Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-09
enemy with which no military valor can

cope.
In conclusion, Colonel Waring says:
Would it not be wise to accept at once
the fact that we are confronted with
danger compared with which war is in
significant and proceed to meet it and con-
quer 1t while We may2 We cannot afford to
wait until We have fed it and strengthened
1t with the lives of our people. The neces-
sary reforms will call for costly works,
even now. But every months delay will
make them more costly and more impera-
tive. We can set about these reforms now
calmly and judiciously. Later under the
impulse of panic, We would work at far
greater disadvantage"
Colonel Waring suggests the following
improvements as absolutely essential to
make Havana healthful city:
First-Organize Immediately a department
of public cleaning under the full control
of single commission experienced in the
conduct of such work and with authority
to do all that the occasion may require.
This department, Colonel Waring urges,
should have. for its chief function, the
maintaining of a constant state of cieanil-
ness in all streets and public places. IN all
public buildings and places of public resort.
and about the public markets and abattoirs.
1t should also control the disposal of all
wastes except sewerage by cremation and
otherwise. --...-,.
Second-Construct a system of sewers 10
receive the liquid wastes of all houses Oh
the main city as far as Belascoain. These
sewers should serve separately the differ
ent districts into which the various slopes
divide themselves and each should dis
charge directly into the gulf or into the
harbor. as the case may be. Before sucn
discharge the effiuent should be effectively
Clarified By one of the various well known
dissolved impurities. The amount Of sea
water flowing into and out of the harbor
at each tide is about 5000 times that of
days discharge Of the clarified sewerage
of the harbor slope of the city, SO that the
dilution will be immediate and more than
complete.
Third-Fill up all the private and kitchen
waste vaults, and supply every house with
an adequate water closet connected with
so furnished should be only what is ade-
served by the vaults. Anything beyond
proper supervision at his own cost.
Fourth-Pave or repave all the streets
in the best manner with asphalt.
Fifth-Provide completely appointed
abattoir for large and small animals, ade-
quate for all the needs of the population.
Sixth-Provide suitable and sufficient
incinerating furnace for the complete and
other refuse. including street sweepings.
also of all dead animals, Including horses
and oxen.
seventh-Rec,aim all the marshes-at
least those between the Calzada de viver
and Regla. about 500 acres-which will in
Soive the care of the drainage from about
6JO acres. This reclamation to be made
after the "Polder" method of Holland, by
dyking out the harbor and the water
courses and moving the water by pumping.
Eighth-Establish an electric power plant
SUFFICIENT for this pumping, for pumping
sewerage where necessary and for pro-
pelling the machinery Of the abattoir, say
SOO horse power in all.
Colonel Waring states it is not possible
from the data now available to estimate
the cost Of all the work indicated above
more nearly .1T M than m to say that it will not
continues Colonel Waring that single epi-
denies introduced into the United States
from Havana. have cost in the Mississippi
valley alone $1,000 coo in loss to industries
life, amounting in 1878 and 1879 to 1891. in
addition to the enormous cost of the sick
ness of those who recovered. Colonel War;
ing further states that in his judgment the
dfcated would completely eradicate yellow
fever from Havana for all time would re-
Ieye 1t from the malaria which is now so
rate from its present high figure mot far
from fifty per 100O to about twenty per
Loo. He says If these improvements are
to be made there must be no delay and no
! half way measures. All that is indicated
must be done in the best and most COM
piete manner, and it must all be done be-
fore June j. 1899. II 1t is not all done. there
is every reason to fear that yellow fever
will be rife in Havana next season, because
| of the large number of unprotected persons
| who would go there trusting to the efficien-
cy OF the partial carrying out of the work.
| the week ending October 6. 1898. was 5S6,
an annual rate of 1886 per LOCO.