Time and experience have conclusively shown Colonel Gorgas’ theories
to have been correct, and the gratifying result is that because of
the wonderful precautions taken and the very effective work done in
scientific sanitization since the commencement of operations under
Colonel Gorgas tropical diseases have almost been eliminated on the
Zone. As a matter of fact, there has not been a case of yellow fever
on the Canal Zone since June, 1906, and the malarial fevers have been
reduced to a minimum. The Canal Zone has now a lower death rate than
most American cities, and has almost become a health resort. In the
opinion of some of the most eminent authorities, the most effective
work entering into the entire construction of the canal is the work of
sanitization so successfully accomplished by Colonel Gorgas and his
able assistants.
While the work of sanitization was under way, the President of the
United States was taking counsel with a board of engineers as to the
type of canal that should be constructed. As usual in all such matters,
the authorities were about equally divided, half of the engineers being
strongly in favor of a sea-level canal, and the other half advocating
what was called a lock canal.