Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26

ment and was given pretty Dr0ao powers
A campaign of rat determination was be-
gun, and many of the wretched shacks
in which the poor class lived were
burned. It looked for a time as II, In
of the preventive measures
against bubonic, there might be new
and sanitary Guayaauil. But as the cpl o
demic gradually exhausted itself and the
cases became sporadic, tire zeal was les
sened. until the port again became nor
NAL in Its unhealthiness and with no
greater mortality from the bubonic cases
than at other west coast ports.
Better Things With Canal.
Viewed from the Guayaquil standpoint,
the sanitary situation is not bad at
the present time There is no epidemic
and west coast steamers are in and out
uninterruptedly. The rigid quarantine
at Panama by the American
canal officials sets a standard which cam
not be ignored, but no hafbor works and
other improvements have vet been under
taken and no sanitary measures adopted
which will enable Guayaquii to be placed
on level with Havana. Panama and Rio
de Janeiro as ports where yellow fever
is under control. The opening of the
Panama canal to traffic will require the
adoption Of some such measures. Ecua-
dor might feel that she could isolate her
self from the world and retard her own
but 1T Is not possible that
a plague port so near to the canal can
exist indefinitely.
Plans for harbor improvements and
sanitation have been under consideration
for years Some of them were little more
than temporary schemes while others
were scientific and comprehensive and
were the result of technical studies py
competent engineers. Two or three times
contracts have been made. but they have
laC 0na a
sion held by a French company, lapsed
year ago.
In some the plans evidences of thrift
were shown. One, for instance, provided
for large quantity of drain pipes 70
carry off the rainfall. Somebody was said
to have an option on a supply Of pipe OF
a certain size. The specification was
based on the undoubted fact that by d.
viding the annual rainfall by twelve, the
average monthly rainfall would be OBJ
tanned. 1t was pointed out that TINS sys-
tenn of averages would not work in TINS
case since the heavy rainfall is confined
to a period of about four months, and the
pipe must be large enough for that PERIOD
The cardinal obstacle In all the efforts
to secure the proper sanitation for Guaya-
quill such as would be protection to the
west coast commerce, as we'll as to the
community itself. has not been the cen
trail government at Quito. but the city or
Guayaqul. In the existing circumstances,
the trade of the country is at the mercy
of small group or clique of wealthy
men. The total commerce amounts to
SO, 300 600, and approximately 80 per cent
of this passes through Guayaquil. The
minor ports have tried to get some of it,
but they make little Roadway.
Keeps Out Competition.
The group in control Is satisfied, APP
parently. So are a few of the foreigners,
who regard the yellow fever as an asset
in keeping out competition.
Before the railway was built to Quito,
Guayaquil was practically separate
commonwealth and was politically indie
pendent of the capital. The railway has
given the government at Quito better
grasp of the situation, yet Guayaquil is
still powerful political factor and. II not
always ready to openly defy the Quito
government, has various means OF
1t. Sanitary affairs have been
largely controlled by the local junta or
health board. which is backed by the mu-
nicipality itself. The inability of the Quito
government to secure the cooperation OF
the junta in carrying out its measures,
although the sanitation of Guayaquil Is
recognized as national and not municipal,
usually has resulted In deadlock.
During the last two years the influence
of the United States has been quietly ex-
ercised to persuade the government OF
to solve the Guayaquil situation.
The Panama canal has been regarded as
a sufficient justification, and the expert
ence IN cleaning UP the isthmus and
keeping Colon and Panama free from
yellow fever was an object lesson. At
the request Of the Ecuadorian govern
ment a commission of experts. headed
by Col. w. C. Gorgas, visited Guayaquil
and made thorough study of the condi-
tons. The report of Col. Gorgas is
elaborate and supplements the technical
reports previously made by engineering
experts. 1t expresses no doubts as to
the ability to establish and maintain a
healthy port. Contracting firms have
had their representatives on the ground.
Washington is reported to be exercising
persuasive pressure to have the work
done by Americans, but the point has not
yet been reached where a contract has
been awarded. The general plan for i'm
provements includes the extension of the
present water, sewerage drainage and
paving systems, and possibly the WIDEN
ing of the river wall, which extends the
whole length of the city. These i'm
provements ultimately are to cost $12,-
800, 600. Provision has been made for
million-doilar loan, with the custom
revenues as security. The question
which blocks the contract is whether
Quito or Guayaquil shall handle the
funds.
J. Ecuador's Future at Stake.
The future of Ecuador, if it is to have
a future, depends largely on the SANTA
ton of Guayaauil. Whether the city
shall remain for some years longer a
plague port. denying itself the benefits
of the canaL is not entirely a domestic
matter. but it's present determination
rests with Ecuador. The country wants
railways built. and the administration of
President Plaza is exerting itself to
secure their construction. The congress
has authorized various railway loans,
rather more than can be absorbed in the
immediate future. Yet some of the prof.
ects are of commercial practicability and
would justify the investment of foreign
capital. But this capital will not be OBJ
tanned until it Is shown that the traffic
which may be developed will not be ham
pered by Guayaqu.fs isolation from the
commercial currents of the world.
The west coast countries are now in
tereste in the movement to- open up a
water and rail highway from the head
waters of the Amazon to the Pacific
A large section of the interior of the
South American continent has a vast
economic future if these plans are car
ried out, and the country which opens
the first highway to the Amazon head
Ecuador has a historical short route.
The naked painted Indians from the
Napo. who sometimes wander up the
passes of the cordilleras and into Quito
know the water courses and the noun
tain trails which would open up COM
"Reminiscences also, have been. made
by explorers. The rubber of large
region requires an outlet from these
Amazonian regions to the Pacific, but
II will not find it's way out through
Guayaquil in the present circumstances.
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