New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-08
HIGH-FLAVORED SANTIAGO.
A CITY OF FILTH AND ALL SORTS OF
STENCHES.

ROMANTIC AID oLD-TIME FEATUREs-HIGH
PRICES FOR FOOD.
[FRoM 4 STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBuNEl
Santiago de Cuba July 21.-This city, with all
this end OF Cuba. Is now temporary posses
sion Of the United States Historically the
region is fascinating with It's memories OF
Columbus and its records OF wars and sieges'
To Northern eyes the capital or the province
is picturesque to degree. The narrow en-
trance to the harbor overlooked by the ro-
mantle Anticipated Moro; the long approach
between superb hills. and finally the city IL
self with It's irregular, steep streets ana us
red-ted houses. are a panorama to please the
eye. Then there is the prospect of a lucrative
commerce. But beyond these there is not much
to be said for Santiago just now.
Perhaps what American thinks OF hrst or
all Is the flthIness In Northern climate the
same degree of 1t would not be so conspicuous.
But here the blazing heat and the moisture
soon make the worst OF unsanitary conditions.
Yellow fever is naturally thought OF as the
first product of the unceanliness However.
this is at present not epidemic There are SIX
cases In a hospital, and perhaps few others
elsewhere but August and September are the
months when that disease hourshes most here.
OF other fevcrs. however, there is no lack IN
the public hospitals alone there are nearly -FOUR
thousand patients. about 10 per cent or the
population When the cases In private hospitals
and in homes are added It Will be seen that
Santiago Is a wretchedly unwholcsome place
or course a certain number OF the inmates Of
hospitals are wounded soldiers. These are.
however. no large percentage OF the whoie.
The Krag -Jorgensen bullet Is almost as hu-
name as the Mauser. Wounds made by H. UNI
less serious heal quickly. In the three weeks
Of he ~ T.
ing a considerable number OF the wounded have
been discharged
MIGHT BE MADE MODEL.
In most OF the streets the flthiness Is not
ohtruslve The lack OF paving and the uneven
ness OF the rocky streets. however. make pockets
in which refuse lies hidden. As an Anglo
Saxon community Santiago would be readily
transformed into a model Of sanitation. Stu
ated as it u.s. on a hillside. a system of drainage
could easily be installed. The frequent and
heavy rains would flush the streets and sewers
most effectively. But there are no sewers
worth mentioning. one from private hospital
is so small that in every rain It overfows' and
thus actually does more harm than good
ono custom that is characteristic OF Santiago
Is n source Of contamination. In the narrow
streets II is not safe to hitch horse. SO the
rider either takes him 20 the vranda' when
commonly fronts the house. or right through
the building into the courtyard The use OF
,hes. two places-which should be fresh and
clean lounging spots-as stables indicates the
attitude OF tha residents toward sanitation.
FORGETTING. or trying 10 forget. this aspect
~ Santiago civilization one finds In the lat
tired windows Of the better class OF houses; In
tho occasional glimpse OF a cool. green court; IN
the rounded streets. with the undulatng lines
~ roofs and the old-tme quaintness or all
q reward for 4 stroll He will not be permitted
10 forget however. that Santiago is hot Cheer
.uI travellers give IT the reputation Of being
the hottest city In the American tropics. The
customary nap in the middle OF the day how
eyer IL a refuge from the worst OF this evil
The street leading to the most important land
d.rcncos 10 the west Of the city again brings up
IN. eubicc, Of Santiago's unceanliness however
willing YOU are 10 drop II. Here II was that
many ~ the soldiers had their barracks. APP
parantly the Spaniards felt no shock at cuban
car.lessness about dirt. for they certainly went
beyond the natives in this regard. For several
days they have been gone. but their doors are
sin there At their original camping place
after the capitulaton. by the side OF the road
which Is a continuation Of the street referred
TO- there IL a still worse stencil. Fortunately
they are now some distance from the thorough
fare between tive American lines and the city.
The consequences OF their disregard or the
laws Of health are 10 be seen in the procession
-, sick men that Is daily seen from the camp
10 the hospitals in the city. Some manage 10
make their way alone: others are supported by
two comrades. and the weakest are borne on
filters All are wan from fever.
SYMPATHY WITH THE UNITED STATES
Santiago grows more and more pronounced In
10 iG
,cos, noticeable I'm the shops. which gener-
olly kept by Spaniards. OF course. the expendi-
ture Of money by American officers has much
to do with this Cash drawers are full OF due
hills which merchants had TO accept from Span
lsh officers and which are worthless But there
,s a broader basis than this, to wit. the likeli-
hood that there will be an American protec-
torate for certain time So clerks nave speed
a., learned the United States coinage. Bills are
welcomed as gladly as gold. and silver az either.
T, 10 known that the stamped or engraved words
mean inst what they say. and that the material
that bears them IL of secondary Importance
Remarkable IL the prejudice against even span
ish gold. Shopkcepers hesitate about accepting
II and prefer American bills. II Is not only In
the large stores in the main part OF the city
that this ls true but in the smaller ones In the
outskirts.
Santiago had not been entirely stripped OF
food when the siege ended. Flour Indeed. had
gone 10 500 for 2O0pound sack. But the
shops still have stocks Of greater or less size
Naturally prices are high. The figures on I'M
nnrted dccaccs are delightful. such as 81 for
half a mound of Camembert cheese. Bread IL
/ now To be had but for two or three days AFTER
the surrender it was most precious In the
/ leading restaurant you could have only one
roll with your dinner. Your offer to pay an
7 indefinite amount for "A second one was calmly
ignored Even the one was OF some dark Hour
Admission to the restaurant was only by es-
roci,I favor after ceremony similar to get
ling into a family entrance" or speak easy"
in the United states. Early this week the din
ner consisted Of "A small fish. bit Of beef some
| Vegetables guava jelly and coffee. II you were