The times., 1899-04-15
DoDGED GOTHAM EGGS.
AiSer Slips In by Way of the Cnpes
Instead of New York.

va NtN IA.
secretary Alger got home from Cuba yes
terday afternoon. coming from Fort Mon
roe on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
His arrival at Fort Monroe was not IN ac
cord with plans made before the trans
port ingalls, cleared from San Juan. 1t
was the Secretary's intention to come TO
New York, and Mrs. Alger. acting on that
intent, went over to New York to help
give the Secretary hearty welcome home
She missed him altogether The Secre-
tary had scarcely reached town before Act
ing Secretary Meiklejohn went down the
river on little recreating cruise which
is TO last until Tuesday. He has had heavy
work and heavy responsibilities for the last
month
Secretary Alger looks much less worn
than he did on his departure The trip
did him good physically as well as men
tally. 1t considerably enlarged his views
OF Cuba and Porto Rico. He says the
troops are in splendid state of health
and that the Spanish left some OF the
finest barracks he ever saw. Troops at
home are not housed nearly so well as
they are in most Cuban cities. The Span
iards had good hospitals, too But bar
racks and hospitals had to be put in sani-
tary condition. Concrete floors had to be
laid, drainage improved. and various mod
ernizations brought about. The result is
wonderful improvement in conditions,
and during the rainy season the Secre-
tary hopes TO see few reports OF Illness.
He says the cleanliness of the various
towns after they came under American
regulations was so great surprise to the
people that there was hesltancy in accept
ing the new condition. but habits have
changed and the Cubans are falling into
sanitary ways very gracefully.
The permanent barracks being erected
to accommodate a regiment at Havana is
to be ready for use before the rainy season
is advanced. and there will be no sleeping
in tents. All the barracks in the islands
are high and dry
Secretary Alger says there are plenty of
troops in Cuba and in Porto Rico. He an
ticipates no trouble with the Cubans over
the question of army payment or Gomez's
aspirations. He heard of no presidential
bee in the Cuban generals bonnet, nor did
he see one.
Speaking of the object of the call of the
Cuban planters who are in Washington to
see the President, the Secretary said that
the money loaned them on mortgages was
loaned for three years. II was due April /.
There had been an extension of the time
by General Brooke to enable the committee
to see President Mckinley, the Secretary
said, and he had agreed with this post
ponement. No determination had been
reached as to what course would be pur-
sued. The whole matter was in the Presi-
dents hands. Various suggestions had
been made. but which one would be adopt
ed. the Secretary says. cannot be foretold.
There will be an effort to be Just TO all
interests.
Secretary Alger refused to discuss the
muster-out complaint OF Governor Lee, of
South Dakota which he had already read.
Devastated though it be, Secretary Al
ger says Cuba is great country and it has
great possibilities.
The Secretary had bad weather coming
home. The ingalls, was undergoing repairs
at New York when she WIS detailed ,or the
Secretary's trip. She had an old launch
for a lifeboat and her decks leaked. They
were very watery on the home passage. so
the Secretary ordered the ingalls, TO put
into Fort Monroe.