ve been impossible for us to have dug the canal
without a tremendous loss of life had it not been for the advance of
medical science. Until we took charge this was one of the worst
fever-infested districts on the globe. But just about this time it was
discovered that the mosquito carries the germ of yellow fever and other
contagious diseases. These pests breed in stagnant water and it was
discovered that kerosene on the water forms a film on the surface that
means death to the newborn mosquito. Then began one of the greatest
battles of all history, the fight to eradicate the mosquito pest.

Colonel Gorgas had charge of the forces and he was determined to do the
job well. Tracts of the jungle were burned over, ditches to drain
stagnant pools were dug, and every barrel was looked after. Hundreds of
Negroes with oil cans sprayed almost every nook and corner of the Zone
with kerosene. Houses were screened, every case of sickness was looked
after, and the result was soon manifest. A mighty victory was won by
Gorgas and today the Canal Zone is as healthful as any tropical country
on earth. Of course, people criticized and joked about the mosquito
brigade, but the colonel went ahead pouring oil upon the water, cleaning
up filth, and compelling sanitary measures, paying not the slightest
attention to the harping critics.

At the north end of the Zone are the cities of Cristobal and Colon, the
latter in Panama. The fact is they are practically one city, the
railroad being the dividing line. While Cristobal is clean and beautiful
much of Colon is dirty and rum soaked. Somebody said to me: "Colon is
that part of the city where you can buy a drink," and it sure looks it.

While it is only about forty miles across the isthmus yet the canal is
fifty miles long. The fact is they had to dredge out to deep water which
is about five miles at each end. Entering the channel at the north it is
about seven miles to the Gatun locks. There are three pairs of these
locks and they lift the vessel to Gatun Lake, which is eighty-five feet
above sea level. It is twenty-four miles across this lake to Culebra
Cut, which extends about nine miles through the hills, and to the first
lock on the Pacific side. This lock lowers the ship about thirty feet to
Miraflores Lake, which is a little more than a mile in length. Here are
two pairs of locks which lowers the ship to sea level and then it is
about eight miles or a little more to deep water. Counting a