Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

Surgeon General Walter Wvman.
fdential nature, anc i.at although the
government could communicate It to the
manufacturers interested. Ii was not IN
formation that could be published without
creating some international friction.
South as a Place of Residence.
Secretary Straus was followed by Sur
geon General Walter Wyman of the pub
lie health and marine hospital service,
who spoke on the south as place OF
residence
Declaring that the south IS "goodly
land" land. of improving sanitary con-
ditions and beneficent climate, which will
make of it territory unexcelled In all
that pertains to health and vigor In man.
Gen. Wyman spoke most favorably OF the
climatic and health conditions of the pres
ent south.
1T is not only good place for man."
he said, but it is a good place for living
things, and unfortunately some Of these
living things-for example, the germs or
yellow fever and malaria and the hook
worm-are the enemies of man." He de-
clared, however that yellow fever Is no
longer a factor to be considered In the
determinations Of health conditions, adding
that 1t Is no longer looked upon las
mysterious invasion Liable at any time.
and to spread throughout our southern
territory
AS an example of a successful fight
made against yellow fever. he cited the
case Of the New Orleans outbreak In
1905. where the disease was obliterated
by efforts based upon modern scientific
knowledge and that, too before the COM
ing of frost Our demonstrated ability
to check the disease has restored con-
idence."
Control of Quarantine.
He declared that another important fact
bearing upon the exclusion Of yellow
fever is that the southern states have
given up the administration Of their local
guarantees to the national government.
He added that the exceptional care Of the
national government is seen in the supple
mental surveillance established at New
Orleans and Mobile over passengers who
have arrived from infected or suspected
ports. notwithstanding they have passed
the quarantine and that the care Of the
government is further seen in stationing
at every port in. Mexico, Central Amer
lea, the West Indies and certain ports
in South America where yellow fever pre-
walls or Is suspected Of prevailing its
trained medical officers to prevent the
conveyance OF infection. either by vessels
or their personnel. to our southern sea-
board.
The surgeon general affirmed that
another modern feature which is favor
ably affecting the health conditions in the
south is the growing influence and power
of the state boards of health. He declared
that the national quarantine act has had
q favorable affect in this way permitting
the state boards of health to withdraw
their activities from maritime quarantine,
which he declared to be properly a ma
tional function, and allowing them to give
more time and attention to internal health
conditions.
Effect of the Panama Canal.
Secretary Wright spoke at length on the
effect of the Panama canal on the indus
tries of the United States and Of the world
at large. THE United States supplies less
than 10 per cent of the imports to the
west coast of South America The COM
pletion of the canal should in the future
give to the United States the same DOM
nance in this region that 1t exercises IN
countries similarly situated. Canada
draws nearly 60 per cent of her imports
from us; and Notwithstanding the greater
difficulties of transportation We still fur
nish to Mexico 10 per cent of her imports
and to Venezuela and Colombia 30 per
cent of theirs.
while a marked effect of the canal
will thus be the reduction in distance
along the routes between the Atlantic
ports of the United States and the Pa
cific ports OF the two Americas, this Is
second in Importance only to the greater
trade opportunities that seemingly must
result for us in the Eastern Hemisphere.
We have large and increasing CONF
merce with China, Australia. New Zea-
land. the Hawaiian and the Philippine Is
lands and other Pacific regions.
AT present the distance from New
York to Australia by way of the Suez
canal and by way of the Cape of Good
Hope is practically the same. By the
Panama canal New York Will be brought
nearly 400 miles nearer TO Sydney and
over 1.J0O miles nearer to Adelaide. the
most westerly port of the industrially I'M
portant part of Australia. The distance
between New Orleans and Adelaide will
be reduced over 5000 miles.
New Zealand will be brought 5000 miles
nearer to New York than the route by
way of the Cape Of Good Hope and $500
to 1900 miles nearer than the route by
way of the Straits of Magellan.
The exports of cotton manufacturers in
the United States. he said. are mainly
sent TO the countries of the Pacific Ocean,
China" he continued takes about
one-half of our exported cotton cloth The
cotton goods purchased by the South
American countries reaches an amount of
S1S.0o0OO0 per year, barely per cent OF
which is exported from the United States.
The opening of the canal will not only
give better rates to the Pacific countries,
but will throw open the entire western
coast of the southern continent to this
trade.
Another result of the completion Of
the canal" said Secretary Wright. will
be its influence on the shipbuilding in
dustry, in which way it will affect al
most every section of the country. A
larger coastwiSe fleet will be required
for the increased trade. and the vessels
must be built in American yards" He
spoke of the influence of the canal upon
railways serving different sections Of
the United States. AS a competitor 1t
would, he said. have a very important
effect upon railway rates.
The Afternoon Session.
Philip Werelin of the New Orleans
Progressive Union. presided at the after
noon session. at which addresses were
made by j. c. p Goodyear of Bruns-
wick Ga: John A. Fox Of Arkansas and
John F.. Wallace of New York. These
papers covered the ports Of the south.
the development of southern waterways
and southern railroads
The evening session is regarded as very
important The chief address will be de.
liyered by Clifford Pinchot chief forester.
on The Commercial Significance of the
Appalachian Forests" Another important
paper will be contributed by Frank s.