds were issued In July only
SO Is pounds were administered. although
the number of laborers on the canal in
July was 10000 greater than in July, 1906.
The sick rate per thousand was % in
July last and 80 per thousand In July.
1906. The death rate was 16 per thousand
among the white employees in July, 1907.
and 80 per thousand in July, 1906. Among
the negroes it was y per thousand in 1906,
as against AZ per thousand this year.
The commission clubhouses erected at
Culebra. Empire, Gorgona and Cristobal
have more than 600 members. and appH-
cations in large numbers are filed each
day. The clubs have been erected by the
commission to furnish recreation, amuse-
ment and chance for athletics to the en-
ployes on the canal Billiards. pool and
bowling are so popular that the clubhouses
are filled every night with men interested
nasium classes has become SO general that
it is necessary to use the entertainment
halls on certain evenings for these pur
poses. The demand for educational classes
equipment available. Public entertain
ments brought from the United States have
proved very popular and will be continued
as steadily as possible.
Allowance of Furniture
The commission. so the Record says. has
adopted a resolution providing for al
lowance of furniture for families of en-
ployes receiving less than $4GO a month.
The following pieces of furniture are given
them: One range. one double bed, two pill
lows. two kitchen chairs. six dining chairs.
one chifonier. two center tables. one mos
quito bar, one re frigerator, one double mat
tress, one kitchen and one dining table,
one sidsboard one dresser, one bedroom
mat and three wicker rocking chairs. Elk
ira beds. mattre sses and mosquito bars are
allowed to families with children. En-
ployes receiving $500 month or over re-
ceive the following additional articles: Tow
el racks. one parlor desk. two parlor chairs.
one porch swing. one Morris chair parlor
rocker one serving table, one porch double
seat.
The paper also contains a price list or
market report of prices of food to be had
at commentaries. Beef varies from ~ to II
cents per pound. mutton from 10 to II cents
per pound. and a pound of sausage can be
had for II cents Mik-fed chickens cost
81. each; turkeys, 26k cents a pound ;
eggs. 20 cents per ,dozen best butter. "a
cents cheese, from 6 to 40 cents per pound,
according to variety: lemons cost IA cents a
dozen; oranges, II cents: lines, 30 cents per
hundred. while pineappes cost 10 cents each
One can buy cabbag es for 3 cents pound
bananas for D cents a dozen. onions for 3A
cents a pound. while new potatoes cost 4
cents pound. Catalogues cost 10 cents
each and huckleberres % cents a quart.
MIX costs % cents a quart, but one gets )
cents back on return of the bottle.