Connecticut western news., 1898-11-03
CUSTOMS IN SANTIAGO.
Collector Donaldson Files an
 Exhaustive Report.
MAKES AN EXCELLENT SHOWING.

The October Receipts Were Nearly
 $5O.OOO In Santiago City A1one-Fa-
 vorabIe Reports From Provincial Ports-Yeliov Fever Stamped out.
 Santiago, Nov. 2.-Walter A. Donald son, collector of customs, has filed an exhaustive report of the organization, condition and results of the customs In the province of Santiago, with recom- mendations for the betterment of the service. The report embraces the state ment of the condition of affairs in San tiago, Guantanamo and Baracao for September, with the aggregate figures for October in Santiago, Guantanamo and Manzanillo. Gibara is not report ed, but Colonel Hood reports satisfac- tory progress there. .
 The organization at present shows the employment of 40 men in Santiago, consisting of the collector, two deputies and clerks, guards and boatmen. In Guantanamo there are ten men, whose salaries aggregate S5,000. In Baracao there are seven employees. with sal aries aggregating $32,000. The number of men employed in Manzanillo and Gibara are not reported.
 The report shows receipts from all sources of customs in October to be $44 227 an increase of more than $9, 900 over last year in Santiago alone, de- spite the greatly reduced tariff charges. To this add $107,732. brought over from August, and 1t shows a great increase in customs under the present system, though with a reduced tariff.
 It Is shown by the figures for October that the receipts for Santiago, In round numbers. are S61. 900: for Guantanamo. $500; for Manzanillo, SS,300, total of $69, 500.
 Mir Donaldson recommends improve ments of the service at all ports, es- pecially at Guantanamo. such as suita- ble buildings, a revenue cutter and steam launch. Other recommendations are that there be an oath of office for all employees; the free admission of cattle and fresh meats, the present price being practically prohibitive: a reduction of 19 cents to cents per gall lon on petroleum. a harbor improve ment tax in Santiago to be made ap- plicable to the support and re-estab- lishment of the board of harbor im- provements, with an army engineer and the use of customs stamps, by which 1t is estimated there would be an addi- tional income of $106, 900 annually. The recommendations will probably be fa- vorably received by General Wood.
 No Yellow Fever In Santiago.
 General Wood authorizes the state ment that there has not been case of yellow fever in Santiago city during the last 50 days and that the ordinary sick ness during the same period has been 90 per cent less than usual at this sea- son of the year. In view of the fact that a good many people have been un- necessarily frightened by fictitious tales of suffering, General Wood asks that hereafter all applicants to the various societies for aid be referred to him. If the case is a really necessitous one, he will indorse the application. General Wood does not wish to be understood as saying that no private assistance is wanted in Santiago. On the contrary. much will still be needed, though the present supply Is ample for present contingencies.
 He warmly commends the Red Cross society for continuous help and for sup plies which, under the direction of off, cers appointed by him, have been ef- Actively distributed.
 It is now expected that within the next 15 days the staff of the yellow fe- yer hospital will be abolished. It has been maintained merely to care for a few suspected cases, and as the cooler weather is now here its further services are not needed.
 The leading Cubans are very anxious to have their people return to work They are preparing plans to be laid be- fore the Washington government that will enable all insurgents who are will ing to work to get employment in build ing railways in various parts Of the is- land The idea would be to pay for the lines by local taxation, the roads thus becoming government property and eventually reverting to the Cubans. It is believed that 10000 men now idle can be given regular employment in this way.
 Santiago newspapers are asking Gen. eral Wood to appoint a civilian as mayor of the city. and he will probably designate Senor Leonardo Ros, who was mayor under the Spanish regime and was appointed by General Shafter the first civil governor after the American occupation, holding the office for sew eral weeks. Senor Ros is a Cuban by birth. Formerly he was an Autonomist. but at present he is apparently identi- fled with the extremist section of the Cuban party.
 Postomce on Wheels.