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


Blanca, was constructed by Ponce De
Leon in 1911.
The average width of the streets
is third of square mile, circum-
vallated With thick walls aud no chin.
neys, and 25 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
ing 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 1900 an6 1900 pits and ce-
mented vaults filed 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 afoat.
1.-The water supply of the city at
present depends upon these cisterns.
Many sewer and water pipes have
been laid, and good water supply
system was projected by the municipal
authorities. a pumping station, filter
beds and reservoir are constructed at
Rio Piedras, IL kilometers from San
Juan, and considerable large water
mains laid, but the work was inter-
rupted by the war. An excavation
has been started within the city
hrights for a reservoir. [ 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 tropical sun, besides less
danger Of animal aud vegetable pol
luton.
1.-THE situation Of the city and the
sanitary engineering problems con-
nected therewith are ideal, despite the
incrusted filth and hereditary habits
of the people. Now all the conditions
OF soil, temperature, moisture, etc.,
: are favorable for the propagation of
contagious and infectious diseases,
only the germ being absent.
No city board of health is in ex-
istence; some appearance at vital sta
tistics is kept at local Court, and
the average death rate is stated to be
about % per thousand.
"Gen. Guy Y. Henry has detailed
Capt. L. P. Davidson, an energetic
officer of the regular army, to organize
q superior board Of health for San
Juan, which shall have Jurisdiction
over similar boards in other parts Of
the island. This board vii! consist of
Capt. Davidson, 5th. infantry, execu-
tive officer and sanitary inspector of
the island; tho 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 bc devoted to mum
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.
I'm 1876 the English brig Orange
arrived at San Juan from St. Thomas
with clean bill Of health and no
sickness on board. In the course of
few days two of the crew sickened
I with yellow fever. This stimulated
che authorities to establish laxaretto,
and on July Is, 1876, an appropriation
of ii, ,G13 pesos was made for this pur.
pose. A commission, consisting of
members Of the city council, physicians
and q sanitary engineer, selected the
Isla del Corbras for quarantine site,
aud the Spanish Government granted
the concession. The first stone was
laid by Governardo elG Generale Segunde
l'de 10 Portella, December IS, 1877.
Don Valentine Saes constructed the
buildings for little over the appro-
priation already mentioned, but the
institution was closed July 26, 1878,
For lack Of funds.
eThe Isla del lCabras Goat Island,
is situated at the entrance OF the bay
opposite to Moro Castle, and is about
q half statute mile in length by less
than an eighth Of mile inswidth. II
is unapprcachable upon the northern
| and ni.y sides On account of surf
rocks and breakers, which have nearly