New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-08
CONDITIONS IN SANTIAGO.
CLEANLINESS A HARD LESSON TO LEARN
HIGH PRICES CHARGED BY
STOREKFE,PERS


ton OF this city the heaps Of foul refuse that
cucumber the streets the malodorous alleys and
byways the lack Of sanitary arrangements and
drainage Of any description all matters that
will require stringent efforts 20 ameliorate.
Filth and odor utter lack OF local sanitary pre-
cautions and dirty streets as surely to be
expected In Central American cities and towns
is green grass In a New England village. or
buzzng trolley-cars in the West. Americans
with greener and cleaner memories or their
towns and cities are asto1lshed at the conditions
seen here. 1t should be remembered that dirt
is the natural condition Of this city, and that
In the case OF Santiago the weeks OF the block
ade, the fear OF bombardment, the scarcity OF
food and the general decentralization existing In
a besieged town have done much TO add to the
conditions of filth and poor sanitation that
normally prevail For generations the people
have lived regardless Of the first rules Of hy
giene: the lower classes ignoran. Of all pre-
cautionary measures. and 1t is not surprising
when American officers Issue an order through
the Civil Governor OF Santiago stating that all
houses must be thoroughly cleaned at once. in
side and out that the order is disregarded and
no result follows. Orders constantly issued
to the people to report at once the death OF any
one In their households and threats of fine and
tHlOICeu idDDr dS punishment toiiy HN''N
weight. The fact is that cleanliness and san-
tary methods OF living and dying cannot be
expected from a people who have not been edu-
Gated up TO the standard suddenly set before
them Extreme measures will have to be taken
10 bring about proper condition OF affairs in
this respect. and 1t will take many months of
example and stringent enforcement OF regula-
tons to bring the people to an observance or
what IL clearly best for their health.
In the military hospital Of the city there were
on July % 562 cases of the prevalent malarial
fever, 121 cases Of dysentery. Sc cases of diar-
rhpa. PA cases of anRmia and 10 cases Of yell
low fever The yellow fever cases ire all among
the Spanish soldiers. A week ago there were
six OF this fever. and among the total of
nineteen cases there have been six deaths since
the American occupation. Sixteen OF the 4sS
wounded Spanish soldiers In this hospital have
died since the United states troops took pos
session OF this town.
To the city OF Santiago there is this advantage
from the rains Of the wet The water
rushes down the steep streets and sweeps away
refuse and rubbish Flushing the streets as the
rains do is Ike flushing the sewers IN an Ameri-
can city.
TELLING SANTIAGO ABOUT NETWORK.
Since July and until July % this city was
without daily paper. Not that during these
dark days there were no events TO chronicle.
but because there paper to be had on
which TO print the news. on July % the "Es
pectador' made It's first appearance. and printed
the full Spanish text Of President McKinley's
proclamation to the people OF Cuba The "Es-
pectador' is running series Of articles on New
York City. this subject being supposedly OF
prime interest to its readers at this time. \
three column article on the inscriptions OF the
Egyptian obelisk in Central Park appears in
the last issue, the interest OF which may be
well questioned. but the publisher promises the
Declaration OF Independence OF the United
States in the near future, and the papers atti-
tude toward the Americans Is certainly most
friendly one The "Espectador" also enjoys
the distinction OF being the only Spanish paper
published in this island free of Spanish censor
ship.
A newspaper printed in Spanish and English
is promised soon. and Company f OF the sd
Michigan Volunteer Infantry has brought out
a paper called Company F. Enterprise which
IL the first American paper published In the
American city OF Santiago de Cuba.
Already the enterprisng American Is present.
There IL around town a ragged man with a
smatterlng OF Spanish. who has turned several
dollars by buying up swords and machetes from
Spaniards and the city pawnshops to sell them
To American relic hunters. There Is the man
with the capital TO invest who awaits only
sure and remunerative opportunity and there is
the man who buys up bargains In American
horsefesh from sick or wounded officers going
home. hoping TO sell the animals again 10
good advantage. The first steamer from the
United States has brout ht many men to look
over this new field for business opportunities.
and there will be American sharpness and en-
terprise pitted against equal traits in the cuban
and Spaniard II Santiago prospers and money
Is easy there will be good field here for the
gambler and his outfit. II the laws will allow
him to operate. With prosperity and good
hotel there Is promise in Santiago OF Wide
open town that will be a sure attraction to men
of a certain stamp.
THE AMERICAN CLUB.
The arrival OF so many strangers In santiago
In the last two weeks has taxed TO the utmost
the towns accommodations. which were never
ample. The lack Of anything Ike proper notes
and restaurants will continue 10 be detriment
TO the city until some one with knowledge OF
what Americans want and an ability to get 1t
out Of what the city affords steps In and opens
hotel that will assuredly pay him well
The Anglo American Club OF Santiago. an IN
stitution founded over three years ago by the
English speaking residents or TINS place' mas
been the salvation OF many Americans since the
occupation The club affords limited number
OF cool clean rooms. and they have been open
TO any American officer or correspondent VINO
was fortunate enough to obtain possession OF
them II A. Borrowe and William Aston Chan
Ter. OF New-YOrk City. thankfully enjoyed the
clubs shelter during the long days when the
malarial fever kept both on their backs Many
M Santiagos American visitors will remember
gratefully the clubs cool garden and the stone
paved shower bath Since three days after the
occupation the club has served meals anu.
while what Is eaten comes mostly in cans the
long white table set twice a day with china
plates and bottles OF wine has been most wei
come sight To many an officer who has ridden
in from the front to experience the novel SEN
sation Of a civilized meal. Old friends meet al
this common centre. the clubs dinner tape;
and the fighting OF July !. = and 5 Is tod ana
told again bv men who were on the right or
late. naval OlllCeTS