The evening times., 1899-05-17
RED CROSS PROJHCf
TO aid fHE CUBANS
Employment for the Destitute
Women and Children.
Satisfactory Progress Of the Relief
Work in the Island.
Miss barton Likely to Remain for
Some Time-Gcner0us Contribu-
tions of Needed Supplies.

The work Of the Red Cross in Cuba is
progressing very favorably. AS rapidly
as possible the large field which the or
ganization is now at work in is being COW
cred. The hospital service is being en-
larged with as much dispatch as possible
and new orphan asylums for the care of
the thousands Of destitute children who
were bereft Of their parents during the
Cuban Spanish war or during the recon-
centrado period are being established.
Miss Clara Barton, the President of the
American Red Cross Society. who is now
in the island. inspecting the work OF her
agents and giving her personal supervi-
sion to the work, has written to the head
quarters in this city. stating that every
thing is progressing splendidly. No de-
tailed report, however, has been received
from her. The western part Of the island,
where the greatest suffering existed at the
close Of the American campaign, has been
well covered but much remains to be
done.
The operations of the Red Cross have
been reduced to system and are in such
state at the present time that the de-
without the labor required in the begin
ming.
The agents of the Red Cross in the Uni
ted States are active. and large consign-
ments of supplies needed for the prosecu-
tion OF the work are being forwarded from
the several shipping points along the coast
to Havana. Supplies are being sent two
or three times a week. The interest in all
parts of the country in the work has been
tirr,,, tod Ixyt h. loft
from headquarters in this city several
months ago. AS q result contributions of
food, clothing, and money are constantly
pouring in from all sections of the coun-
try. large number of checks for various
amounts are received each day. especially
from the business men of the Eastern
cities. The Western States contribute sup
plies, which are sent down the Mississippi
River to New Orleans and from that point
to Havana.
1t is estimated at the headquarters here
that more than ten thousand children are
being provided for in the provinces of the
western part OF the island and in the Vicin-
ity OF Havana. 1t is intended to make the
asylums established permanent institu-
uons. The endeavor is also being made to
have them as near self-supporting as Tos-
sble. and to this end several large con-
signments of garden seeds and agricultural
cultivating the large tracts of land con-
trolled by some Of the institutions now un-
der the direction of the Red Cross. The
children who are old enough to work are
employed during portion of each day in
the gardens. By this plan a sufficient
quantity OF vegetables can be raised to
supply each institution and at the same
time leave some to be sold to the markets
in the immediate vicinity.
II is too early to judge of the practical
bility of the scheme. but it is thought, in
view of the well-known productivity of the
Cuban soil, it will prove highly success
full. The destitute women of the section of
the island in which the work is now being
carried on are employed at the asylums
in making clothing for the inmates
Through this means many have been re-
lieved from absolute want.
Miss Barton. when she left the city, ex-
pected to remain in Cuba for a period of
two weeks, but, owing to a desire on her
part to acquaint herself thoroughly with
what is being done by her agents, she has
already remained longer than she intended.
1t is probable that she will be in the
island several weeks longer.
DR.. d. P. Hickling, the chairman of the
Public Health Committee Of the Peace
Jubilee. has received permission from Miss
Barton to allow the Peace Jubilee physi-
clans to wear the insignia OF the Red Cross
while in the performance of their duties.
The request was filed several days ago at
headquarters and a cable message sent to
Miss Barton, making known the desire Of
the committee. The answer was received
yesterday granting permission and bear
ing Miss Barton's good wishes for the sue
cess of the Jubilee.