Evening star., 1914-12-27

recommended that the Huai river be
diverted and carried through several
lakes, from which 1t will discharge
through channel into tho Yangtse
bed Of one of the lakes will be re-
claimed, and more than 100000 acres of
valuable agricultural land will be made
available for farming by the people.
The amount of earth which must be
removed is estimated at s75.Ooo.ooo
cubic yards of material. and 1t is con-
servatively estimated that the results
OF the work of preventing the de-
struction caused by floods by divertinG
the river and providing an adequate
channel will improve the value of more
than 100000 acres of land, and that
the benefits which will result will
amount to more than $4S,000.000. This
project will cost about s3o,OoO,ooo.
*
Is
One Of the features of the anti-plague
campaign which has been going on in
New Orleans
Ball Given by New since early
Orleans Rat Killers. I hean dsscrib-
sistant Surgeon General W. c. Rucker
Of the United States public health serv-
ice, who headed the governments ply
sicians who are carrying on the fight
against the disease and who has re-
turned to Washington for a few days.
DR.. Rucker mentions this social event
of the men engaged in the plague CAM
paign to show the contrast In spirit
between the members of a modern
sanitary force with the general de-
moralization of the members of COM
munities which were visited by plague
in the far distant past.
The "rodentologists' BALI was given
in New Orleans several weeks ago.
and, according to DR.. Rucker, was at
''rodentologists" who organized the
affair included all the men, from pub
lie health service inspector down to
the foremen and laborers and others
engaged in rat catching, fumigation
and the general work of sanitation in
fighting the plague.
These men between July s and De-
cember 18 have caught in traps alone,
according to DR.. Rucker, nearly 1890
rats, all of which have been examined
by the governments experts in lab
oratories. Only the people of New Or
leans can appreciate the effectiveness
of the work of the governments large
corps of rat exterminators. whose eff
forts have resulted in restricting the
spread of the plague to only thirty
cases and only nine deaths.
The governments rat catchers held
their ball in Washington Artillery Hall
and best orchestra of the city for the
music. Little gray-colored rats made
of cotton were the favors given to the
ladies, while white rats were worn by
navy and officers of the public health
service were included among the in
vited guests.
Officials, Of the United States public
health service are much interested in a
movement which has
Street Railway been begun in New
c.:4.4: York city to obtain
better sanitation and
ventilation of street cars and subway
trains in which many thousands Of per-
sons travel each day. Although the
sanitation of street cars Is solely with
in the province of the various munich
palities and states to handle, the ex-
perts in the public health service are
interested because the problem Is re-
lated to the similar movement to OBJ
tain more hygienic conditions in the
steam railway cars in interstate traffic,
a problem which will be handled by the
public health service If bills now pend
ing in Congress are enacted into law.
DR.. S. S. Goldwater, health commits
sioner Of New York city, has asked the
public health commission of the state
of New York to authorize health regu-
consensus of opinion of Dr. Goldwater
and other municipal public health Off
cials is that, while the cleaning Of pas
senger cars is thoroughly important,
their overcrowding Is a matter of in
hnitely greater significance from the
standpoint of public health. The New
York health officer believes that the
willful overcrowding of poorly venti-
lated passenger cars is serious Of
fense against public health and safety,
In expressing his opinion on the over
crowded street car as menace to
health, DR.. Goldwater says:
1T can readily be discerned that dis
ease of the respiratory tract and other
forms of communicable diseases may
be and are transmitted from person to
person under conditions which COM
monty exist in the street cars and sub
way trains of the city. 1t is our be-
lief that the health of the passengers
who ride in overcrowded and poorly
ventilated cars is injuriously affected
and that the breathing, coughing and
sneezing of persons who are packed
together result in the transmission of
disease. The question is: DO the COM
pdHleS 90 all lndL Iney may De reason
ably expected to to protect the health
of their patrons?' If it is true that the
companies do not use all of their avail
able rolling stock, but carry only a
sufficient number of cars to carry their
passengers under conditions of maxi
mum overcrowding, they are. to my
mind. culpable of a serious offense."
Various health officers in cities of the
United States have pointed out that the
street cars, under existing American
conditions, can hardly be otherwise
than clearing houses Of injection
While one Of the principal reasons for
this is overcrowding, 1t is believed by
health officers that sanitary conditions
could be bettered very much by the
companies without the expenditure of
any more money whatsoever. The
means to better conditions, they say,
is to let In fresh air and bring about
thorough ventilation of cars while
running. Most of the companies in the
winter time, especially, have many Of
the ventilators closed and cars soon
become offensive to the smell because
of the bad air, which has little or no
chance to circulate Most cities have
enacted regulations aimed at the bet
terment of housing conditions, but few
communities, health officers point out,
have taken up the proposition of getting
fresh air and circulation Of air in street
cars in which many times more people
are huddled together at almost any
time of the day than can ever be found
in a single residence.
RAYMOND W. PULLMAN.