The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-17

4
Leon in 15l1.
ssThe average width Of the streets
is third Of o square mile, circum-
vallated with thick walls and no chin
neys, and Is feet, with cement foot
walk upon either side, leaving stone
paved roadway Of II feet. At least
two.thirds Of the streets have fairly
/. steep descent to the water fronts
equal to the incline of the streets
leading down from the Capitol build
ling at Washington. Heavy and fre-
quent showers Of rain wash them very
clean, and there are no cleaner looking
streets in the United States. This is
the superficial view; there are no
alleys. In the rear courts there are
between / 300 ands1, 800 pits and cs-
mented vaults filled With filth Of years,
whose condition is indescribable.
They are located next to kitchens and
cemented cisterns: the heavy rainfalls
overflow them so that the back courts
and area-ways are aaoat.
'tThe water supply Of the city at
present depends upon these cisterns.
Many sewer and water pipes have
been laid, and a good water supply
system was projected by the municipal
authorities A pumping station. filter
beds and reservoir are constructed at
Rio Piedras, l2 kilometers from San.
Juan, and considerable large water
mains laid, but the work was inter
rrpted by the war. An excavation.
has been started within the city
heights for a reservoir. I have re-
commended that It be abandoned and
stand pipes used instead, for the rea-
son that they are less expensive, but
principally that they expose less sur.
face to a tropical sun, besides less
danger Of animal and vegetable pol
luton.
1.-THE situation Of the city and the
sanitary engineering problems con-
nected therewith are ideal, despite the
|iiucrusted filth aud hereditary habits.
OF the people. Now all the conditions
OF soil, temperature; moisture, etc.,
are favorable for the propagation Of
contagious and infectious diseases,
Eonly, the germ being absent.
'sNo city board Of health is in ex
istence; some appearance at vital sta
|stistics isskept at a local Court, and
Isthe average death rate is stated to be
about 28 per thousand.
Gen. Guy V. Henry has detailed
Capt. Z. P. Davidson, an energetic
officer Of the regular army, to organize
.as superior board Of health for San
Juan, which shall have jurisdiction
lover similar boards in other. parts Of
| the island. This board will consist Of
Capt. Davidson, 9TH infantry, execu-
tive officer and sanitary inspector of
1.-The island; the health officer Of the
port, the health officer Of the city, two
members Of the city council, and the
medical officer of the United States
marine hospital service as advice to
the board, with supervision of the
| port inspections. The main attention
Of the board will be devoted to muni-
cipal sanitation, and it is hoped that
.good results will follow Gen. Henry
has asked for an allotment of money
from the customs receipts for the pur-
pose.
In 1876 the English brig Orange
arrived at San Juan from St. Thomas
with a clean bill. Of health and no
sickness on board. In the course of
o few days two of the crew sickened
, with yellow fever. This stimulated
Che authorities to establish a lazaretto,
and on July 16, 1876, an appropriation
of "a, ,013 pesos was made for this pur-
pose A commission, consisting Of
members Of the city council, physicians
and sanitary engineer, selected the
Isla del Corbras for quarantine site,
and tie Spanish Government granted
the concession. The first stone was
laidby Governardo elGenerale Segunde
de la Portella, December Is, 1877.
Don Valentine Saez constructed the
buildings for little over the appro-
priation already mentioned, but the
institution was closed July 25, 1878,
for lack Of funds.
ssThe Isla Gel Cabras Goat Island)
is situated at the entrance Of the bay
opposite to Morro Castle, and is about
half statute mile in length by less
than an eighth Of a mile in width. 1t
is unappreachablc upon the northern
and city sides on account Of surf.
E rocks and breaker which have nearly