New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-08
THE OUTLOOK IN CUBA.
1oRrFr p. PoRTER's REPORT ON PROG
RTss IN RESTORING ORDER IN
THE ISLAND.

THE roRcrBLr INTRODUCTION OF SANITARY
REroRMs-THE QUESTION OF TAXES
GOOD ROADS NEEDED.
Washington. Feb. CspeciaD.-The Secretary OF
the Treasury has received an instructive ana vaIu-
able report upon the commercial snd Industrial out
look in Cuba from Special Commissioner kooer'
p Porter who has been almost continuously IN
the island in an official capacity since hosun''es
were suspended ,,
VI porter saws that a visit 10 Santiago should
rive relief 10 those suffering from "the craven fear
OF being great" for there may be found muoh 'ha'
is encouraging In this province OF CUBA remarks
Mr. Porter. may be seen In fun operation INC
work which the Government OF the United states
has been impelled 10 undertake. Here 100 may
no studied the character Of tho forces upon wnlch
the poop.e of the United States must rely IN inc
work Of reconstruction now in progress. A"o
machinery OF government he says, Is running WIN
n fair degree OF smoothness and the men Response
HE for H. from the humblest official TO the capaole
commander Of the province understand their DUST
ness and are masters Of tho situation II is
striking Illustration. continues Mr.. Porter OF the
marvellous adaptablity OF the American CHARACTER
Every department OF the public service Is car'yins
on its work the only difference apparent neins 'ne
absence OF Spanish soldiers and the more o"s'n7
like methods OF the officials
The dlsaSreoable smells OF the typical CUBAN
city are less pronounced In Santiago. While whlle-
wash limcwesh. fresh paint and all sor's Oh u''
tnfectants have deodo.ized the surrounding AT
1nosphere and made the oa town habltabie' 4"o
streets are no longer used sewers. ana the u"-
baDnx Individual who violates the law and escapes
the lash OF the sanitarian's whip is compelled 70
work on the streets for thirty days Tnis oHciAl'
Major George Nj Barbour. with Jos men dressed III
spotless white and thirty-tWp good untea states
mule teams and carts. having dug out lro'" vac
streets Of Santiago the nth OF ages, Is now aple
obs
aid n that great disinfectant' petroleum. the gar
baee OF the city is burned
SANITATION BY FORCE.
The work Of sanitation IS not confined to the
streets but extends to tho dv ellinghouses, shops
and buildings Of all kinds Indeed the campaign
aga ms dirt disease has been as sharp ana not as
the charge on san Juan Hill and as productive OF
beneficial results The resistance. Mt Porter says
on to part of the native population is even moro
stubborn than that OF the Spanish soldiers 10 tho
American forces around Santiago. The doors oi
hopses had 70 be smashed in; people making sewers
az tie thoroughfares were publicly horseWh ipped III
the streets Of Santiago: eminenty respec'aDie ci"
zens we're forciby brought before the 'o'h'nAn"'"6
General and sentenced 70 aid in cleaning the streets
Tho, were IN the habit Of defling. The campaign
ended in complete surrender ~ the SANITARY
auf HOTTIES and the iahamients or santiago re-
gardless Of class have had their nrst OBJECT iesSoh
in the new order Of things introduced by the war
santiago IN July. and comparing 1t with tho more
bonaf,l condition existing ali sides at the pres
on moment Mr. Porter says 1t is easy to discern
the omens which point TO the coming prosperity
Of the whole island under intelligent ana honest
government 49,
Under Najor-G General Wood, in addition 10 mo
,ronroyed sanitary conditions. several important
,ho~ouc hfares have been repaved. All OF the pun
lie hl ldines have been thoroughly cleaned ana put
,n sood order. the work even extending to the large
o,ora house The law courts. which were aooi-
ished have been reorganized Inc court Is co"'-
posed Of carefully selected Cuoan JUDGES 'he ep
nointeos nominated wholly on account or legal AZ
-,o,ts tho bar associations OF the province
na,,ne heen consulted to the character ana
qualifications OF the new judges Local soNeiI-
,ro1, has been restored. native mayors and ON
Gals have been appointed. the only requirement
beinE that persons accepting such oNF'es ""'''u
,,to tho oath recognizing the military occupancy
- .to island nv the United States. but in no way
committing them to any future form or govern
mont The wisdom Of this action cannot w
,,h,aa and the moral effect upon the people OF
Cuba will be far reaching
TEXAS UNDER SPANISH RULE.
-,e snanish. when in possession of Cuba. as
,,.,e5 absolute control not only Of the judiciary
80, also Of the municipal government the larger
or,,on Of the taxes raised for municipal purposes
hing diverted. with the other revenues ei'her 10
60 or into Spanish pockets. II VII be even
r-sate- stroke Of wisdom. says Dir. Porter il lese
,.~es are hereafter used exclusively Tor local pur-
- and as far az may be deemed pracucaDe'
aouec,eo and dsbursed by properly constituted
TO, authorities In his opinion there could ne no
ssr expendture Of local revenue Tor several year
,ho, unon the streets and sewers OF the cues ana
i've ~ Cuba For years the money when shoulu
~. been used for these purposes has been oralhed
-, 20 spain and all local improvements shame-
fulv neglected. The rural districts OF sahuaso nc
cha have been 20 depleted that 1t Will be impos-
.,hle N collect taxes over and above those needed
tor the hare necessities of schools for the poor and
POSSIBLY small sums TO improve INTERPRETATIONS
The dawn OF prosperity should be the sigma! Iof
Machining systematic work on the public roaoS'
The Province OF Santiago de Cuba IS similar IN
Veographical and geological structure TO the island
Of Jamaica. where the good main and parochal
,oads have been the principal stay OF the popula-
ton
jamaica Mr.. Porter says. has upward OF TWO
thousand miles q good roads. The British ADMIN
Iteration amends on an average annually for ROADS
On Jamaica about 100000 Without underesti-
mating the strategical importance of central rail-
tyav from east 20 west IN Cuba, tho immediate re-
turns 10 the population OF good roads would % far
IN excess Of the more pretentious enterprise The
money thus expended. whether from tho local
funds OF the island or from the local budgets.
would como back a hundred-fold. and make San