CO885-(20-21) — Page 653

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO|

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The floors of houses must be of concrete 4 inches thick with inch good cement facing (the few wooden ones remaining in the town are being gradually got rid of) or else must be raised 3 feet above the ground. Preferably the former. If wood is placed over a cement floor there must be no interval between.

Satisfactory sanitary and plumbing arrangements must be installed.

If the wood wall in a house is double, the interval between the two layers must be filled with concrete for 8 inches above the floor.

The Sanitary Inspector watches a building being put up, and if it is not being erected according to the permit, he can stop the work and report to the Medical Officer of Health.

A copy of a permit issued :—

1. No roof gutters.

2. The building to be connected with the water and sewer systems and modern plumbing to be installed.

3. Floor of house and yard to be concreted 4 inches thick with inch facing of good cement (cement 1 and sand 2).

4. One window to be placed in each room in best

position for ventilation.

5. Roof to be made so that all water falls into the

yard or street.

6. Land to be brought to proper grade before con-

struction of building be begun.

7. Front and sides of house to be flush with the

street, but rear and sides not to be nearer than

1 feet to lot lines, if not on street.

8. Plans and permit to be kept on the work during working hours, and to be accessible to representative of Medical Officer of Health, who has power to stop work on the building if conditions are being violated.

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78. Sanitary notices. When the Medical Officer of Health wishes alterations made or condemned buildings to be vacated he gives the occupants verbal notice. If after a reasonable time nothing is done he complains to the Alcalde, who gives the necessary order.

If after another reasonable interval, conditions still remain the same, the Alcalde fines the owner in the former case, and in the latter men go and render the house uninhabitable or pull down.

If a nuisance be found on a premises notice is given and a time fixed in which to remedy the condition. After

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expiration of time given, another inspector (not the same one) visits and reports. If necessary the Medical Officer of Health recommends Alcalde to fine.

79. Decrees. In changes which may affect many citizens, public decrees are issued, e.g., one has been published recently, viz., that all houses without adequate drainage or water supply will be closed after April 30th.

80. Staff-The Medical Officer of Health, besides the neressary staff of clerks, has working under his direction :- 6 white inspectors paid not less than £15 per month cach, who inspect every part of the town twice a month, and some parts more frequently. 15 ditching men.

5 cesspool men (mostly used for other purposes

now).

15 general utility men for fumigating and general

purposes.

An inspector and assistant for anti-mosquito work,

with two oiling carts.

81. Records of Houses.-For each house in the town there

is a card in the Sanitary Office giving particulars about it and showing dates on which it has been inspected and its condition, if nuisance, when remedied, &c. Inspectors send

in reports every morning of their previous day's work, and these are entered up on the cards by the clerks.

82. Stables.-Stables must all have floors of concrete, a

trapped drain, and be kept properly cleaned.

83. Bakeries.-Bakeries are inspected and reported on.

Colon.

84. Colon has a population of 15,000 to 20,000, and is situated on the Atlantic side of the isthmus. The land on which it is built belongs to the Panama Railway Company and is only let on strict leases.

Nearly all the buildings are of wood.

The town is on an island, only connected with the main- land for railway purposes, which in parts is very low and swampy, the highest point, in fact, being only 8 feet above

the sea level.

85. Streets. The streets are wide, clean, and at right angles to each other. They vary in width from 20-150 feet (only the old ones are 20 feet) with 10 feet side-walks, the majority being 40-60 feet wide with side-walks on each side, Those near the sea front are paved with vitrified bricks, the others being macadamized. The bricks cost 2 c. (18.) each

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