New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-16
SANITATION IN SAN JUAN.
BAD CONDITIONS PREVAILING IN THE
CITY.
BOARD OF HEALTH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
RESTRICTIONS RECOMMENDED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIBuNE.l

10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Jan. i5.-An interesting report upon
the sanitary condition Of San Juan. Porto Rico.
from Surgeon Glennan. OF the Marine Hospital Ser
vice, which has just reached Washington, shows
that the island is much more salubrious In every
way than Cuba, and gives a large amount Of novel
and interesting information about the new Ameri-
can possession After describing the general condi-
ton OF the country under date OF January s. Sur
geon Gennan says regarding San Juan:
The average width Of the streets If twenty-five
feet with cement footwak upon either side. leav.
Ing a stone-paved roadway OF seventeen feet Al
least two-thirds OF the streets have fairly steep
descent to the water-fronts-eQna TO the incline OF
the streets leading down from the Capitol at WASH
ington Heavy and frequent showers OF ram WASH -,
the United States This Is the superficial view.
pits and cemented vaults. which have not been
empted for years and whose condition Is lndescrba-
ed cisterns, and the heavy rainfalls overflow them
so that the back courts and areaways are covered.
upon these cIsterns Many sewer and water pipes
have been laid and a good water-supply system
pumping station filter beds and reservoir are con-
structed at Rio Pedras twelve kilometres from
San Juan and many large w water ter mains 'a ea
cavatlon has been started within the city heights
FOR ndve seI i"I FOR the
that they are less expensive and princl;
pally that they expose less surface 70 ,rop.Sa
pollution.
HEALTH BOARD ORGANIZED.
The situation OF the city and the sanitary engi-
neerlng problems connected Herewith are ideal
despite the ncrusted filth and hereditary habits OF
the people Now all the conditions OF soil, tenn
perature moisture. etc. are favorable for the
propagation Of contagious and infectious diseases
only the germ being absent.
No city Board OF Health is In existence: some ap-
pearance of vital statistics is kept at local court
and the average death rate is said to be about
twenty-eight a thousand ,,c. ID
Dawson. energetic officer Of the Regular Army
to organize superior Board or dleath iOt 9sr
boards in other parts OF the Island rms boaru
will consist Of Captain Dawson, ON Infantry; ex
the health officer of the port the heah oicer on
the city two members OF the city Council ana me
tai service adviser to the Board with super
vision Of the port inspections The main attent tn
ton and It is hoped that good results win follow
General Henry has asked for an allotment ,tna or
Upon the United States assuming control or the
island DR.. Pedro Del Vale was appointed port
is paid out Of the customs receipts. Dr.: Del Vale
is native Of the island graduate Of the medical
speaks English quite fuently.
Malarial fever exists In mild form throusnont
as | have observed in our own Southern States.
now devf b hU e, is nor nn whV Il
cannot be easily introduced and readily propagated
a suspicious death occurred at Mayaguez in Sep
They were introduced by the troops, and there was
no further spread.
REGULATIONS FOR CUBAN VESSELS.
There is strong and decided objection TO trans
port steamers touching here upon their return from
Cuban ports on their way 10 the United States az
was recognized in the Bureau before left Wash
ington Colonel Hon chief surgeon OF the forces,
whom have known for some years. INFORMS me OF
the strong objections TO this system II Is danger
Gus, not military necessity and safe rigid re-
strctive cannot be exercised In these har
bors under the system which prevails.
urgently recommend that the special attention OF
the Secretary OF War be invited TO this important
matter. About four years ago Spanish troopship
introduced smallpox and II has been more or less
prevalent since that time. The old Spanish small
pox barracks within the city limits destroyed
by fire yesterday, thereby removing great source
OF danger.
Several years ago about 1890 troop ship also
brought yellow fever into this port I, prevailed
extensively in tho barracks. with number OF
deaths but II Is said not TO have spread throughout
| the city From the nature OF the native popua-
| ton, the disease would be mild and they are prob
ably immune.
In the few vessels which ] have boarded In this
harbor ha noticed a number OF immigrants from
ST. Thomas and the neghboring islands. The IN
fux OF this foreign population s distasteful 10 the
Porto Ricans. and contemplate inviting the atten-
ton OF General Henry to this matter and the Ma
ional immigration laws connected with the subject