The Cordova daily times., 1918-06-28
UNCLE SAM'S WATCHFULNESS
 IN SH|PYARDS

United States learned at great cost in digging the Panama canal is begin ming to pay rich dividends in aiding the construction of the great mer- chant marine now building. Compara- ble in size and importance. the jobs have other striking similarities in the problems of sanitation which threat ened the success of work on the isth- mus, but which are being solved very quickly in this country through radical reforms in health regulation and com munity spirit found so effective there.
 Under direction of Lieutenant 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 the workers. Eager cooperation has been received from state, municipal and in- dustrial agencies, which recognize that the improved conditions sought to be created are of more than pass ing interest in the matter of health, as we'll as good business" Results have justified the efforts by lessening the labor turnover, decreasing the loss of time due to sickness and hast ening the output of the ships needed to win the war.
 Some striking instances of the de- partment's work were made public to- day by the shipping board.
 Some weeks ago, at a 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 supply used in the yards was entirely pure, ary water supply for concrete mix ing, in which polluted water was used. Workmen had drunk from the con- crete water supply, despite warning signs. As the best way of eliminating all chances in the matter the sanitary engineers arranged for purifying the concrete water too, using chloride of lime to make it safe to drink.
 One of the oldest communities in New England, place of considerable population, was found to be without a health officer, to have dangerous open sewers and lack garbage collec- tion. When an old shipyard in that town was reopened, Uncle Sam said, Clean up," and the town responded
 The Pacific coast threw it's energy into shipbuilding to such good pur- pose that it launched the first mer- chant vessel and made the first ship building record. Likewise, in it's eagerness to build ships, the Pacific coast overlooked good sanitation.
 One yard in that locality was handi- capped by sickness. Workmen were hired only to quit, and during a single week the superintendent of steel con- struction, the foreman riveter and the foreman of the plate shop were all laid up in hospitals and their places were being filled by assistants just recover ing from attacks of disease.
 Inspection showed that the yard was | lacking in sanitary toilets and equip ment for serving the men warm meals. It had too small a number of drink ing fountains. Moreover, a large city sewer which ran over the tide flats near the shipyard was broken open, making easy the spread of disease through flies. The shipyard company had called the attention of the nearby city to the bad condition of its sewer, to be told that no city funds would be available for the repair of the break until July. When the government stepped in through the shipping board, backed by the military authorities who refused to detail soldiers to guard that yard until the sewer was re- paired, there was a hurried meeting of the city council and special ap- propriation of $6,OOO to make the re- pairs. It took special ordinance to do it but it was done in five days after Uncle Sam got on the job.
 In another shipbuilding center there was mysterious outbreak of disease. Fifty ship workers came down with it at the same time, with tempera- lures running up to 103 or more. There were rumors of poisoning by German spies. When the shipping board health officers investigated, however, they found that mosquitos were to blame and took steps to drain nearby swamp land in cooperation with the local authorities.