The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-26
PUERTO RICO RELIEF
EXTENT OF THE TASK UNDERTAKE
EN- BY THE GOVERNMENT is
MADE PUBLIC
DEsoLATIoN AND DISEASE
StupendOus Difficulties That Con-
frOnted Those Having the Work
in Hnnd-Wide Area of Territory
Laid Observation-Disclosures Follow
ed Flood and Famine-Plans for
Preventing Suffering.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-The war de-
partment made public today a statement
showing the progress made in relief
work in Puerto Rico between Sept. 10
md Nov. 80, 1899. The population of the
island Is estimated at s18,926 The aV-
erage daily INDECENT was 22l 0S7 persons;
average weekly sick, 1892 and the av-
erage weekly deaths 632 persons. The an
nual death rate was So per 1000 inhab-
Itants, while the normal rate Of deaths
was 26 per 1000 inhabitants. The in
creased mortality was confined to the
mountain districts, where, in some local.
ties. the death rate increased 800 per cent.
The amount of cash received for the
relief of the suffering people of the ISL
and up to Nov. 80 was $15,224. The amount
of money dlsbursed up to the date men
toned was $7,417.
Up to Nov 80 the total amount of food
received to relieve the sufferers was H.
l62, 7SS pounds. OF this amount 16,54S,A6
pounds had been issued up to Nov. 80.
The amount of unissued food on hand at
p San Juan Nov. 80 was S14.272 pounds.
1t was some weeks after the hurricane
before the mental and physical energies
Of the stricken people began TO rally from
the shock of the disaster. They were
without ready money and We're brought
face to face with starvation.
While the damage inflicted upon the
people along the coast of the island was
very great, ii was in part offset by the
Improvement in the sugar cane crop,
which Improvement was produced by the
overflow 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 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 chrOn-
&c poor.
DESOLATED COUNTRY.
The coffee plantations are located in
the uplands. Here the high winds swept
everything in their course, leaving little
or nothing for thousands of hungry, home
less, ciotheless human beings but their
lives, and what could be given them to
prevent starvation. The prompt action of
the American people and of the people
of the island was all that prevented
terrible catastrophe. The poor were fed,
and their lives were preserved. Although
a large part of the island is no longer re-
ceiving relief the number of indigents
requiring assistance seems the same. 1t
is believed that until February next the
demand for assistance is likely to in
crease in the mountain district, as the
plantains and bananas will not be ripe
for two months to come. The greatest
distress prevails in a locality where the
greatest difficulty is found in getting food
to the starving.
The worst area contains a population of
about 250.000, and not a 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 mi
crate to the cities. leaving the weak to
die. Their work will be left undone, and
their future will be hopeless.
Pestilence, which frequently follows
flood and famine, has appeared among the
unfortunate inhabitants In the mountain
districts, and a number Of people have
persisted. 1t is feared that the epidemic
will spread to the coast should there be
a general movement of the mountain peo-
pie in that direction. A movement of this
Kind has already been anticipated and is
being successfully controlled. But the re-
lief must be continued freely In the
mountain districts for all of December
and curing the greater part Of January.
MORE FOOD NEEDED.
It is estimated that not Hess than 1000
additional tons of food will be required
FOuT-seVenths of this amount should be
Of rice twO-sevenths should be Of beans.
and the remainder Of the amount required
should be either Goldfish or bacon. With
the food already issued and now on hand,
and with the 1000 tons required in addi-
ton to that already issued, the total issue
will be 1852, 1888 pounds
In dealing with the indigents, able-bod-
led men have been required to work for
the food they have received, and a great
deal Of public work has been done in the
way of cleaning towns repairing roads,
etc. A plan has been devised between the
beard Of charities and the needy 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 laborers and their families are
supplied with the food issued, and that
the labOrer performs full days work in
return. The planters further agree to
furnish the transportation Of the food.