The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-02
CLEANING UP SANTIAGO
Sanitary Conditions Were Some
thing Frightful.
GENERAL WOODS REPORT
He Had to Begin at the Bottom-There
Was No Water supply-No Hunger
In the City Now-schools
to Be Started.

Washington, Oct. 1.-Secretary Alger
Q received a long letter from Gen.
Leonard Wood. military governor of
Santiago. General Wood says in part:
when We came into the city the
sanitary situation was something
frightful. There were a great many
unburied dead in the houses, BET ween
1000 and 5000 Spanish wounded and
sick and a great horde of half-famished
n sick people. nearly 20. 900 in num-
Der, who had just returned from Ell
Caney, where they had gone during the
siege. There was no water TO be OBJ
cained except from cisterns and a few
wells. and the streets were full of dead
animals and all sorts Of filthy mater
iais. l had to start in from the bottom
ana repair the water works. Then
came the removal of the dead. Some
or these were burned. because the num-
Der was SO great and decomposition
q advanced to such an extent that
they could not be buried. Burning is
commonly practiced here during the
epidemic season.
We a yellow fever all around us
and about 20 cases in the Spanish mill
tsry hospital. The hospital was full of
dying and public buildings were being
used as hospitals.
II have been working systematically
with every at hand to improve
the sanitary condition of the city. I
nave a force OF about 10 men con-
stantly employed, and at many times
Rave had nearly double this force work.
ing night and day to remove the vast
a~ccumulations of indescribable filth
which has accumulated in the out
houses n yards. as well as the
streets of the city. which is reputed to
he n OF the most unhealthy and dirty
in the world. The death rate has de-
creased steadily since we came in, and
Is now about one-fourth of what IL
was In July.
1.-THE city has been divided into five
parts, In each of which is a relief station
where food is distributed and a physi-
clan In attendance. who prescribes for
those who present themselves sick and
Visits the sick in the houses. The po-
lice department, all doctors n the
officials in each ward have received in
structions to furnish these physicians a
list OF sick requiring attention and also
of the worthy poor. in order that we
may be somewhat protected in the dis
trlbution Of medicines and rations. l
am issuing at present about II. 900 ra-
lions per day. The physicians are prob
ably prescribing for about 500 or 700
b'bBAtf III III udNS MANY more.
These physicians are native Cubans,
educated in the United States and en-
ployed by our government as contract
surgeons.
The garbage and the material which
/ collect in the streets | have dumped
outside of town and burned. ] have
also had the lower and most unhealthy
portion of the city drained and the
bitches running into the harbor cleaned
out, also the water front system Of
sewage, which was completely Obstruct-
ed and i'm a ~frightful condition.
Later his year, when the epidemic
season shall have passed, il is my in
t%entiOn, IL | am granted funds and au-
thority. To have the shallow places
dredged out. so that at least a thin
layer Of water will cover them at low
tide and prevent the condition Of af-
The receipts Of the city from Gus
since we occupied Il. ] understand
from Generals Shafter and Lawton, who
have charge Of this matter. have been
about 500. 900. The expenses Of the city
per week, supporting the hospitals.
cleansing the streets, doing the neCes-
sary engineering work and the many
little things required 20 keep up the
departments Of the city Of
$1,000, are at present S4,5OO to $4,000. OF
this about 81. 600 Is for sanitary work
and engineering, the balance foT hOspi-
tails, police, etc.
Il have been as economical as posi-
bic, but have felt that in this matter OF
expense should not be taken
into consideration, as the lives Of all
here might be said 20 depend
a prompt and thorough correction
M the triEhtful ~uusauitaTy condition IN
which the city was found.
The great expert in yellow fever. Dr. F.