The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-09-30
PRESENT FACTS ABOUT CUBA.
MILITARY REPORT ON CONDa
IN THE ISLAND.

storing tranquility After the
Horrors az Spanish Rule-Col.
Falk's Summary OF the Situation.
Comfortable ana In Good
Health-Character of the People
and Their Ways of Living.
Every visitor to Cuba brings back q
new story in regard to the conditions and
that has been despoiled of its beauty by
struggling armies. yet the knowledge
that was gained was so conflicting and
confusing that it was almost Impossible
to form any definite conclusions In re-
gard to what really existed there. Even
the information possessed by the govern
ment consisted Of dry and satisfactorily
compiled reports that conveyed little idea
OF the impression the country would make
on an observing traveller.
"A recent plan Of the war department
which was carried into execution by Col.
Otto II. Falk has remedied this defect
to a great extent and the government is
now possessed of a complete report Of the
conditions on the island, with military
possibilities kept in the foreground of
course. Col Falk was sent out in March.
with instructions to visit every military
station in Cuba and furnish to the gov
eminent Of the United States an account
of the conditions that prevailed there and
an idea of the surrounding country. This
report was compiled by e. o. Trowbridge
of the quartermaster's office In this city,
who acted as chief clerk to Col Falk,
during the trip and 1t has just been sub
mitted. 1885, Es s zts
Mr.. Trowbridge is able to supplement
the data contained in the report by per-
sonal observations that he made at the
time and he ascertained things that were
not generally known, concerning Cuba.
The country has been described as a
beautiful spot, the garden Of the earth
In fact, and some writer's have conveyed
the impression that it was almost a des-
ert since it's fields had been laid waste
by struggling soldiers, but Mr.. Trow-
bridge found 1t neither. At some points
it's mills have been destroyed and its crops
have been displaced by tropical vegeta-
ton but there are plantations that show
all the thrift and care OF an Illinois farm.
n Another general impression is that the
soldiers who are now In Cuba, live in
dog tents, amid filth and swamps, and
that they are drenched to the skin by
tropical cloudbursts, while they cook their
bacon and beans over a simmering fire
of wet branches. This is also mistake.
Live In Barracks
and they have company mess, the same
they did when they were in this coun-
try, and in some cases the accomnnOda-
tions are as good, If not better. Only
those who are on guard duty or special
foj1 - No o{,, ox,J %1o
government is supplying coats that will
be ample protection against the storm.
Ca, toonists have been giving, out the
impression that skeletons of death stalk
through the streets, wading In a mire of
filth, and that vultures hover over await
Ing the death of men in their own door
yards. Disease is said to be greater
foe to the army Of occupation in Cuba
than the combined Spanish army, but this
is another misapprehenst These con-
ditfons might have prevailed during the
time that the Spaniards held the reins of
government, but things have all changed
since then, and as rapidly as American
cleanliness and order, can be introduced
it is being put in force on the island, espe-
cially in the towns where the troops are
stationed ~
Matanzas is cited as an instance where
American occupation has produced good
results. 1t is stated that this IS the finest
town on the island and as cleanly as any
in the United States. It's streets are kept
as clean as floors and not a bit Of rub
bish or waste paper is allowed to accu-
mulate. It has a splendid park in the
center of the city and regimental bands
congregate there every fine night and
give concerts which almost all the resi-
dents attend. It Is situated on elevated
land, overlooking q beautiful bay. and
the sandy beach furnishes a delightful
place to breathe the fresh air. The sol
diers battle in the serf and sleep in the
renovated and disinfected barracks that
were formerly occupied by Spanish
troops The government has expended
many thousand dollars at this point alone
in repairing the barracks and refitting
the hospital for the use of troops. 1t is.
pointed out that out Of the 1000 soldiers
that have been stationed there not one
died from disease is,s s}sa4 "a.
The western part Of the island IS the
main agricultural point. and the province
OF Pinar del Rio, at the extreme end, has
abundant resources. s.5s ~ Fl
Tobacco Is It's Staple
product, and, although the grade is not
so fine as in other localities. q good crop
Is raised and it brings good price.
Farther east are the sugar plantations,
and on the extreme east end of the island
there is considerable timber, among,
which game abO1nds. I.
Returning to the city Of Pinar del Rio,
which is the capital Of the province and
western station for troops, 1t may be
said that this city has historic connec-
ton with the war with Spain 1t was
here that the closest watch was kept by
the Spanish authorities before the interior
ence by the United States, and where
some Of the utmost cruelties were prac-
ticed. There was scarcely g day that
some entire family did not disappear,
seized by the Spanish police. and their
friends never saw them again. In re-
Spouse to inquiries 1t would be stated that
they had been sent to Havana for ex g nj
nation but subsequent Investigation
would show that their bones were rafting
benetl the soil Of one Of the Spanish
prisons in the city RI M IS
These prisons only gave Up their Sc
crets when the soldiers began making ex-
cavations, and they have found that the
ground was filled with skeletons, the
skulls Of which all bore the mark Of the
fatal machete. All of the bodies had been
decapitated, and most OF the skulls had
been split in twain. One skull that IS now
ON exhibition In the city bears three
,aachete marks one above the right ear
4 second on the left side Of the skull and
the third had split the head IL two. Tbs
was perhaps some particularly nara
y,<,o f7od ON hl1sfast in the cause OF CUBAN