708 Mr. A. Henry Savage Landor [June 18, 



out sanitary arransrements are to be noticed everywhere in the Zone 

 providing: for the disposal of sewao^e, and in order to prevent con- 

 tamination of the drinking water. Distillation plants are in operation 

 in most of the settlements. 



Everything is provided in the Zone for the labourers' comfort. 

 At the labourers' camps substantial sheds are erected with concrete 

 floors and iron wash-tubs, supplied with running water, in order that the 

 people may wash their clothes at times convenient to them. Bathing 

 is encouraged, and does much towards keeping the population healthy. 

 The labourers' camps are supplied with houses containing a series of 

 shower baths. These baths are available for use at all times. At 

 camps where married men's quarters are to be found, arrangements are 

 made so that the families of the labourers may use these shower bath- 

 houses at definite periods, while the men are away at work. 



Many of tlie old French barrack buildings have been repaired and 

 remodelled, and are being used in addition to the new barrack buildings 

 constructed by the Commission. All the old and new buildings have 

 been supplied with balconies which are screened with fine copper-wire 

 mesh to keep out mosquitoes. The doors open outwards, and are 

 supplied with springs closing them automatically. The space directly 

 under the roof on all four sides of the buildings is left open and 

 screened, for purposes of ventilation. In the old French buildings 

 no attempt was made to ventilate the buildings except by means of 

 windows and doors. In the American construction there is a large 

 ventilator on the roof as well as at the sides of the buildings under the 

 roof. This is a good thing, for good ventilation and light are the 

 greatest enemies of disease. 



The metallic screening of the labourers' barracks and the whites' 

 quarters is inspected at regular intervals by the Sanitary Department, 

 and necessary repairs are made. 



It was found that beds and cots were unsatisfactory and collected 

 vermin; tlierefore what are known as "Standee Bunks" are now 

 used. These consist of a framework made of 2-inch galvanised iron 

 pipe, on which canvas is stretched. These bunks are so arranged 

 that the canvas attached to the frames is removable from the frame- 

 work that supports it, and is detached at regular intervals to be dipped 

 into vats of boiling water. The canvas is then thoroughly cleaned and 

 put out in the sun to dry. The iron framework that remains in the 

 buildings is previously gone over with an alcohol lamp so as to 

 destroy by fire any vermin remaining. The barrack buildings are 

 scrubbed out daily, and are kept neat and clean. Each afternoon the 

 barrack buildings, labourers' kitchens, mess halls, closets, bath-houses, 

 wash-houses, etc., are inspected. 



A great institution in the Zone, and which does much towards 

 keeping the members of the labourers' force in their normal strength, 

 are the Mess Halls. The labourers and other employees may eat at 

 the Commission Mess Halls or private messes, or provide their own 



