The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-01
HAS A HAND OF IRON
But Velvet Is Sandpaper to
the Glove of Him.
DR.. WOOD IN SANTIAGO
Is Coaxing and Cleansing the
Refractory Cuban.

Washington, Sept. 3O.-Secretary Alge
has received a long letter from Genera
Leonard Wood, military governor of San
tiago. It is personal to a great extent
but deals with many questions Of inter
est to the public, and Secretary Alleged ha:
allowed some extracts to be published
1t may be stated that the seceartry feels
that the course of events at Santiago has
demonstrated the wisdom shown in The
selection Of General Wood for this pc
culiarly difficult post. Combining, as he
did, the medical skill with the highest
type of soldierly qualities and executive
ability, he was able to meet and over
come the problems presented at Santiago
The letter, moreover, presents wildly the
! frightful conditions that confronted the
American army Of occupation after the
surrender of Santiago.
General Wood says in part:
UNDERSTANDABLE FILTH
81 have a very difficult position from
a sanitary point of view and not alto
gether an easy one from military and
| civil standpoint. When we came into the
"
| frightful. There were a great many I'M
buried dead in the houses. between two
and three thousand Spanish wounded and
| sick, and a great horde of half-famished
and sick people, nearly 10000 in number,
who had just returned from FL Ceney,
where they had gone during the siege.
! The water supply of the city had been
cut off; there was no water to be obtained
except from ctsterns and a few wells
and the streets were full Of dead animals
and all sorts of filthy materials. I had to
| start from the bottom and repair the
waterwOrks. Then came the removal of
the dead. Some Of these were burned, be-
| cause The number was 50 great and de-
! composition had advanced to such an ex-
tent that they could not be buried. Burn
ing is not uncommonly practlced here
during the epidemic season.
YELLOW FEVER ALL AROUND.
eve had yellow fever all around us,
and about twenty cases in the Spanish
militaryA~ 1spital. The civil hospital was
full Of dying people and public buildings
were being used as hospitals. On the
whole it was an extremely difficult task
requiring a great deal of hard work
have been working Systematically with
every means at hand to improve the san
itary condition Of the city. 1t IS in this
department that a vast amount Of work
has been done. have force of about
10 men constantly employed and at many
times 1 have nearly doubled this force
working day and night to remove the
vast accommodations of indescribabIe filth
which has accumulated in the outhouses
and yards as well as the streets of the
city, which is reputed to be one of the
most unhealthy and dirty in the world.
The death rate has dropped steadily since
we, came in and is now about one-fourth
Of what it was in July. The water sys-
tenn has been put in order and great
many repairs made to it and the supply,
although insufficient, is utilized to the
greatest advantage.
CARE OF SICK AND STARVING.
81 have had to hire doctors for the hos
pitfalls, purchase medicines for them, and
supply them with beds and bedding and
food in fact, re-estabIish and take entire
charge Of them. I have also established
a strict system Of house inspection and in
spection of the streets and have disin-
fecting departments as well as a cleaning
department The city has been divided
into five districts in each OF which is
relief station. where food is distributed
and a physician in attendance who pre-
scribes for those who present themselves
sick, and visits the sick in the houses.
The police department, all doctors and
the officials in each ward have received
instructions to furnish these physicians a
list of sick requiring attention and also
of the worthy poor in order that we may
he somewhat protected in the distribution
Of medicines and rations. I am issuing
at present about 1900 rations per day
The physicians are probably prescribing
for about GOO or 700 people and some days
many more These physicians are native
Cubans, educated in the United States
and employed by our government as con-
tract surgeons.
4 SAMPLE OF SPANISH TOWN.
''The garbage and material which
collect in the streets have dumped out
side of town and burnt. I nave also
had the lower and most unhealthy portion
of the city ditched and drained and the
bitches running into the harbor cleaned
out. also the water front system Of sew
erare. which WAS completely obstructed
and in a frightful condition. II has long
been the custom in this town 70 depend
upon heavy rains and the rushing floods
through the streets 20 sweep away the
accumulated filth Of the dry season. All
this has been swept down to the water
front.w here il has been collecting for
years, choking the drains and filing the
shallow waters near the shore. 50 that
- -
ing material ara exposed 20 the intense
rays Of the sun and furnish frightful
cause Of disease. Later tlis year. when
the Epidemic season shall have passed il
is my intention. if I am granted funds
and authority, to have shallow places
dredged out. 50 that at least thin laver
OF water will cover them At low tide and
prevent the present condition % affairs.
The police force has been re-estab- /
lished and SIS uniforms changed 70 one
similar TO thar worn by the Cubaas and
they viii soon he entirely rid Of all sus-
ges,ion Of Spanish rule
The light house system in the harhor
I have re-esta hliShed and arranged pilots
harbor masters, etc.
N HIS JUDICIAL ROLE
As the courts are not Vet running :
have The delightful experience each day
OF acting as police judge tnd clearing +.
the docket cf all sorts Of odd cases. OF
course the most serious cases. such as
crime. are being held for trial. either BY /
military commission or by the courts. /
when they are established and in opera /
ton.
CITY FINANCES
The receipts Of the city from customs |
since va Occupied IL. I understand from |
Generals Shafter and Law,on. v-ao have /