The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-06
Prepared to Pick Up Amy Good
Things in Sight.
MONEY STILL SCARCE
And Prices Are Far Above
What They Should Be.
Work of Americanizing the
City is Progressing.

Correspondence of Associated Press.)
Santiago de Cuba, July 27.-The dirty
condition of this city, the heaps of foul
refuse that cucumber the streets, the
malodorous allies and by ways, the lack
of sanitary arrangements and drainage
of any description are all matters that
will require remedying if it expects to
become an American city. 1t should be
remembered that the weeks of block
ade, the fear of bombardment, the
scarcity of food and the general demon
alizatiOn existing in a besieged town
have done much to add to the condi-
lions of filth and poor sanitation that
normally prevail.
For generations the people have lived
regardless of the first rule of hygiene;
the lower classes are ignorant of all
precautionary measures and it is not
surprising when our American officers
issue an order through the civil COVER
nor of Santiago, stating that all houses
must be at once thoroughly cleaned, in
side and out, the order is disregarded
Orders are constantly issued to the peO-
pie to report at once the death of any
one in their household and threats Of
fine and enforced labor as punish
ment carry little weight. Extreme
measures will have to be taken to
bring about a proper condition of af-
fairs in this respect, and it will take
many months of example and stringent
enforcement of regulations to bring the
people to an observance of what is
clearly best for their health.
Yellow Fever.
In the military hospital of the city
there were on July &c, 562 cases of the
prevalent malarial fever; 121 cases of
dysentery; Sc cases of diarrhoea; 272
cases of aenemia and 10 cases of yellow
fever. The yellow fever cases are all
among the Spanish soldiers. A week
ago there were six cases of this fever,
and among the total of 10 cases there
have been six deaths since the Ameri-
can occupation. Sixteen of the 48S
wounded Spanish soldiers in the hos
pital have died since the United States
troops took possession of the town. To
the city of Santiago there is this ad-
vantage from the rains of the wet sea-
son: The water rushes down the steep
streets and sweeps aWya all manner of
refuse and rubbish. Flushing the
streets and sweeps away all manner of
the sewers in an American city.
Since July and until July % this city
was without a daily paper. On July %
FL Spectator made it's first appearance
and printed the full Spanish text of
President McKinley's proclamation to
running a series of articles on New
York city. this subject being supposedly
of prime interest to it's readers at this
time three column article on the
inscriptions of the Egyptian Obelisk in
Central park, appears in the last issue
and the publisher promises the declara-
ton of the independence of the United
States in the near future.
Ell Spectator enjoys the distinction of
being the only Spanish paper published
in this island free of Spanish censor
ship.
A newspaper printed in Spanish and
English is promised soon, and Company
F of the Thirty-third Michigan volun-
teer infantry. has brought out a paper
called Company F Enterprise, which is
the first American paper published in
-, of Of CO do C1ha
The Enterprising Yankee.
Already the enterprising American is
present. There is around town ragged
man with a smattering of Spanish who
has turned several dollars by buying
m swords and machetes from Span
iards and the city pawn shop to sell
them again to American relic hunters.
There is the man with the capital to
invest who awaits but sure and re-
munerative opportunity and there is
the man who buys up bargains in
American hOrsefieSh from sick or
wounded officers going home, hoping to
sell the animals at a profit
The first steamer from the United
States has brought many men to look
over this new field for business oppor-
tunities, and there will be American
sharpness and enterprise pitted against
the Cuban and Spaniard.
If Santiago prOSperS and money is
easy there will be a good field here for
the gambler and his outfit, if the laws
will allow him to operate. With pros
perity and a good hotel there IS prom
Use in Santiago of a wide open town
that will be a sure attraction to men of
q certain stamp.
The arrival of so many strangers in
Santiago during the last two weeks has
taxed the towns accommodations,
which were never ample, to the utmost
The lack of anything like proper hotels
and restaurants will continue to be
detriment to the city until some one
with a knowledge of what Americans
want steps in and opens a hotel.
The AnglO-American club of Santi-
ago, an institution founded over three
years ago by the English speaking res
idents of this place, has been the saliva
ton of many Americans since the occu-
patton. The club affords a limited num-
Der of cool, clean rooms to American Of
hcerS and correspondents.
AnglO=AmeriCan Club.
Many of Santiago's American visitors
will remember most gratefully the
clubs cool garden and the stone paved
shower bath. Since three days after the
occupa ton the club has served meals !
and, while what is eaten comes mostly
in cans, the long white table set twice !
a day with china plates and bottles of
wine, has been a most welcome sight |
to many an officer who has ridden in
from the front to experience the novel
sensation of a civilized meal Old
friends meet at this common center and
the fighting of the first second and |
third of July is told and told again by
men who were on the right or the left, |
or who came up late. Naval officers I
from the ships have come to the club !
dinner and then their brother officers |
from the field hear tales of what the !
ships have done. Many of the refugees |
from Santiago and the eastern end of !
Cuba who slipped over to Jamaica dur |
ing the trOublous times are coming !
back. Opportunities to do are scarce. !
however, as steamers are not frequent |
from Jamaica, but slowly the town is |
filling up and the country people are |
coming in to buy certain necessaries. |
But their money is not plentiful as yet. !