CO885-(20-21) — Page 654

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLLC.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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landed. They are laid on a cement foundation and liquid cement is poured into the spaces between them. The cost of pavement with them is about $5 a yard, but the money is considered well spent. Wide streets are specially desirable in these wood-built towns on account of fire, and Dr. Connor, the Medical Officer of Health, tells me he would like to have them all 150 feet wide.

86. Water Supply.-The water supply has been arranged by the Government and its instalment in every house is compulsory. It is obtained from rivers in the hills where reservoirs have been made by means of dams.

87. Sewers. Every house is compelled to have a properly fitted water closet. There is a regular sewage system into which all the water closets and trapped drains open. The sewer opens into a sump in the town. This is a large tank which will hold 40,000 gallons. Above this tank, the roof of which is 12 feet below the surface of the ground, is a chamber in which are two electrically worked pumps, each of which is capable of pumping 2,500 gallons a minute. They cannot both be worked at the same time and are only run as required. Rate of inflow of sewage varies, but in the morning is about 1,000 gallons a minute. Plan of pumping station with which I was supplied is attached.

pumps,

From the tank the sewage is pumped about 3,000 feet along a pipe to the sea edge (piping gave out) but is to be conducted well into the water. The pumps cost $2,500 cach, and the total cost of putting in the tank and with the cost of pumps, was about $20,000 or £1,000.

88. Drainage.-There is a large drain, 2,000 yards long. running along a broad street across the island and opening into the sea at each end. It is 6 or 7 feet in diameter and shaped as shown.

The drain is highest midway across the island and falls each way to the sea.

At intervals there are large inspection chambers, and opening into these are the earthenware pipes bringing

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drainage from the side streets. Highest point of the main drain is 8 feet and is just below the surface. At low water the main drain empties into the sca, but at high water (only 18 inches) the latter rubs up the The surface drainage from the houses going towards the a short distance. pipe for street runs either along a depression on the surface of the pavement or along a pipe underneath it to the drain at its edge.

Around each block of buildings in the side streets is a cement open drain which receives the surface drainage from the houses and yards. This gradually slopes to one corner of the block, where it opens into a branch drain and then into an inspection chamber and the main drain.

89. Rubbish, &c.—Each householder has to provide himself with a rubbish can of the approved type similar to the one used at Panama, but with cross strengtheners under the bottom which run up the side for 6 inches and very considerably increase the durability. Each can has to be placed on a wood frame stand. The can has a wood lid hinged on the stand and so fitted that it must be down unless held up.

The refuse is collected from these cans in uncovered carts, the latest of which will hold three cubic yards and has a moveable bottom which facilitates emptying, and is carried to a large swamp at the back of the town where it is dumped and kept continually burning. In this way the ground level is being gradually raised.

90. Swamp.-Between the back of the town and the sea (about half a mile) is a large swamp which is gradually being filled in by refuse as above. In addition, a suction dredger is pumping in muddy water. The previously been carefully surveyed and

itself had swamp various selected situations and directions to assist drainage, ditches cut in open and into these the tide flows freely.

91. Market.―The market is a large square shed in the centre of the town with ventilated roof of galvanized iron and with palings along the sides. One portion is screened off (mosquito gauze with wire mesh netting on each side) for the sale of meat. Each meat stall has a marble cover 6 to 8 feet long on wooden supports and a wooden chopping block. 92. Stables.-Stables have been put up outside the town by the Panama Railway and are let at nominal rents. They all have cement floors and the stalls are covered with moveable boards to allow of removal for washing and cleaning. Drains take all the fluids and washings into the

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