The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-12-30
WORK IN PORTO. RICO.
Magnitude Of the work and some Of
the Difficulties In Proses-
cutting 1t.

ho<p 49, g-Ns
partment has made public a statement
showing the progress made in relief
work in the island of Porto Rico be-
tween September 25 and November 80,
1899.
Magnitude of tho Work.
The population Of the island is esti-
mated at 91S,926. The average daily
INDECENT was a21,0s7 persons; average
weekly sick, 1882, and the average
weekly deaths 632 persons. The annual
death rate was IS per 1000 inhabitants.
The increased mortality was confined
to the mountain districts, where in
some localities the death rate in
creased 600 per cent.
= Cash and Food Discussed.
i The amount of cash received for tho
relief of the suffering people of the
sisland up to November 80 was $14,-
PCS. The amount of money disbursed
up to the date mentioned was
SAT-. Up to November 80 the total
amount CT food received for relief of
the sufferers was 17,172,73s pounds. OF
this amount 16,54S,316 pounds had been
issued up to November so. The mount
CT unissued food on hand at San Juan
November 80 was 614,252 pounds.
Were Stunned by the Shock.
1t was some weeks after the hurri-
cane before the mental and physical
energies of the stricken began to rally
from the shock of the disaster. They
we're without ready money and were
brought face to face with starvation
An Offset for Damage Bone.
While the damage infictec upon tn.
people along the coast Of the island
was very great it Mas offset by the i'm.
,,rovemens in the sugar crop, which
improvement was produced by the over.
flow of water on the cane lands. The
prospect of a. good crop enabled thu
planters TO borrow money with which
to employ the necessary labor to car,
for and harvest the crop. The citiei
along the coast were also able to come
to the rescue by the employment Of
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.
Looked Starvation in the Face.
The coffee plantations are located in
the %uplands. Here the high winds
swept everything IN their course. leav-
ing little or nothing for the thousands
of hungry, homeless, clothless human
beings but their lives and what could
be given them to prevent starvation.
The prompt action of the American
people and of the people of the island
was all that prevented a terrible catas-
trophe. The poor were fed and their
lives were saved. All parts of the isl
and is receiving aid. The number Of
indigent requiring assistance remains
the same
The Most Difficult Relief Work.
The greatest distress prevails in a
locality where the greatest difficulty is
found in getting food to the starving.
The worst area contains a population
of about 250,0O0, and not n wagon road
Is to be found in any direction over |
fnod can be transported. All
food is carried on the backs of horses. !
o. this population 100000 people
must be fed, or they will starve. If not /,
fed at home they will migrate to the
leaving the weak to die. Their
work will be left undone and their fu-
ture will he hopeless.
Pc~stiIcnce. Flood and Famine.
Pesti!ence. which frequently follows
food and famine, mas appeared among
the unfortunate inhabitants III the
mountain districts. and a number Of
have persisted. 1t is feared that
lhe epidemic will spread TO the coast
there he q general movement
IF the mountain people in that direc-
ION. \ movement of this kind has al
ready been anticipated. and is being
successfully controlled.
Additional Food Required.
il is estimated that not less than
200 additional tons of food will be
'eouired. Fo%ur-sevenths should be of
leans. and the remainder of the
required should be either cod
ish OF bacon. With the food already
ssued and now on hand and with the
tons required in addition to that
llrcady issued, the total issue will be
162. 1853 pounds.
h Ablc-Bodied Must Week.
In dealing with the INDECENT able.
,odied men have been required to
york for the food they received. and
great deal Of public work has been
lone in the way of cleaning towns
roads, etc.
Sar-RcachinG and Benehcent Plan.
a plan has been devised between the
of charities and the planters
their servants by which the board
furnishes food 20 the planters for the
lumber of servants in their families.
IL return for This aid the planters
ign an agreement to furnish a small
arcel of land and Il hut to each family, '
ihich land they are to see prepared I
I'd seeded with food plants. The {
are also to see that the labor. {
RS and their families are supplied /