Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-14
How Science and Energy Has
Conquered Plague and
Yellow Fever

No more is IL TO be written:
'Guayaquil, the pest hole Of the Pa.
cific." This danger spot on the west
coast OF South America is TO be re-
moved through efficient sanitation.
Guayaquil is the mos. important
seaport OF Ecuador. the outlet Of
practically all the products OF that
rich but undeyeloped South American
republic. Just as rapidly as the ma
chinery of two governments can be
moved, arrangements are being made
I'm Washington for the reclamation OF
the city. Guayaquil's day as the
chief distributing center OF yellow
fever and bubonic plague in the West
ern Hemisphere is practically over.
OF all the plans for expansion and
new development which the APP
preaching completion of the Panama
Canal is bringing, none Is or more
vital importance and far reaching sig
nificance commercially than the one
relating to Guayaquil. Situated at
the very entrance of the panama.
Canal, the sanitation of Guayaquil is
regarded by the United States gov.
eminent as corollary OF the great
work being performed on the isthmus
in the interest of commerce. The
plans for the sanitation of the city
and haFbor Involve nothing less than
a new birth OF Guayaquil, Fena-
scence and q Transformation which
will fit the city TO take its proper
place among the worlds great ports
and the chief benefciaries of the
Panama Canal. Ecuador has recog
nized her great opportunity and has
asked the United States to cooperate
with her in taking advantage of it.
Since IL Is the building OF the
Panama Canal by Americans which is
to bring about the metamorphosis of
GHayaQuil. It Is fitting that the worss
should be done by Americans, and
that is what is intended. At the in.
vitation of the government OF Ecua-
dor the same force which amazed the.
world by the conversion OF the Canal
Zone and the cities OF Colon and
Panama into a region with lower
death tate than New. York is to UNI.
dertake the sanitation OF Guayaquil
The officers OF the Army Medical
Corps will direct the work OF the ex-
termination of the mosquito. the elm
ination of yellow fever, butonicl
plague and typhoid, the cleaning up
Of the city, the installation of sewer
systems and waterworks and the paw
ing Of streets, as was done on the
lsthmus. After its work in Havana,
San Juan, Porto Rico, Manila, Colon
n,,d Doparao thc 90 ,,s3ot.so,, - fs,,o,.o
gull will rank the Army Medical
Corps as second to no body of men
anywhere in its services TO humanity
and the worlds commerce.
Just as soon as the official formal.
titles are disposed Of in Washington a
commission of United States sanitary
experts is to be sent to GuayaquiI
from the Canal Zone This commits
sion will make thorough sanitary
survey OF the city, something that
never has been done 1t is hoped
that its report may be completed be-.
fore the first OF next year, in order
that II may be submitted to Congress
and authority obtained for the inau-
guration Of the real work of cleans
ing the city. The cost of the prelim-
mary survey will be betrayed by the.
United States, while IL is expected
that money will be advanced to Ecua.
dor for the actual sanitation OF the
city.
The same conditions which brought
to Guayaquil the title of "The Pest
hole of the Pacific" have made it al
most a closed book to the outside
world No American or European
goes there except Of necessity and
the fact that II Is under almost perpe-
tual quarantine makes it difficult of