The age-herald., 1899-12-26
PROGRESS MADE IN
 PUERTO RICO ISLE
In Some Districts, However, the Death Rate Has Increased.
OVERFLOW SDAMAGE CROPS
Large Amounts of Food Are Needed, and Many Strong Men Are Be- ing Required to Do
 Public Work

Washington December 25.-The war de- partment made public today a statement showing the progress made in relief work in the island of Porto Rico. between Sep tenber 25 and November 30, 1899. The popu- lation of the island is estimated at 91S,926. The average sick indlgent was ,0S1 per- sons; average weekly sick, 19,372, and the average weekly deaths, 623 persons. The annual inhabitants and the annual death rate was 36 per 1000 inhabitants, while the normal rate of deaths was 26 per cent. per thousand inhabitants. The mortality was confined to the mountain districts, where, in some localities, the death increased 300 per cent.
 The amount of cash received from the re- lief of the suffering people of the island up to November 30 was S15,224. The amount of money disbursed up to the date mentioned was $7417. Up to November 30, the total amount of food received to relieve the suf- ferers was F, ,162, 7SS pounds. Of this amount 16,54S,S16 pounds had been issued up to No vember 30. The amount of unissued food on hand at San Juan November 30 was 614,212 pounds. While the damage inflicted upon the people along the coast of the island was very great, it was in part offset by the im- provement in the sugar cane crop, which Improvement was produced by the over- flow of water on the cane lands.
 All food is carried on the backs of horses. Of this population 100000 people must be fed or starve. If not fed at home they will migrate to the cities, leaving the weak to die. Their work will be left undone and their future will be hopeless.
 Pestiience Causes isavages
 Pestilence which frequently follows flood and famine has appeared among the un- fortunate inhabitants in the mountain dis tricts, and number of people nave per ished. It is feared that the epidemic will spread to the coast, should there he gem eral movement of the mountain people in that direction
 It is estimated that not less than 1000 additional tons of food will be required. Four-sevenths of this amount should be of rice, two-seventLls should be of beans and the remainder of the amount required should be either codfish or bacon. With the fcod already issued and now on hand and with the 2,000 tons required, the total issue will be 2O, ,162, ,7SS 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 ben done in the way of cleaning towns, repairing roads, etc. A plan has been devised between the board of charities and the needy planters and their servants by which the board furnishes food to the planters for the number of servants ill their families. In return for this aid tine planters sign an agreement to furnish small parcel of land and hut to each family, which land they are to see pre- pared and seeded with food plants. The planters are also to see that the laIborers and their families are supplied with food issued and that the la borer performs a full days work in return. The planters fur ther agree to furnish transportation for the food