The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-01
BLANCo's REPORT.
No Attempt to Conceal All Truth of
Cuban Misery.

Washington. March 31.-The Spanish le-
CATION has received full reports from Cap
tain General Blanco. from the governors
of all the provinces OF Cuba and from the
alcaldes and chiefs of police of the prin-
cipal cities IS to the condition OF the
ment of this subject by the officers di-
rectly in charge. 1t is noteworthy that
they do not seek TO minimize the dreadful
condition of these p5ople, but endeaVor
to show that they are doing their utmost
to alleviate the misery and misfortune
which exists.
General BldncO report Is IN substance
IN the midst Of the painful impression
caused by the situation of the reconcen-
trados. II Is some satisfaction to note the
great Improvement in their condition as
compared with what it waa four or five
months ago. In response to the keen in
shown in the matter, this government
has endeavored from the very first in
every possible way to alleviate so much
misery and misfortune.
The cities over-filled with men, wom-
en- and children without work. were IN
able TO sustain population OF consumers
who produced nothing; the destruction of
so many hamiets by the insurgents COM
PEELED the unfortunate inhabitants to
seek refuge in the towns to save their
lives, the only thing possible 10 be saved
from this wantOn and baTbarOuS deStruc-
ton. which had reduced them TO a state
OF the most horrible wretchedness.
LACK OF ENERGY.
In Puerto Principe nearly all the re-
concentrates were of this class. The
maladieS originated by this crowding to-
f-cSner of human being and the fatal
belief in an inevitable doom, combined to
take away from many the necessary
energy to struggle for life and 10 dis
courage private charity, which considered
itself impotent. without Il decided help
from official charity. other and sadder
considerations may be made to explain
a certain passive resistance among some
elements who regarded every concentrate
as an enemy more or less disguised. the
result of all this was the truly fOrmid-
able problem presented. all the graver
from the fact that ii was 4 necessity of
immediate urgency.
THE disposition of this government was
10 attack the evil at its source. BY the
decree OF the 14th Of November last the
return Of all the reconcentrados TO their
sSornes was permitted and they were au-
thorized at the same time to carry arms
TO defend their property. In this the
cities were relieved of large part of their
abnormal population and check given
TO the diseases produced by over-crowd-
ing
OFFICIAL CHARITY.
Committees of help were organized. Off
cial charit-. a few days after the estab-
Dshment Of these juntas provided them
with resources handling over 100000 the
23rd of November and $4,000 the End of
March. The governors and alcaldes were
called upon TO show their zeal by giving
d
authorities responded with an interest
worthy of all praise. In this way was
private charity encouraged and enabled
TO organize its own protective commit
tees, economic kitchens and charitable
associations which distributed relief per-
sonally and contributed powerfully to re-
lieVe the suffering.
las result of all this. public spirit be-
gan TO rise again. confidence returned
ard a disposition to work began to pre-
vail. In Santa Clara there are actually
2 large number of these unhappy beings
occupied i'm field labor. In order to avoid
the overcrowding which was found to oc-
cur when tn laborers returned to the
towns after the days work nuts were
erected for them in the cultivated zone
with very excellent results. In Pinar del
Rio, five villages are being reconstructed
and effective means are being taken TO
increase and encourage agricultural labor.
In Santiago de Cuba. the cultivated zones
are in perfect condition Those in San
Luis, Sango and Canarie may be termed
as models.
IN MATANZAS.
an Matanzas 1000 FIRE railway tickets
were given to the reconcentrados who re-
turned TO their old homes.
Gradually the gravity of the crisis is
passing away, but. owing to the height il |
attained. this cannot be accomplished in !
a brief time
Apart from any preconceived idea. it !
Is only just to admit that the help which |
comes from the United States is also a |