The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-26
PUERTO RICO RELIEF WORK.
YeI,Os7 PERSONS IN THE ISLAND
VINO NEEDED ASsIsTANCF.


Ie,54s,Sie Pounds OF Food Issued Up to
Nov. 3o-s, 900 Additional Tons Required
Demand for Relief viii Increase in
the Mountain Districts Until February.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2j-The War Department
made public to-day a statement showing the
progress m ade In relief work in the leland OF
Puerto Rico The period covered by tho state
ment begins Sept. 2j. 1899. and ends Nov. 30.
1899
The population OF the island is estimated at
91Se2o. The average daily INDECENT was 22l.-
OS7 persons; average weekly sick. 1852. and
average weekly deaths. 832 persons. The
annual death rate was 35 per 1000 inhnb-
itants. while the normal rate OF deaths was 20
per 1000 inhabitants. The increased NOR
tally was confined to the mountain districts.
In some places In these districts the death rate
increased 800 per cent.
The amount OF cash received for the relief Of
the suffering people Of the island up to Nov.
30. 1899 was s15,224.10. The amount OF
money disbursed up to that date was 81, 417.59.
Up to Nov. 80. 1899. the total amount OF food
received to relieve the sufferers was II. 162. 7SS
pounds OF this amount 18.54S.516 pounds
had been issued up to Nov. 80, 1899. The
amount OF unissued food on hand at San Juan
Nov. 80. was 6l4.272 pounds.
IL was some weeks after the hurricane before
the mental and physical energies OF tho
stricken people began to rally from the shock
OF the disaster. They were without ready
money and they were brought face to
face with starvation. While the damage In
ficted along the coast upon the people OF the
island was very great, II was In part Offset by
the Improvement In the sugarcane crop. which
improvement was produced by the overflow OF
water on the cane lands. The prospect OF a
~ A.
money with which to employ the necessary
labor 10 care for and harvest the crop. The
cities along the coast were also able to come TO
the rescue by the employment OF labor to re-
pair the damage inflicted by the storm. In
consequences OF these facts. supplies have
gradually been suspended In the lowlands. ex-
cept in limited quantities to the chronic Door.
The coffee plantations are located In the up
lands. Here the high winds swept everything
In their course. leaving little or nothing for the
thousands OF hungry. homeless clothesless
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 preve nted
their lives we're preserved. Although a large
part OF the Island Il no longer receiving relief.
the number OF indigents requiring assistance
Ii Is believed that until February next the
demand for assistance Ia likely 70 increase In
bananas will not be ripe for two months TO
come. The greatest distress prevails IN a
LEGALITY where ,J The ,o dcpty +
miles wide. It embraces seventeen municl:
not a wagon road Is to be found in any dlrec.
ton over which food can be tran sported: All
SSd i SsTrss h Ss SpHs Ss
will starve. II not fed at home they will mi
CRATE to the cities, leaving the weak TO die.
Their work VIII De left undone and their future
Psstllspce, which frequently follows food
d ha Ss the
feared that, the Epidemic viii spread to the
mSys%snt Of this lind has s' aires$y 0q been
4os Ed, ap the re RsnT must Be-
freely In the mountain districts for oil OF
December and during the greater part Of
Il is estimated that OF less than 1000 addl-
.ional to ton, n; , 81 food viii he required Four
sevenths should be oi eans and the remainder S
A.: Ar q SsSg% h ;n ICED ed 5 issued
total ISSUE vii be SieS 7ss pouads s' 'nS
trail Relief Committee meets all demands for
remedies. which are freely made and promptly
answered. tntOugh tine medical Supply Depot OF
the United States Army aud the Post Hospital
In dealing with the indlgents. hble.bodied
men have been required to work for the food
they, received. and q great deal Of public work
has been done IN the way of cleaning towns,
repairing roads. &c. 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 In their families. In return for this
aid the planters sign an agreement to turnisha
small parcel OF land and hut to each family,
which land they are to zee 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 planters further agree 10 furnish
transportation OF the food. This plan was pro-
mulRated Sept. II last. Not less than 3.4l3
sppItce!ion. have been e made by planters thus
1913 suspended. 22S declined and the re mainder
are being investigated. Through this means
1894 people are being fed. 1888 laborers are
AZ w2rk, 500 plantations are being restored
and 5000 plots OF ground are producing food
which will soon be ready for consumption. A
strict system OF accountability has been de-
vised. and IL Is believed that with the close Of
tho relief work everything received by the
board can and will BIO duly accounted for by
voucher.