The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-04-15
LEADER TELLS
OF SANITATION
J. w. Vickers Describes His
Activities Cleaning up in
r. the Philippines
BY Mrs. Edna Larson

Division chief of wells in the u.
IS. department of public works dur
ing the 1902 cholera epidemic in the
Philippines, rough rider during the
Spanish American war, and per-
sonal friend of Theodore Roosevelt,
whom he outclassed during the World
war, in that he was able through the
help of their mutual friend, General
Leonard Wood, to get a commission
for the army in spite OF the fact that
he was past the age limit for service,
were only few of the varied exper-
fences of Captain j. w. Vickers be-
fore he finally settled down to ranch
life and the manufacture of grape
Juice in Kennewick.
Though Captain Vickers treasures
his association and friendship with
the great statesman among his pre-
cious memories, he considers his con-
nection with the United States de-
partment of health in the Philippines
as the most worth while work of his
life.
sIt would be difficult to conceive
of city the size of Manila wallow-
ing in such filth as prevailed there
in 1902 when the cholera epidemic
broke out" said the captain. Calling
on our old comrade, the Manila chief
of police at this time, four Of us
rough riders were importuned by him
to stay and lend our expert knowl-
edge Of artesian well drilling to the
situation. / stayed.
"Sanitation in Manila was typical
of the entire islands. People were dy-
ing by thousands and there was no
doubt that the water was source OF
the scourge. A few surface wells were
| in use, but the bulk Of the drinking
water was dipped from sluggish
streams, which served as neighbor-
hood bath tub, burial ground and the
dump. It was common sight to see
a native push aside dead chicken,
pig or cholera victim in order to fill
the family Jug
Equipped with As drill machines
and rs hand drills, Captain Vickers
had $500 wells flowing crystal clear
within few months and experienced
the reward Of watching the death rate
dwindle from $50 cases daily to no
new case in two weeks following the
flow Of his Is gallons minute gush-
lers.
Though these were the days of Gov.
Harrison's Wholesale replacement OF
Americans by natives. everyone rec
ognized the necessity for expert skill
in the division Of wells and Captain
Vickers was repeatedly urged by the
governor not to leave his post. He
alone among the Americans was in
vited into legislative committee meet
ings and his appropriations steadily
increased from 100 to three million
pesos.
.ssThe Filipino sanitary campaign
was inaugurated by Gov. w. III. Taft
and its complete story must give ere.
dit to the nurses training school. the
| medical school and segregation OF
the lepers as well as to the drilling
of wells turnout the islands," sale
/ Captain Vickers. "Under the govern.
ment hospital, the training school
Twas at that time the largest OF it,
kind in the world. with $50 graduates
a year. Thru these girl graduates the
gospel of sanitation was carried K
every hamlet. The medical schoo
i classed as an A college even in thu
1 United States, tho it has never re
covered from Harrison's substitution
tof native doctors for the American
professors.
"What weight segregation of tn
i lepers has had, no one knows. never
/ theless, Cullion was established wit
4 its $4,000 inhabitants. Lepers wer
taken out of the streets and house
and the systematic investigator
i which resulted, has probably discov
cred the cure. At least leprosy ha
no chance to spread. :.
I Captain Vickers speaks 10 Fihppln
dialects and knows intimately tn