Panama Kanalen I 1912

124 Article VII. The Republic of Panama grants to the United States within the limits of the cities of Panama and Colon and their adjacent harbors and within the territory adjacent thereto the right to ac- quire by purchase or by the exercise of the right of eminent do- main, any lands, buildings, water rights or other properties ne- cessary and convenient for the construction, maintenance, opera- tion and protection of the Canal and of any works of sanitation, such as the collection and disposition of sewage and the distribu- tion of water in the said cities of Panama and Colon, which, in the discretion of the United States may be necessary and conve- nient for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation and protection of the said Canal and railroad. All such works of sani- tation, collection and disposition of sewage and distribution of water in the cities of Panama and Colon shall be made at the expense of the United States, and the Government of the United States, its agents or nominees shall be authorized to impose and collect water rates and sewerage rates which shall be sufficient to pro- vide for the payment of interest and the amortization of the prin- cipal of the cost of said works within a period of fifty years and upon the expiration of said term of fifty years the system of se- wers and water works shall revert to and become the properties of the cities of Panama and Colon, respectively, and the use of the water shall be free to the inhabitants of Panama and Colon, except to the extent that water rates may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of said system of sewers and water. The Republic of Panama agrees that the cities of Panama and Colon shall comply in perpetuity with the sanitary ordinances whether of a preventive or curative character prescribed by the United States and in case the Government of Panama is unable or fails in its duty to enforce this compliance by the cities of Pa- nama and Colon with the sanitary ordinances of the United States the Republic of Panama grants to the United States the right and authority to enforce the same. The same right and authority are granted to the United States for the maintenance of public order in the cities of Panama and