New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-21
IN SAGUA LA GRANDE.
DEPRESSING CONDITIONS IN A CUBAN
TOWN THAT SUFFERED IN THE WAR.
THE SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL srTUATION-HOw
rAXEs HAVE BEEN COLLECTED-RAH,-
ROADS AND TELEPHONES

RDADS AND IBl.fsfhoNtS
Washington. March 20 (specaD.-The War De
partment has received through Major-General
Brooke tho report OF official investigation OF the
affairs OF the municipality OF Sagua Ia Grande
Cuba. from which the following extracts are made
showing the conditions which exist there and lndi-
eating the improvements which are essential
The municipality has a population OF 22Ost in
GLIDING the villages Of Isabella Slticoito and Chin
chila. The Council OF the town consists OF twenty
two members. including the Mayor. All the Span
iards in the Council have withdrawn. leaving eigh-
teen Cubans to represent the law-m making power OF
the municipality.
There are six public schools in the town for
boys and nine for girls. The private schools are
two for boys and five for girls. making total OF
twenty-five schools which attended by 3ls boys
and 81 girls The town pays $500 in salaries;
1884 for houses leased for school purposes and for
stationery books etc. 81 $50, making per annum
total cost OF t126pi Hitherto the taxes were col
lected by the Spanish Bank and handed over 20
the Provincial Board OF Public instruction. This
Board dealt directly with the teachers in this and
almost every other respect.
The discipline maintained by the teachers has
always been OF lax character. and in cases OF
violation OF the law there seemed 10 he no legal
method Of correcting breaches Of discipline The
teachers have owing them over nine months
salary and some OF them are In a starving condi-
ton.
The town has hospital capable OF caring for
256 people This Is controlled by the Provincial
Board OF Public Charitable Institutions. The hos
pal has always been badly managed. and the
local authorities have all resigned. The hospital IS
in the hands Of the Mayor delegate from
the general government. The expenses Of running
this hospital for 1895 up 10 date are s Dos H. The
OUTLAWS for the present financial year calculated
a S21,l2s T. The expenses OF running this hospital
have always been paid by the towns Of the judicial
district The hospital owes about $1,000 TO out
siders and sixteen months salary 20 its employees
amounting In the aggregate to about $500 Since
the United States Government took hold Of the
hospital laborers have been put to work in order
70 place in q perfect hygienic condition and Il is
intended furnish It with proper clothing. furni-
ture and medical supplies II any funds can be had
for such extraordinary expenses. About two hun
dred sick people being assisted at the hospital
at present at a cost OF 30 cents day each.
elusive Of the Of employees and other indspen-
sables to keep the place in good condition.
clinic for children he's recently been established,
with nurses and doctors At present there are about
seventy children attending the clinic.
ORPHAN ASYLUM WORK.
The town has three orphan asylums. two for
girls and one for boys and here some three hun
dred children find food shelter and education.
They taught certain kinds Of work In harmony
with their age and a cigarette mandatory
has been established In the asylum The older
girls show the younger ones how 70 manage This
industry. They also teach the latter how to make
straw goods. such hats, etc. The girls do the
housework and committee OF women supervise
daily their instruction. health etc. The municipal
ity bears part Of the expense and public sub
scrption and the sale OF cigarettes do the rest.
The amount received is not sufficient to keep II in
good condition. as the state Of famine and wretch
edness in which the children generally come de-
mands special medicines. nourishment and atten-
ton. These asylums were founded last May. The
American Red Cross and lately representative OF
the United States Government have aided the in
stitutions BY allowing them supplies and
food. An appropriate building for an asylum Of
this character is strongly demanded.
The town has also dispensary. which has been
running for wear. for children whose parents
are alive These children received from TO II
d. m, and get some little nourshment, such
broth and milk, with medical attendance and medi
ported al this dispensary, which j. carried on by
the municipality and public subscription.
both sexes of the destitte classes This ipstttnon
has been running for "A year. and good many
lives have been saved By virtue OF H. The Red
Cross Association and also MI Gould have con-
The City has had within its limits many cases
OF smallpox, but since the lazaretto was built the
epidemic rapidly disappeared. All smallpox cases
are confined in the lazaretto, which has been founl
to be an important factor In eliminating the dis
the Catholic Church Poor people not allowed
to be buried in collins uness they pay heavy
DUTY. The mode OF burial has largely contributed
10 making the town unhealthy. Great reform is
needed In private burias throughout the island OF
cuba.
sagua has a small but badly conducted market,
which brings the municipality an income Of $1,000
"A yea. In better times 1t used 10 yield an Income
Of $1,000. A new building OF iron Is badly needed.
The slaughter-house Is a magnificent structure.
II produces TO the municipality about $1,000 yearly.
and In ordinary times when cattle were cheap ana
abundant the income was over $4,000 year
The town Is not well supplied with water especial
" in the winter time. when there is little rain
The water contains an excess or lime, and comes
e,.r -
waterworks II Importance only a small dam with
q lO-inch pipe. The water is brought distance
of eleven miles The jail is a good brick building
that hl.s the requirements OF the city.
The town has two small parks in It's centre. AMI
grounds for TWO more, which have not been i'm
proved for lack ~ funds
TAXES COLLECTED AND UNSOLICITED.
The municipality collects taxes on real estate and
on commerce and industry The basis is per cent
on the benefits declared by the contributors on the
real estate and a special tariff on industry and
commerce. The total taxes for the present fiscal
year do not amount above 81 90. The taxes are
paid quarterly. as they mature. The rest o: the
estimated OUTLAWS Is covered by various means. such
a. the market slaughter-house (the tax on meat
Il tax on all articles Of consumption and some other
TENS OF no special importance. The total income
lays OF this probably not more than % or ~ per
a. mn will be collected This Is largely due 10 the
condition Of the country. Under the present condi-
tOns the municipality Is unable 10 pay us employees
rri., nlbllc lighting teachers in the public schools
and employees the public works, etc
Sagua has an Indebtedness OF some slOep A
portion Of this indebtedness is prescribed. and pos
sibly the total might be paid for less than $lVl'c,
with bonds or otherwise. giving some sort Of Sc
The expenses and income Of sagua arc thus
stated
Estimated expenses. Income.
lsg2-g3 ....................... 500 30 -