New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-26
DISTRESS IN PUERTO RICO.
PESTILENCE APPEARS IN THE WAKE
OF FLOOD AND FAMINE.
EFFECTS OF THE HURRICANE STILL Sc
vERELY FELT. ALTHOUGH A GREAT
AMOUNT OF RELIEF WORK
Has BEEN DONE.
HAS BEEN DONE.

Washington. Dec 2j-The War Department
to-day made public a statement showing the
progress made in relief work in the island Of
Puerto Rico between September 25 and Novem-
Der 80. The population Of the island is est
mated at 91S 926 The average daily number
Of INDECENT was 221.0S7 persons; average weekly
sick 1882. and the average weekly deaths
632 persons The annual death rate was 81 in
1000 inhabitants while the normal rate Of
deaths was 26 in 1OOO inhabitants The in
creased mortality was confined TO the mountain
districts. where in some localities the death rate
increased 800 per cent. The amount OF cash
received for the relief Of the suffering people
Of the island up TO November 80 S1j,224.
The amount of money dsbursed up to the date
mentioned was $7417
Up to November 80 the total amount Of food
received to relieve the sufferers 1872 1SS
pounds. OF this 1654S316 pounds had been
issued up to November 30 The amount Of uns-
sued food on hand at San Juan on November 30
was 614272 pounds.
II was some weeks after the hurricane before
the mental and physical energies Of the stricken
people began to rally from the shock Of the dis
aster. They were without ready money, and
were brought face to face with starvation.
While the damage inflicted upon the people
along the coast Of the island was great it
in part Offset by the Improvement in the sugar
cane crop which was produced by the overflow
Of water on the cane lands The prospect of a
good crop enabled the planters to borrow money
with which to employ the necessary labor to
care for and harvest the crop.
The cities along the coast were also able 10
come to the rescue by the employment Of labor
to repair the damage inflicted by the storm. In
consequence Of these facts supplies have grad
ually been suspended in the lowlands, except in
limited quantities 10 the chronic poor
COFFEE PLANTATIONS DEVASTATED
The coffee plantations in the uplands.
Here the high winds swept everything in their
course leaving little or nothing for the thou
sands Of hungry, homeless and unclothed human
beings but their lives and what could be given
to prevent starvation. The prompt action of the
American people and ~ the people OF the island
all that prevented a terrible catastrophe.
The poor fed and their lives were pre-
served. Although a large part OF the island is no
longer receiving relief. the number Of INDECENT
people requiring assistance remains the same. II
Is believed that until February the demand for
assistance is likely to increase in the mountain
districts the plantans and bananas will not
be ripe for two months TO come. The worst dis
tress prevails in a locality where the greatest
difficulty is found in getting food to the starv-
ing
This area contains a population Of about
10000, and no wagon roads are TO be found in
any direction over which food can be trans
ported All food is carried the backs Of horses.
OF this population ZiN,OW people must be fed
or they will starve If not fed at home they
will migrate TO the cities. leaving the weak 10
die Their work will be left undone and their
future will be hopeless
EPIDEMIC OF DISEASE FEARED.
Pestilence which frequently follows food and
famine has appeared among the unfortunate
inhabitants in the mountain districts, and
number of people have perished. 1t is feared
that the epidemic will spread TO the coast should
there be a general NOV ement Of the mountain
people in that direction. 4 movement Of this
kind has already been anticipated. and is being
successfully controlled. But the relief must be
continued freely in the mountain districts for all
Of December and the greater part Of January.
II IS estimated that not less than ZOOo ad-
ditional tons Of food will be required. Four
sevenths Of this amount should be Of rice, two
sevenths should be Of beans and the remainder
should be either Goldfish or bacon. With the food
already issued and now hand. and with the
2GO0 tons required in addition to that already
issued the total issue will be 20 ~ pounds.
In dealing with the INDECENT able bodied men
have been required 10 work for the food they
received and a great deal Of public work has
been done in the way Of cleaning towns. repair
ing roads etc. A plan has been devised between
the Board Of Charities and the needy planters
and their servants 10y which the Board furnishes
food 70 the planters for the number Of servants
in their families IN return for this aid the
planters sign an agreement 10 furnish small
parcel of land and hut 10 each family, which
land they are 70 see prepared and seeded with
food plants. The planters are also 20 see that
the Iaborers and their families supplied with
the food issued and that the laborer perform a
full DAVIS work in return. The planters further
agree TO furnish transportation Of the food.