The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-01
When Gen. Woud Assumed Command
the State Of Things Was Awful.
DIRTIEST CITY IN The WORLD,
IL Well Merited the Title-Hard
Work. However, Has Put It In
Much Better Shape, and the
Death Rate Has Greatly
Decreased - Meas
urcs Adopted.

WASHINGTON, Sept 3o.-In long
nersonal letter TO Secretary Al6er Gene
raj Leonard Wood, Military Governor or
Santiago. outlines the work ne has ac-
oompished since he took charge OF the
city
The letter moreover. presents vividly
the frightfu conditions that confronted
the American army OF occupation dItel
The surrender OF Santiago.
General wood SAYS IN part;
Il have had a very difficult position
from a sanitary point OF view ana no
altogether easy one from military ana
civil standpoint
When we came into the cifY the sani
tary situation was something trlghuul
There were a great many unburied dead
In the houses. between two ana thret
thousand Spanish wounded and SICK. ano
a great horde OF half famished and SICK
people nearly 10000 in number, who had
lust returned from El Caney, where they
had gone during the siege
NO WATER SUPPLY
The water supply of the city had been
cut on: there was no water to be OBJ
;ained except from cisterns and few
wells and the streets were full Of oeac
animals and ali sorts Of filthy materials
had to start in from the bottom and
repair the water works. Then came -the
removal Of the dead. Some OF these were
burned because the number was so grea
and decomposition had advanced to such
an extent that they could not be buried
Burning is not uncommonly practlced
here during the epidemic season.
"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 public buildings
were being used as hospitals. on the
whole IL was an extremely difficult task,
requiring a great deal OF hard work.
SYSTEMATIC WORK.
have been working systematically
with every means at hand 10 improve
Z $50 sanitary condition of the city. II 7,
IA this department that vast amour
OF work has been done.
have a force Of about 10 men con.
stantly employed and az many times
have had accumulations Of indescribable
filth removed which has accumulated IN
the outhouses and yards as well as tho
streets Of the citv. which rs reputed 10
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 IL was In July. The water
system has been put in order and a great
many repairs made 90 it and the supply
although insufficient Is utilized to the
greatest advantage
81 have had 20 hire doctors for the hos
pitals. purchase medicine for them and
supply them with beds and bedding and
food and IN fact re-establish and take
entire charge OF them.
STRICT INSPECTION.
81 have also established a strict sys-
tenn OF house inspection and inspection Of
the streets and have a disinfecung de-
paftment as well as cleaning depart
mcnt.
"The city has been divided into five
districts .n each OF which is a relief sta
tion where food is distributed and a phys
ician in attendance who prescribes Tor
those who present themselves sick, and
visits the sick en- the houses
"The police department an doctors and
the officials in each ward have received
instructions 10 furnish these physicians
list OF sick requiring attention, and
also the worthy poor in order that we
may be somewhat protected in the dis
trbutlou of medicines and r1tiOns
Il am issuing at present about 1000 ra-
,i0ns per day. Tho physicians are prob
ably prescribing for about COO or zoo people
and on some days many more These
physicians are native Cubars educated
IN the United States and employed by our
Government as contract surgeons.
BURN THE REFUSE.
''The garbage and material which I
collect in the streets / have dumped out
side OF the town and burnt. 1 have also
had the lower and most unhealthy por-
lion Of the city 6itched and drained and
the bitches running into the harbor
cleaned out. also the water front system
of sewage. which was completely OBJ
structed and in a lrightful condition.
IT has long been the custom in this
town 10 depend on heavy rains and the
rushing floods through the streets to
sweep away the accumulated nith OF the
dry season. All t-is has been swept
down 10 the water front. whore % has
been collecting Tor years. choking the
drains and hliing the shallow waters
near the shore so that when the tide goes
out masses OF decomposing matter is ex-
posed 90 the intense rays OF the sun and
furnish frlghtful cause Of disease
Later this year when the Epidemic
season shall have passed. 80 is my inten-
ton. A. ] am granted funds and author
ity. 20 have the shallow places drcdged
out so that ot least thin layer Of water
viii cover them az low tide and prevent
the present condition of aairs.
"The police force has been re-esfahNhed
and IT'S uniforms changed 20 one similar
10 that worn by the Cuians. and they viii
soon be- entirely rid of an suggestion o.
Sraufah rffIo h