The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-01
SANTIAGO A PEST HOLE.


he Tells what Has Been DOne TO Clean
the Streets and Relieve Distresa-Ths
Death Rate Has Dropped Three-fourthh-
He Thinks the Cuban Army viii Disbnnd.
WARRINGTON. Sept 30.-Secretary AlEer has
received two letters from Brig. Gen. Leonard
Wood. military Governor Of Santiago. describ-
ing at great length the situation in the city and
province. The letters bear the dates OF Sept.
o and 10 respectively. In the first letter Gen.
Wood says:
II have had a very difficult position from a
sanitary point Of view. and altogether not an
easy one from a n military and civil standpoint.
When we came into the city the sanitary stu
alton was something frightful. There were a
great many unburied dead in the houses, be-
tween two and three thousand Spanish wound
ed and sick. and q great horde OF half-fnmished
and sick people, nearly 10000 in number. who
had Just returned from Ell Caney. where they
had been during the siege. The water supply
OF the city had been cut Off there was no
water to be obtained except from cisterns
and q few wells. and the streets were full OF
dead animals and all sorts OF filthy materials.
/ had to start In from the bottom and repair
the water works. Then came the removal OF
the dead. The majority Of these were burned,
because tho number was great and decomposi-
ton had advanced to such an extent that they
could not be buried. Burning is not uncom-
monty practiced here during the epidemic sea-
son. We had yellow fever all around us and
about twenty cases In the Spanish military
hospital. The civil hospital was full OF dying
people, and the public buildings were
being used as hospitals. On the whole.
It was an extremely difficult task. requiring q
great deal Of hard work. 1 have been working
systematically with every means at hand to
n approve the sanitary condition OF the city. 1t
is in this department that q vast amount Of
| ruort hao haap dana I haya n forNa NJ about
ITO mon constantly employed. and at many
times have had accumulations Of indescrib-
able filth removed which had accumulated In
the outhouses and yards. as well Us the streets
\ OF the city, which Is reputed to be one OF the
most unhealthy and filthy in the world.
THE death rate has dropped steadily since
we came in. and is now about one-fourth OF
what it was formerly. The water system has
been put in order and a great many repairs
made to It, and the supply. although insult
fcient. Is utilized to the greatest advantage. I
have had to hire nurses for the hospital. pur-
chase medicines for the sick. and supply them
with beds and bedding and food; In fact, re-
establish and take entire charge Of them. I
have also established q strict system OF house
inspection and inspection Of the streets. and
have q disinfecting department as well as
the cleaning department. Tho city has
been divided into five districts. in each OF
| WulSh 10 GlG lblO NuOIO lNOu 10 Nlottiu-
uted and q physician Is In attendance who pre-
scribes for those who present themselves and
partment. ali doctors. and the officials In each
ward have received Instructions TO furnish these
and also Of the worthy poor. In, order that g
may be, somewhat protected In the distribution
OF @sSlG about a iS.o5 5d'l9 9ations a per idds s4i Tb as
physlcians are probably prescribing for about
800 or 200 people, and on some days many
educated in the United States. and employed
by. our Government as contract surgeons;
and burned. I have also had the lower and
drained. and the dItches running into the har.
Dor cleaned out; also the water front system OF
and in a frightiul condition. It has long been
the custom S65 t n this 4ss fGwn t. 6o6 aSsPep PSrS on n bhef aSs
Nth Of, the dry, season Ali this has been
swept down, to the water front. where it has
and filing the shallow Waters near the shore.
so that when the tide goes out masses OF de-
roWp 81 Tie % sun and rf furnish raRfst frl q ths CAUSES CAUSES
Of disease; Later this year when the epidemie
shallow PLACES dredgsd out, SO that at least q
and prevent the present condition Of affairs.
The police force has been reestablished
that worn by the Gubans. and they viii soon be-
entirely rid OF all suggestion OF Spanish rule.
The lighhth9use system In the hharboE ! have re-
trolls. &c; The courts are not yet running, and
/ have the delightful experience every day Of
Of ali sorts Of odd cases. 81 course the most
serious cases. such as crime. are being held for
courts when they are established and in opera
tionli r.,.,n.. =, ~. ,,om on.t,n,.,n,.
we occupied 1t, l understand from Gems. Shat
ter and LAYTON who hSye charge hSSGESe 1f this mat
OF the city per week, supporting the hospitals.
cleansing the streets. doing the necessary engi.
a aes reSu TSsf to s1f ke shs H @"P the i ditFer thlPS Ssp thft
s46StSoS 81 j t ssoS St5S Of q 1890 tEIs sb 3 a sI p5SsSP e
bal s1a,'fi or hospital MSIa ana and dnR police. E" 0 I have awe
been as economical as possible. but have felt
not be taken into consideration, as the lives Of
all Americans here might be said to be depend |
found Al. Grant .,n.rt ,n v.,,ou ,ov., ~ on,-
teras. assured me In July that an epidemic Of
yellow fever OF great severity was absolutely
a large pTo1or ahS tS of OUR %S T peSp Gs'ih, here. 'G T IEss
far 1t has been avoided. and not only avoided. /
Of 6ps s sGIdHy y aG 0Ht s foTsr ii IN a san aHfSSndit az 6 Siss
proper, and every day increases our chances OF
In the same letter Gen. Wood makes some
recommendations In regard to the needs OF the
hospitals and the sanitary arrangements OF the
under military and civil authority. he says that
the United States officers have succeeded well
IN administering the government. The letter
then continues:
II am very anxious to have the schools
started In the city and get the children out OF
the streets also, TO get the Issue OF rations
not pauperlzing the people,"
Gen; Wood says that IN his opinion It would
be well TO send rations to the small towns In
the PROVINCE. 80 that the Cuban soldiers. as
they leave the. army. may be able to resume
work on their farms In the vicinity OF these
towns. These Cuhans. he believes, should be
allowed z limited amount Of food 70 support
to the disbandipg Of the Cuban ARM: the Cen
aged among the Cubans that rations will be
issued to them for an unlimited time as this
would. encourage them In idleness. BE says
that the indications now arc that the Cuban
Army will disband speedily. The feeling OF the
better GLASS OF Cubans toward the Americans Is
very kind.
Since my last letter everything has been 20.
Ing on spoothly and the Improvement is oon=
DO not think there. is hunEert to any extent, In
Santiago, IbRye increased thP plumber OF doc