Finally, in June, 1905, the Governor and Chief Engineer, members of the Executive Committee of the Commission, united in a recommendation to the Secretary of War that the Chief Sanitary Officer and Dr. Carter and those who believed with them in the mosquito theory, should be relieved, and men with more practical views be appointed in their stead. They stated that the sanitary authorities had visionary ideas with regard to the cause of yellow fever, and no practical methods even for carrying these ideas into execution. Fortunately for the cause of sanitation, the then President of the United States had been in office when the work at Havana had been done by us. He told the Commission that the mosquito theory had been established beyond peradventure; that its application had been entirely successful at Havana, where yellow fever had been more firmly established and established for a longer time than at Panama. He declined to sanction the change recommended, and directed that every possible support and assistance be extended to the sanitary officials. It was really fortunate for the sanitary work that matters were brought to a head in this way. Mr. John F. Stevens about this time was appointed chief engineer and member of the Commission, to fill a vacancy which had been caused by the resignation of the former Chief Engineer. From his arrival on the Isthmus Mr. Stevens expressed confidence in the Sanitary Department, and gave us his undivided support. The moral effect of so high an official taking such a stand at this period, when the fortunes of the Sanitary Department were at so low an ebb, was very great, and it is hard to estimate how much sanitation on the Isthmus owes to this gentleman for its subsequent success. During the fall of 1905 the Chairman of the Commission recommended that the Sanitary Department be made an independent bureau, reporting directly to himself. This enabled the chief sanitary officer to make known directly to the chairman of the Commission the needs of the department. The chairman, also, when thus informed of our needs, gave us loyal support. This period was the high-water mark of sanitary efficiency on the Isthmus, and more sanitation was done at this time than during any other period of the construction of the Canal. During the fall of 1905 yellow fever rapidly decreased, and by November, the last case of this disease had occurred in Panama. This fact quieted alarm on the Isthmus, and gave the sanitary officials great prestige, not only among the now large body of Canal employees, but also among the native population living on the Isthmus.