New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-16
THE REGENERATED HAVANA.
PROFESSOR A. E. WOOD TELLS OF THE M
PROVEMENT IN SANITATION.


Havana Is practically free from yellow fever at
the present time" said Professor a. f. Wood. Of
No. AIS Lexington-ave. in talking with Tribune
reporter yesterday. Professor Wood has recently
returned from the Cuban capital. where he has been
supervising the erection and working of an electro
plant for the purpose OF disnfecting the city.
IT say this" he continued 'in spite OF the fact that
during the months of July and August the heavy
rains and intense heat breed miasma in It's most
viruent forms. The present healthful conditions Of
Havana are only attributable to thorough and
scientific sanitation. United States Government off,
GERS have dictatoral powers In all matters Of
health. They search houses at their discretion. and
~ they find uncleanliness It Is in the power Of
Major John G. Davis Chief Of tho Sanitary d.
vision TO fine or imprison those occupants who re-
fuse to abate the nuisance. The streets are swept
daily and washed morning, noon and night with salt
water. which has been rendered germicidal by cleo
trolyss. The sewers are flushed regularly. and
every precaution is taken to insure health"
He then spoke Of Havana in the time OF Blanco,
and by way of contrast described the present city.
when first visited Havana" he went on to say,
"the inhabitants regarded the streets as dumping
grounds The buzzards and the rain were about the
only agencies of cleanliness The buzzards might
be seen circling around the housetops in eager
quest OF carrion. Whenever you saw one make
sudden swoop It because some thrifty
wife was cleaning house and had thrown out the
garbage into the street. There sewers, ex-
cept those Of the rich Spaniards which were made
or wood and had rotted with age. stream flowed
down the middle OF each street, and the drains OF
houses emptied into cesspools. It wonder.
then that the: soil became saturated win accumu-
lated hlth After heavy shower, when the sun
came out hot again. the ground seemed fairly to
ferment. At such time I have watched the soft
mud ooze and bubble up through the cracks In the
pavement
''Beggars solicited aims on all sides. Many were
so misshapen as TO be revolving to look at. All
were women wives II said, Of wretches too
law even to beg They told me that certain old
hag. who had lost both eyes, had been thus dis
figured by her husband. that she might prove bet
ter breadwinner.
"since those times another civilization has been
| at work The beggars have to n great extent oeen
driven 70 labor or been taken care OF by insti-
.,,tons ~ charity Streets which the Spaniards
feared To tear up because OF the always attendant
| fever have been dched and drenched with salt
water without any resulting prostrations. Sewers
have been laid and garbage carried out far to sea
/ in scows; cesspools are examined by Commissioners
Indeed an owner cannot empty the contents OF a
youIt without a permit from the health authorities.
The streets are swept by organized corps of Ia
| borers very similar to the New-York system
| "perhaps the greatest revolutIonzlng agency for
| the prevention Of fever is germicdal sea water,
! witch is prepared at the Government eecirozIone
Mn az he rate OF II hundred thousand gallons
| = dav and used in flushing the streets ana sewers
lie nj an
! Les ~ a series Of eight huge watts, IN wnch me
salt water is decomposed by means OF submefged
| uu1Ittad through the water and, although four
dvnamos Of $50 horse power each are required lot
| ,Sa Generation of power II is estimated tnat the
cost per 1000 gallons does not exceed 80 cents; rs
tbo result Of chemical action, the hydrogen OF tne
water is act free, and the resulting elements unite
IN Invertebrates OF potassium, sodium catc,um and
III 1a a. These bases form powerful gerni-
nde and since the use OF electroyzed water for
cleaning the city not a single case OF yeiio" ieVer
aWhat is the attitude OF the populace respecting
! tho Americans was asked. =, ,,
ny ",rbn peonle seem TO appreciate what Is being
! Acme for them" ne answered. They are obedient
md resnectfui az a general thing. inc bettor
classes favor annexation to the United states All
who have moneyed interests fear an AUTONOMOUS
SnVernment They understand how much Of In
surrection and bloodshed attend the goyernmen n,
~ snanish American republics. They welcome the
stable rule OF Washington. II Is the rirram, me
negro element who raising the cry OF liberty
Tbev would be restless and evilly DISPOSED under
any rule II is this mongrel race. which tho span
ish adventurers have begotten OF native women
which has brought the mother country W Her p'eS-
: ent humiliation