The evening times., 1899-03-25
A MILITARY TOUR
OF SANTA CLARA
Report Of Observations From
ROdus to Cartagena.
No Work Apparent for Miserable
Communities to DO.
Great Stretches of Country Devoid
of Human POpulation-Fnm miles
ON the Verge of Starvation.

Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn
has received very interesting itinerary
from military sources, beginning at Rodus
in Santa Clara province and terminating
at Cartagena
According to the report, there are two
Spanish forts IN close proximity to Rodus,
and about 6 miles distant is the estate of
the British Vice Consul The grounds
around this house are similar to those usu-
ally found connected with a gentleman's
estate in England and are said to be the
best gardens and park in Cuba. The peo-
pie between Rodus and Cartagena are be-
ginning to assume their usual avocations.
Cartagena has population of 1,200 in the
city proper and about 5000 in the munich
pality. The country to the north of Car
tagena as far as the Matanzas line and al
most as far as Mordazo has been laid
waste by the Spanish. There is great dis
;ress in this municipality and there are
great stretches of country where there is
not soul to be seen. The roads have been
grown into a thicket almost impossible to
penetrate. The municipality had eight
schools before the war; two buildings re-
In Ciego Montero the boys school is
closed, but the girls school has fifteen pu-
pills. At Cascaial the boys school las
twenty pupils, and the girls school is
closed. There are no police in this town.
The district mainly produces sugar. Most
OF the people are coionsals. colonial is
person who operates a small farm ard
who has his grinding done at the large
centrals. There is some tobacco raised IN
he district he
a great cattle centre. The total tax before
the war was SIS, 800 TO s20,000 per annum,
a little over one-half At present no
taxes can be collected. as there is no cur
rency of any account in the municipality.
The town has no telegraph or telephone.
There seems TO be no work whatever for
the people. Many of the people at the
date of the visit were starving. The mill
tary official who made the trip states that
he saw several families of from FIVE to
eight people who had not had a MOUTH ii
of food for two or three days, and he also
states that he saw one woman lying in bed
dying of starvation. The relief stores on
hand had been ordered distributed only TO
those who could show a certificate Of hav
ing gone to work. Food is very badly
needed at Cartagena. Before the war the
municipality had population of $500 peo-
pie. The death rate has been enormous,
reaching ten or twelve daily. At present
the deaths are about forty month The
first meat seen in the town for over
year was that brought by the United States
troops as portion of their rations while
passing through the district. The salaries
OF mayor and city clerk had not been paid
in forty months. There was no doctor in
the place when the town was visited. Dur
ing the recommendation 962 people died in
the town of starvation.
The present postmaster has held his po-
sition twenty years. When he was first
appointed Cartagena was a postoffice OF
the first class. 1t is now an office of the
fourth class. Only about twelve letters are
mailed and received each week The town
has three mails week. There is great
deal of brigandage along the western
boundary OF the province and it is espe-
cially prevalent along the Yaguaramas and
Corralillo districts. The country between
Cartagena and Santa Domingo is fine
grazing region during the dry season but
the land gets very boggy when the spring
rains commence.
The Province OF Santa C1ra is known as
the province of the five cities. 1t contains
twentyseven municipalities as follows:
Santa Clara, Esperanza, Ranchyleo, San
Juan de las Yeras, Calabazar, San Diego
del Vale, Cienfuegos Cruces PaImira
nando. Sagua La Grande, Santo Domingo,
Quemado de Gunes, CifHentes, Ceja de
Pablo, Redmics, Caibarien, Camajuani,
Vueltas, Placetas Jaguajay. Trinidad,
Santi Espiritu.
The population at the close of the first
war in 1878 was 2S6,76S. The census of
1887, nine years afterward, showed popu-
lation of 37S, ,461. The last census. that of
December 81, 1897, was taken three years
after the beginning of the last war and
shows a population of S31, ,126. In 1884,
previous TO the last war, there were SOC
sugar factories, 1865 stock farms, 1880
small farms and truck gardens and 16, 66l
householders who paid taxes.
OF live stock there was owned in the
province December 81, 1894. beef cattle
966, ,5S7; horses, 1926; mules, 1922; swine
34S. .0S9; sheep, S0,466. In addition to the
cattle raised for consumption the province
ordinarily raises large quantities for ex-
port, also steers which are used for work
cattle on the plantations The estimated
expenditure of money to run this province
for the fiscal year beginning June 80, 1898
and ending June 80, 1899, all of which has
been approved by the civil governor oi
Santa Clara, is 81 .012, ,ST5.76.