The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-26
RELIEF WORK DONE.
Official Report of What Has Been
Done in Porto Rico.

Washington, Dec. 26-The war depart
ment made public today a statement
showing the progress made in relief
work in the island of Porto Rico be
tween September % and November 80,
1899 The population of the island is
estimated at 91S,926 The average daily
INDECENT was 221,0 S7 persons; average
weekly, sick 1872. and the average
weekly deaths 632 persons. The annual
death rate was IS per 900 inhabitants,
while the normal rate of deaths was
&c per l 900 inhabitants.
The increased mortality was confined
to the mountain districts. where in some
localities the death rate increased 300
per cent The amount of cash received
for the relief of the suffering people of
the island up to November 80, was 915,-
224. The amount of money disbursed
up to the date mentioned was s., Al
Up to November 30, the total amount
of food received to relieve the sufferers
was II 1852, I3S pounds OF this amount
49, ,315 pounds had been issued up TO
November 80. The amount of unissued
food on hand at San Juan November
80 was 614,272 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 with
out ready money and were brought face
to face with starvation
While the damage inflicted upon the
people along the coast of the island was
very great it was in part Offset by the
Improvement in the sugar cane crop,
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 the employment or
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 chronic poor.
Loo tod
the upIands. Here the high winds swept
everything in their course, leaving little
or nothing for the thousands OF hungry
homeless. clOthI6SS human beings, but
their lives and what could be given TO
them to prevent StarVa ton The prompt
action of the American people and OF
the people of the island was all that
prevented a terrible cataS trOpne- me
Door were fed and their lives were pre-
served. Although a large part OF the
island is no longer receiving relief, the
number of INDECENT requiring assistance
remains the same It IS believed tnat
until February next the demand for
assistance is likely to increase in the
mountain districts, as the plants and
bananas will not be ripe for two months
to come. The greatest distress prevails
in a locality where the greatest difficult
ty is found in getting food to the starry
ing.
The worst area contains a population
Of about $50 600 and not a wagon road
is to be found in any direction over
food is carried on the backs Of horses
OF this population 10000 people must
be fed or they will starve. If not fed
at home they will be left unoone ana
their future will be hopeless.
Pestilence which frequently follows
flood and famine has appeared among
the unfortunate inhabitants in the
mountain districts and number OF
people have persisted It is feared that
the epidemic will spread to the coast
should there be a general movement OF
"a in direction.
A movement Of this kind has already
been anticipated and is being success
fully continued But the relief must
be continued freely in the mountain dis
tricts for all of December and during
the greater part of February
1t is estimated that not less than 70
600 additional tons Of food Will be re-
Quired. Four-Sevenths should be OF
beans and the remainder of the amount
required should either be Goldfish OF
bacon. With the food already issued
and now on hand and with the zoe9O
tons required in addition to that al
ready issued, the total issue will be
20. 100. 100 pounds
In dealing with the indigents able
bodied men have been required to work
for the food they 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
board of charities, 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 small
parcel of land and a hut 10 each family
which land. they 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
a full days work in return The plant
ers further agree to furnish transpOrta-
ton Of food.