The record-union., 1898-12-03
: CUBAN SANITATION.

II is very gratifying to know that the
death Of Colonel Waring is not going
10 effect a pause in the effort Of the
United States Government to do all
that can be done this and the next year,
in the matter of the sanitation of Ha-
vana and other Cuban cities. William
j. Clark, author of Commercial Cuba
has already been commissioned by the
Government to proceed to Cuba and
complete the preliminary examination
and advisory report upon which Colonel
WTaring was engaged at the time of his
death.
Mr.. Clark was one of the board ap-
pointed to determine the locations for
camps for our soldiers who have gone,
and are still to go to Cuba. He had
TO be fitted for that office by sanitary
knowledge, with which he is said to be
well equipped. He met Colonel Waring
In Cuba, had many consultations with
him, is familiar with the plans he had
In view, and returned with him to the
United States.
It Is assumed, therefore, that Mr..
Clark will be able to report on pro-
posed reform systems in line with the
thought Of Colonel Waring. We are
TO prove to the world now, justif1ca-
ton for interference in Cuba to which
not much reference has been made,
namely that we are capable Of stamp
ing outin large measure the causes for
yellow fever.
Cuba has been the chief breeding spot
for that pestilence. Spanish misgov-
ernment, insensibility to the demands of
sanitary science, and Indifference to
loss of humanlife, made and kept Cuba
a breeding hole for the pest. During all
their hundreds of years of administra-
tfon of Cuban affairs the Spanish never
turned hand or moved al wrist to pre-
vent the development of yellow fever.
They were free enough with hospitals
and physicians and all that, but they
never grasped the truth that yellow
fewer may be prevented as we'll as
treated and cured.
It is not denied that the city of Ha-
vana is unspeakably filthy, that her
drainage is the worst known anywhere,
and that the harbor in front Of the city,
not affected materially by tidal wash,
is a cesspool Of the vilest order The
conditions at Santiago de Cuba are
worse, If anything. Spain never cared
to take steps to better or prevent these
conditions. As long, therefore, as her
power dominated in Cuba, that island
was a menace to the public health in the
south sections Of the United States. It
is Very true that upon lowland inter-
iors there are natural conditions which
Invite the birth and spread Of fever.
But these will be robbed Of half their
terror by proper sanitation at the CEN
tiers of population upon the coast. In
deed, 1t is held by some that even the
miasmatic interiors may be treated
in a manner to reduce their menace one
half, and to finally remove 1t in large
part though this desirable end will not
be attained speedily, nor will the
breeder of the fever wholly disappear,
because Of humid heat conditions be-
longing to the meteorology Of the ISL
and. But If the United States succeeds,
as unquestionably 1t will, in putting
bit into the mouth of the pest that
has been the curse Of Cuba for CEN
turies. we viii prove to all the world
that aside from all other reasons we
were justified in striking off Spanish
Ehackles from Cuban limbs.