The times., 1899-05-10
FILTHY CUBA AND PORTO RICO.
Remarkable sanitary Report From
Cnptnin DnNiron

Captain Dnvi.on.
An insight into the monumental task
which the military government has at
tempted in clearing and reducing to a
healthful condition the principal cities
and towns OF Cuba and Porto Rico is given
in report from Captain Dawson, OF the
Fifth infantry. the officer in charge of
sanitary work in San Juan. Captain
Dawson uses strong language in speaking
of the necessity for extending the work
into other cities in the two islands. The
report.is the most exhaustive one yet made
by health officer in Porto Rico or Cuba.
net even excepting these of Gen Leon
ard Wood at Santiago.
The Administration has believed from
the first that one of the first requisites TO
prosperous condition in Cuba and Porto
Rico Is the establishment of strict sani-
| tary laws among the people, following a
| thorough cleansing OF the streets and pub
( lie places. The description Of the work in
/ San Juan. as made by Captain Dawson, is
| typical OF the operations carried in
| other cities and towns of the two islands.
Captain Dawson says that Ponce is the
| present danger point in Porto Rico on ac-
| count of its extremely unsanitary condi-
| ton.
IN each of the several important towns
of Porto Rico the work that is being done
| in San Juan should be duplicated he
says. Better methods should be intro
| duced if possible. Our great, Republic can
not afford TO retard the introduction OF
| Western civilization ten or fifteen years by
| too close a hand on the purse strings.
/ Good sanitation is the sign visible of this
| civilization. II is only a question OF time
/ when it viii come"
| Regarding San Juan, Captain Dawson
/ says: THE unsanitary conditions in and
surrounding the city during the last OF
/ December are almost indescribabie. Over
! l 900 cesspools were found full or nearly
/ tull and extremely filthy The majority
of these cesspools had not been cleaned for
years. Cisterns were generally foul and
| built close to cesspoois. Refuse of all
kinds was thrown in dark corners of the
| inner courts or into the streets Such
| house sewers as existed were never flushed
and consequently were foul and clogged,
! opening into the streets. vacant lots, or
any but proper places. Street sewers were
apparently never flushed and were clogged
and offensive, their outlets being generally
| damaged so that the sewage escaped be-
| fore reaching its intended destination An
| attempt was being made to clean two or
three of the principal streets. This was
/ done late in the morning, and OF the gar
| bage thus gathered much was scattered
| through other streets and along the roads
| to Santiurce. where the contractor assorted
1 and disposed of the material.
THE ordinary dumping ground for such
| refuse as could not be kept in the houses
or thrown into the streets was anywhere
/ out of sight. Perhaps the favorite method
/ was to throw il over military retaining
/ wall. On every side OF the city this re-
| pulsive accumulation of years was found.
/ Even the contents of such cesspoois as
! had ever been cleaned were dumped along
| the north coast where the sea never reach
ed it. Dead animals, with the exception
OF horses and cattle, were not regularly
| buried. but simply tossed out OF signt.
.'rhe only reason why this island of
| San Juan has not become a yeritable plague
| spot is that its surface drainage is ex
ceedingly good and the rainfall heavy dur
| ing a part of the year. The trade winds
sweep over it constantly and in good
| force. The harbor has a constant flow
| through it from east to west. Even under
these good natural conditions, this city has
periodically suffered from yellow fever
! and other low feYers. Smallpox has al
! ways been more or less prevalent during
the winter months and there was a con-
stant ebb and flow OF minor contagious
/ diseases.
The disposal of all the garbage de-
! manded early attention. careful inves-
tigation OF shore lines, currents. wave ac-
| ton, etc, was made. and a temporary
dumping dock was established by slightly
modifying and adding to an unused and
(for military purposes) worthless piece OF
fortifcauons. This method has more than
| fulfilled the highest expectation. Over
| fifty loads per day of garbage are here
| thrown directly into the sea and carried
out by the current. No great expense has
been incurred in this system of garbage
/ disposal. Garbage cans are being dis
tributed as fast as the people can be made
to see their necessity and usefulness
| THE question of leprosy the island
has already been made the subject of sps-
cial report. Ten lepers are now in a tenn
porary hospital. well guarded. furnished
with rations. and are being attended to
by the health officer of the city and two
attendants-a man and his wife. Other
cases of leprosy are being reported and
will be taken care of as soon as possible"
The death rate per thousand in tie city
of San Juan. Captain Dawson says, three
| times as unhealthful as the most unhea tn
ful city in the United States-New Or
leans.