The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
HAVASA,S MENACE TO Us.
The City q BrcedinE Place for yellow Fever
0MinE 70 Its Insnnttary Conditien.

ONinE TO htn lnunnttnry Condition.
To II EDITOR OF THE suH-Sir. The reap
pearance of yellow fever on the Gulf coast recalls
the assertion OF Mr.. Blaine that the inuanitary
condition OF Havana Is a constant menace to
the health of our Southern States, and might
be the cause Of an invasion Of the plague that
would wreck the happiness and prosperity OF
that section. This argument, in favor OF the
intervention Of the United States in Cuba as q
mea' ure Of self-defence against a bad neighbor,
appeals with tremendous force to those who arc
familiar with tho horrible conditions existing
there and realize the danger to US arising
therefrom.
The city Of Havana, which is nearer to Key
West than Philadelphia is to New York, is the
breeding and distributing point OF this scourge,
which is essentially a filth disease IN its origin.
Havana is filthy beyond description. The
drainage ia entirely inadequate to carry of the
sewage. which constantly ovcrfiows into the
streets. AS the appropriation for public works
is q mere pittance. hardly any attempt is made
70 clean the street,. The hay. which has a rise
and fail OF only a few inches, Is a cesspoo!. The
principal sewers empty into It, and SO does the
outlet OF the military hospital, reeking with
germs OF fever. The slaughter house, situated
in the most populous quarter, dumps its otfal
into q brook which runs dowa 10 the harbor.
Tho water OF the hay Is ful of decomposins
organic matter, and there are numbers Of
wrecks that have been lying there for years,
causing n constant accumulation OF flth.
Who wonders that Havana Is the focus OF
yellow fever and that its proximity to our
southern ports exposes Us TO constant dangeri
Were it not for the regular alienation OF the
land and sea breczes. with the steady rays OF the
tropical sun. with so many breeding points OF
infection. and with an utter neglect Of SAM.
tary regulations. the mortality. would be far
greater than i ia And yet sanitary engineers
VINO have visited the island all unite In saving
that with modern sanitary measures Havana
could De made one OF the most healthful of
cities. BY simply, cutting a short canal TO the
ocean on either side of the bay, the flow and re-
now OF the water would edectually cleanse the
harbor. and. as experience has demonstrated
in other localities, cause the fever to disappear.
In normal times, what must be the conditions
with a BANKRUPT treasury and rank corrup-
ton in official circlesi. The prolongs ton OF the
war and the INTRODUCTION CT fresh troops to re-
cruit the decimated ranks will add victims
to the ravages of the fever and intensity its
ms,iSnancy and infecttousness.
Of %nationa! self-defer ce against the invasion Of
epidemic disease is more powerful! than any
that can DO urged upon other grounds. We
claims OF humanity to the slow forms OF dI.
plomacy, which. in dealing with Spain, means
Indefinite procrastination and evasion, but
when 1t comes to a matter OF life and death. de-
lays are dangerous, and we are now confront
Cd with the choice Of encountering a danger
that threatens our Southern country with terri
Sie disaster, to life and property or of offending
spain by insisting upon the immediate sup
preston, OF. the slaughter pen and pesthouse
which she Is keeping up at our very doors.
Other nations, at a long distance, may look
wlth indifference upon this, to us, most impor-
tant feature OF the Cuban question. especially as
We have assumed the moral responsibility for
Its settlement: but 1t is safe to say that Il they
OF infection. th"y would not daily with Spanish
pride and ignorance. NJ.