Iron County register., 1899-12-28
RELIEF WORK IN PORTO RICO.
Magnitude of the work and Some OF
the Difficulties in Prose-
cutting 1t.

Washington, Dec. 26.-The war de-
partment has made public a statement
showing the progress made in relief
work in the island of Porto Rico be-
tween September 25 and November 80,
1899.
Magnitude of the Work.
The population of the island is esti-
mated at 91s,926. The average daily
weekly sick, 1882, and the average
weekly deaths 632 persons. The annual
death rate was 35 per 1000 inhabitants.
The increased mortality was confined
to the mountain districts, where in
some localities the death rate in
creased 500 per cent.
Cash and Food Disbursed.
The amount of cash received for the
relief of the suffering people of the
island up to November 80 was $14,-
225. The amount of money disbursed
up to the date mentioned was
$7,417. Up to November 80 the total
amount of food received for relief Of
the sufferers was 17,172,738 pounds OF
this amount 10,54S,316 pounds had been
issued up to November so. The amount
of unissued food on hand at San Juan
| November 80 was 614,252 pounds.
Were Stunned by the Shock.
1t was some weeks after the hurri-
| cane before the mental and physical
| energies of the stricken began to rally
| from the shock of the disaster. They
1xy
brought face to face with starvation.
An Offset for Damage Done.
While the damage inflicted upon the
people along the coast of the island
was very great it was offset by the i'm
provemene in the sugar crop, which
improvement was sproduced by the over
flow of water on the cane lands. The
prospect of a good crop enabled the
planters to borrow money with which
to employ the necessary labor to care
for and harvest the crop. The cities
along the coast were also able to come
to the rescue by the employment of
labor to repair the damage inflicted by
the storm. In consequence of these
facts supplies have gradually been
suspended in the lowlands, except in
limited quantities to the chronic poor.
Looked Starvation i'm the Face.
The coffee plantations are located in
the uplands. Here the high winds |
swept everything IN their course. leav
ing little or nothing for the thousands
of hungry, homeless, clothless human
beings but their lives and what could
be given them to prevent starvation.
0f hn
people and of the people of the island |
was all that prevented a terrible catas-
trophe. The poor were fed and their |
lives were saved. All parts of the ISL |
and is receiving aid. The number of |
INDECENT requiring assistance remains !
the same
The Most Difficult Relief Work.
The greatest distress prevails in Il !
locality where the greatest difficulty is |
found in getting food to the starving. |
The worst area contains a population |
of about 25O,OOO, and not wagon road |
is to be found in any direction over |
which food can be transported. All !
food is carried on the backs of horses. |
OF this population 100000 people |
must be fed, or they will starve. If not |
fed at home they will migrate to the
cities. leaving the weak to die. Their |
work will be left undone and their fu-
ture will be hopeless.
Pestilence, Flood and Famine
Pestilence, which frequently follows
food and famine, has appeared among
the unfortunate inhabitants in the
mountain districts, and a number of
people have perished. 1t is feared that
the epidemic will spread to the coast
should there be a general movement
of the mountain people in that direc-
ton. A movement of this kind has al
ready been anticipated, and is being
successfully controlled.
Additional Food Required.
Ii is estimated that not less than
1000 additional tons of food will be
required. Four-sevenths should be of
beans, and the remainder of the
amount required should be either cod
fish or bacon. With the food already
issued and now on hand and with the
1000 tons required in addition to that
already issued, the total issue will be
20, 0,162, ,7SS pounds.
The Able-Bodied Must Work.
In dealing with the INDECENT able
bodied men have been required tc
work for the food they received. and
4 great deal Of public work has been
done in the way of cleaning towns.
grading roads, etc.
Far-Reaching and Beneflcent Plan.
A plan has been devised between the
board of charities and the planters
and their servants by which the board
furnishes food TO the planters for the
number of servants in their families.
In return for this aid the planters
sign an agreement to furnish a small
parcel of land and hut to each family,
which land they are to see prepared
and seeded with food plants. The
planters are also to see that the labor,
ers and their families are supplied
with the food issued, and that the Ia
borer gives a full days work in re-
turn. The planters further agree to
furnish the laborer with food.
Great Strike Threatened.
Paris, Dec. 26.-At a meeting of ..
500 miners held yesterday in 1T.