New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-12

according TO this genial Optimst. is not so deadly
as is ordinarily supposed. In fact, ii is toleraoe
and almost agreeable IN 1887 there were 1Our
deaths from yellow fever: in 1SsS there were
three in and 1889 there were only TWO 1hese
figures disclosed a marked Improvement IN lAe
sanitary condition Of the city. If the death IS'
rose last year TO thirtyseyen 1t was because
quarantine was neglected: but even the increased
mortality was light in comparison with 'he
records of former years, when as many as '4'
victims were buried. Every day the stleelS
are cleaned, and morning ana afternoon 'ic
carbace-boxes are emptied. The vultureS make
n living out of the town. but they are not the
only scavcnsers The police enforce the regnla-
tions with rigorous system Of fines. and the
town is ALWAYS clean. Vera Cruz is no longer
q cemetery. but very comfortable hot-wealher
town. with cheerful cafes and an occasional
American circus Such is the verdict oil the
Consul who instead of dying at his post as SO
many of his predecessors have DONE has persisted
in living and getting not little enjoyment ouU
of Vera Cruz His laugh rang out hear'iiS aS
he recounted the appearance OF MS hepuono'n
successor upon the scene after the last chanse
of Administration. The newly appointed Official
decided TO look about the town for few days
before taking charge of the Consulate lie In
spected the hotels, the markets, tAe stfce's
and the Consular books, and tue diplomatic aTdor
nossed ont Of him. Alarmed by the prospect of
laborious routine and conquered by tAc swelter-
ing climate. he decided to resign the Office and
IN leave an old-fashioned Democrat undlsturbed
Possibly Mr. HoT did not make the same EFFORT
% convince him that yellow fever has been robbed
nj IFS 1errors at Vera Cruz which he employed
with me. but certainly there has been no loss 10
tbe Government from the retention Of the present
official Rarely have found the books OF a Con-
sulote kept with more system and precision than
of Vera Cruz Mr.. Hon has thorough mastery
Of the business of his office.
The Consul's optimism does not suffice for CIV
inr this ill-fated town Il clean bill of health.
Willie Yellow fever has not been fatal scouTge
for five years, the general death rate Is still most
ALARMING In yellow fever seasons THIS death
rate has been as high as 90 per 1000, ana, Win
l.257 deaths in 1889 out OF an estimated popua-
zion of 9 600, Vera Cruz remains one oil the most
ruhcalthful of cities Consumption Is one OF thc
commone,t diseases, and II is exceptionally rapId
in its progress. 1t is not difficult to understand
why il is a fatal disease in Vera Cruz Inc neat
oydnorilv is that of tie torrid zone but whenever
the wind shifts and norther comes on tneIe
is a sudden change of weather. In the course of
twenty four hours, while l have been In vera
Cruz. extreme midsummer heat has been followed
and an overcoat in the morning Indispensable
The same northcr which breaks the force OF yellow
fever and benumbs the energies Of swarms OF
,posnuitoes spurS on consumption into n driving
gallon Even without the norther the air III the
early morning and in the evening Is as damp ana
treacherous as it is in Rio, The boatmen III the
harbor and the portcrs at the Custom House alkc
have narrow chests and are sickIy ana ehleeoled'
The consumptives hollow cough is heard in every
cafe The traveller who passes single day III
the town is not to be beguilcd by the sophistrles
of OPTIMISM lie knows that Vera Cruz, nOtwlth-
standing the marked improvement Ill its sanitary
conditions is one of tie least nhablt16le OF towns
Nature here seems to conquer man. Inc hlst
glimpse OF the town in the early morning from
the harbor entrance reveals a place Of scpulchre,
lovely in the ceTements OF white sand, gray archi-
lecture and garsh sunshine. 1t is Vera Cruz.
When steamer enters the harbor the scant
commodations of the hotels are exhausted, the
money-changers run down the value of American
gold from l.22 TO LIP, and the street pedlcrs
treble the charges on all their The tray
cer is revealed, not only by his uncertain Span
ISL but also by the brskncS with which ne eX-
plares the Plaza and the waterfront lie can well
afford TO take leisurely pace, for there are few
tOwn-shows. The Plaza with its bronze foun-
tain; the Alameda, with its cocoa-palms; the four
chief churches, the Government palace and the
miniature public library in an abandoned convent,
tie dismal negro quarter, and even the dreary
Campo Santo with its high adobe walls,
quickly Fellow-passengers, who may have
been nine days route from Havana, disport
themselves with such frantic energy in their
ardor for sightseeing as to brush against each
other at every turn. The tourist camera is brought
to bear upon half-nakcd boatmen at the wharf,
ugly hags selling fruit and carved cocoanpts on
the streets, the black vultures swarming in the
steamiDg alleys, and the debased rocco archi.
lecture Of the churches BY lunch-time Vera
Cruz has been captured by the Yankee and Ger
man invaders armed with Kodak artillery. The
grim old fortress of the harbor-bar, which has