The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-04-26
GUAYAQUIL, ssPESTHOUSE
OF THE CONTINENT is
BEGINNING TO CLEAN UP

This constitution is quite lib
eral, with the same rights grant
ed to foreigners as to citizens,
and is progressive in it's allowing
to women the same rights as
men, and the free administration
OF their property even when mar
ried.
Foreigners may acquire
property, and may establish
banks under the same con.
diti0ns as the natives, and
as funds set aside for the
public debt cannot be divert
ed for other purposes, this
must serve as guarantee
OF public credit.
In addition to the usual de-
partments of a republic, is the
department of public instruction,
which has control of all public
and private schools and other
educational institutions. Since
the school of fine arts, conserva-
tory of music, and national
library and astronomical observa-
tory are mentioned as included as
among these, one might conclude
that Ecuador is very highly
cultured nation until reading in
the presidents message that these
were founded within a very few
years.
The postal, telegraph and tele-
phone systems are under the su-
pervision of this department, as
are also matters relating to agri-
culture, commerce and general
industries.
Has Five Seaports.
At Guayaquil. the chief sea
port, there are two telephone sys-
tens with 400 subscribers, and
long distance service to Quito,
the capital. The post office SER
vice is said to be quite efficient
and well administered.
Ecuador has an estimated area
of 10000 square miles, or equal
to New York, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Delaware and Mary
land combined. Its population of
about a million and a half is al
most wholly near the narrow
coast on the steep western sides
of the Andes. The eastern part,
being a part of the great eastern
plain, must be we'll watered and
fertile, but is little explored
There are five seaports. The
chief is Guayaauil.
Travellers have given this
city the unenviable reputa-
ton of being 1.-THE pesthOuse
of the continent" IL having
, frequent and serious cpl
, denies of malarial and yell
low fevers.
II stands in an unusually bad
location among swamps at the
mouth of a river, but since Ha
vana, Panama and other sucl
places have been made habitable
1t seems not impossible that con
ditions may be improved here
Indeed. steps have already beer
taken in this direction.
Plan Many improvements.
| The government of Peru II
| 1912 invited Col. Gorgas, Whose
| wonderful work in the santa
ton of the canal zone and of Ha
| yana has made him famous, t,
| come and inspect the situation
in Guayaquil and suggest plan
for its improvement. His repor
caused the chamber of deputie,
to authorize loan of $4,000.
900 in gold for the work of SAM
tation which is to include new
I sewerage system and modern
water works.
Quito is also planning for
complete sewerage system, undeI
the direction of a German firm
New Railroad Building.
Among other recent improve
ments in Guayaquil are the cree
ton of a two-story municipa
building of reinforced concret'
to cost $4,000, and the placini
of an order for the installation o
electric light in the city. Thu
generating plant is to be So mile'
up the river Chimbo, the curren
is to be brought to the bank op
posite the port of Guayaquil
whence in submerged cables un
der the river, one and quarter
miles wide, to Guayaquil.
The inland cities of Gu
enca and Chone are also con-
sidering putting in electric
light plants. So It would
seem that there might be OPP
portunities for engineers,
builders and those interest,"
ed in other enterprises con-
nected with the improve
ment of a country.
In 1912, there were 1856 mile
of railroad in all Ecuador, ant
297 miles Of this was included II
the one road from Guayaquil I,
the capital, Quito. This road wa
completed in 1908, and regulal
trains make the distance in tw,
days. A shorter line from thu
coast to the capital is now unde
construction, opening up an ex
ceedingly fertile country, which
now yields immense quantities o
cacao, although capable of fur