Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-23
PANAMA CANAL
LESSON APPLIED
TO SH|PYARDS
Problems of Sanitation Quickly
Solved Through Radical Re-
forms in Health Regulation
and Community Spirit.

ginning to pay rich diVldends III
aiding the construction of the great
merchant marine now building. Com
parable in size and importance, the
two Jobs have other striking similar
tiles in the problems of sanitation
which threatened the success OF work
on the isthmus, but which are being
solved quickly in this country through
radical reforms in health regulation
aud community spirit found so ef-
fective there,
Under direction of Lieut.. Col.
Philip S. Doane, the shipping boards
department of health and sanitation
is supervising every one OF the
scores of shipyards for the protection
Of workers. Eager cooperation has
been received from state, municipal
and industrial agencies, which recog-
nize that the improved conditions
sought to be created are OF more
than passing benefit in the, matter
OF health, as well as good business" i"
Results have justified the efforts by
lessening the labor turnover, de-
creasing the loss OF time due to sick
ness and fastening the output OF the
ships needed to win the war.
Water Supply Purified.
Some striking instances of the de-
partment's work were made public
today by the shipping board.
Some weeks ago, at Q little ship
yard recently set down in rather
sleepy Atlantic coast town, an out
break OF dysentery was reported
among shipyard workers. The ship
ping boards sanitary engineer found
that. while the drinking water sup
ply used in the yards was entirely
pure, being chlorinated, there was
temporary water supply for con-
crete mixing, in which polluted river
water was used. Workmen had
drunk from the concrete water sup
ply. despite warning signs. As the
best way of eliminating all chances
In the matter, the sanitary engineers
arranged for purifying the concrete
water, toos using chloride OF lime to
make it safe to drink.
One of the Oldest communities in
New England, a place OF consider
able population, was found to be
without a health officer. to have
dangerous open sewers and to lack
garbage collection. When an old
shipyard in that town was rehabilitat-
ed, Uncle Sam said, "Clean upp' And
the town has responded.
The Pacific coast threw its energy
into shipbuilding to such good pur-
pose that it launched the first mer-
chant ships and made the first ship
building records. Likewise, in its
sagerness to build ships, the Pacific
coast occasionally overlooked good
sanitation.
One yard in that locality was handi-
capped BY sickness. Workmen were
hired only TO quit, and during
single week the superintendent of
steel construction, the foreman rivet-
= and the foreman OF the plate shop
xrYc all laid up in hospitals and
heir places were being filled by as
sistants just recovering from at
Iacks OF disease.
City Induced to Act.
Inspection showed that the yard
acked sanitary toilets and equip
ment for serving the men warm
meals. 1t had too small number
of drinking fountains. Moreover. a
large city sewer which ran over the
tide fats near the shipyard was
broken open, making easy the spread
Of disease through flies. The ship
yard company had called the attena
ton Of the nearby city to the bad
condition OF its sewer, only to be
told that no city funds would be
available for repairing the break tin-
I'll July. When the government
stepped in through the shipping
board, backed by the military au-
thorlties, who refused to detail SOL
diers to guard that yard until the
sewer was repaired, there was hur-
ried meeting of the city council and
4 special appropriation of $4,000 was
made TO make repairs. 1t took a
Special ordinance but it was done five
days after Uncle Sam got ON the lob,
In another shipbuilding center
there was a mysterious outbreak Of
disease. Fifty ship workers came
down at the same time, with temper
atures running. up to l03 or more.
There were rumors OF poisoning by
German spies. When shipping board |
health officers Investigated, however.
they found that mosquitoes were TO |
blame, and took steps to drain nearby |
swamp land in cooperation with the
local authorities.
DISCRIMINATING Mosquitoes.
Mosquito work viii probably play |
as important part in ship building |
this summer, the country over, as It |
did in the building OF the Panama |
canal In several dozen localities
active drainage campaigns are being
carried out by communities working |
with the shipping board. One of no. !
table project in that line is the work
at the big Hog Island yard, near
Philadelphia, where $2s0000 is being
spent in permanent ditching which IS
intended to rid that locality of mos |
quitoes for all time, The state of
Pennsylvania has contributed $4,000 |
the city of Philadelphia S4sO0O. and |
manufacturing interests have also ap-
propriated money.
The work of the department Of
health and sanitation covers much |
more than the cleaning up of un-
healthy conditions. The comfort and |
convenience of workers is also i'm.
portant. Every shipyard is required |
to have medical and hospital facilities |
and these are inspected and :ssorma. |
tion gathered about disease. epidem- |
les and accidents. The living quar- |
ters of shipyard workers are investi. !
gated. and recommendations made for |
their convenience and comfort in |
bunk houses. homes, transportation to |