The Jackson herald., 1910-08-25

land about Porto Velho is covered
with dense forests and rank under
growth and the bottoms" of the adja-
cent river breed fever.bearing mos
quitoes by the millions. The ground
was cleared and drained; swampy
spots were filled In, and the riverside
vegetation that sheltered the mos.
auitoes was destroyed for more than
a mile. The site OF the little town was
severed, a filtered running-water sup
ply was established. and an electric
light plant installed and furnished IL
Illumination for streets and structures.
Houses for the men and the executive
stah were built, and club quarters
also. The structures were designed
with special reference to the climate,
and in this connection advantage was
taken OF architectural hints furnished
by the native dwellings. A hospital
OF a commodious sort was also erect
ed: like the staff quarters. II has broad
plazzas inclosed by mosquito-proof
wire netting. There are also out
door and indoor bathing accommoda-
tions. In the cooks quarters the boil
ing. baking and broiling are to very
great extent done by electricity. The
clubhouse has, among other things. a
library. some billiard and pool tables.
game room"-wherein are to be
found chess. checkers and so forth-a
hall for dances and theatricals, and q
selfplayins piano which helps to min
lister TO the amusement OF the men.
The working white force OF the new
undertaking consists OF about Ave hun
dred laborers. artincers and mechanics.
Many OF these men had already been
in the employ OF the contractors in
connection with other railroad con-
struction In the tropics. The green
hands" prior to being sent south. were
given n course of lectures In regard
to conditions, conduct and the hygiene
necessary In the tropics. Both the re-
cruits and the veterans had to pass q
rigorous physical examination before
their services we're accepted. The
moral character Of each man was also
subjected to scrutiny.
While there is a percentage OF for
eign-born citizens In the force, yet the
bulk OF II consists Of native Ameri.
cans. II being the experience OF tho
contractors. so It is said. that Ameri.
cans exhibit a grit and stamina which
are not always found in the case Of
foreigners.
The present engineering corps con.
sists of about sixty persons, who also
have been selected on the score of
their ability and experience. The
medical staff includes eight physicians
and twelve male nurses. Special at
tention has been paid to the food sup
ply. Porto Velho, moreover. Is practi.
cally dry" town. The hours OF la,
bor are. 80 far as possible. Of kind
whose brevity offsets the drain on the
vitality of white men laboring In the
tropics.
The wisdom OF all this preparation
and foresight was made manifest al.
most from the first. The fact that
the work OF the expedition is being
done under the most trying conditions
does not seem to interfere with the
general good health Of the men. Clear
ing virgin tropical forests. laboring In
teeming swamps OF by the side Of ma
larial river bottoms, or encounterini
swarms OF pestiferous insects and
reptiles. are tasks Of a trying and even
dangerous nature. Nevertheless, the
total casualties OF the force during the
two years that II has been in the field
amounts TO only seven, three of which
were from accidents. The percentage
of cases of sickness is equally low,
and recovery from attacks OF fever
have been, almost invariable. Out Of
all the white force engaged. only
twenty-three cases Of fever have been
reported; this. taking all things into
consideration, is a marvellous record.
A indicative of the developments
that wait upon the completion OF the
} enterprise are the changes being made
at the port of Para. situated on the
only navigable mouth of the Amazon
Just at present the low-tide depth oi
water is only 1877 feet. But In view
! OF the necessity. for accommodating
: tho increase Of shipping which will
: come by reason of opening up these
territories by the Madeira-Mamore
railroad, contracts have been entered
into by the city by which the depth OF
r water at the port will be made thirty
feet.
) And all this is because 1900 miles
! away, little 210-mile railroad will be
opened in 1911. A great port on one
: side of continent and nation on the
, other are awaiting the labors OF COO
Americans, who are running steel rails
) through tropical forest ten or twelve
! thousand miles from home.