The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-20
case of many of the most reeking, odor

case of many of the most reeking, odor-
GUS piles of filth.
Petroleum, of which quite a stock
was found in the city, was poured into
the cutters all about the city, and. In
fact, the entire surface of some streets
were drenched with 1t and set on fire
a very effective and purifying method.
Dwellings and outbuiidings wherein
dead humans were found were entered,
aud the bodies. often most loathsOmc,
were drenched with chloride, rolled in
to an old blanket or bag bundled ont
and piled on the cart, and, when load
of four or five of such had been col
lecteG, were then hauled to a field
where a pyre of old railway rails had
been arranged, and when thirty or so
bodies were carted up on that frame.
work. firewood was piled on. petro-
leum was literally applied and al! were
cremated.
Doses Of poison were attractively
prepared for the great iroves of dogs
(Which were really very dangerous and
bold), and their overwhelming numbers
! were quickly decreased and With them
! and the dead mules ami nth piles also
Went their constant shadOws-tha
| loathsOme buZzards. Dogs are very
| few in Santiago now and buzzards are
no more seen in the streets. And SD
| the good work went on. Soon the
| foul stencil of the countless sickeninS
| OdOrs passed away. the air became
| fairly wholesome and bIeathable. The
| frightfui dcath-rate quickly ceased; thA
| regular annual scourge of yellow fever,
, demanding its thousands of victims,
| failed to appear: the good citizens re.
| turned from their hiding places; wo-
| men began to appear on the streets
| (somewhat timidly at firsO: the pret-
| ~ Plaza des Armes was neatly clean.
cd; the American ragimental band
| gave evening music to The people, and
peace. order, cleanliness and health at
| last surely prevailed, and does to this
day.
But when the streets were finally
cleaned to a fairly respectable cOndi.
| ton another task was found confront
ing and urgently requiring prompt at
| tention.
| SPANISH CLEANLINESS.
The Spanish idea of such private de-
| cencies is certainly strange. From the
condition of these matters as found
here their ideas Of cleanliness. decency.
niodesty and health was far lower and
NOR disgusting. from the general;
standpoint of civilized people, than
ever found among any tribe of Indians
in America. know the Anne rican In
dian we'll and am prepared to debate
any question Of their habits.
Having no sewers. nothing whatever
to such purpose. all families and bust
ness places had to throw all their
water slops and refuse into the streets.
From a long established custom this
WIS. and is. done at night ut pres
ent fully 10000 gallons daily, or night
ly, are thus disposed OF. II is certainly
very bad for the streets and for the
gullies wherein ii finally settles. But
it's dangers as source for disease and
in causing bad Odors are now con-
stantly and effectually disposed Of by
the street sprinklers. using chemically
charged water and by trr special dis.
injecting carts which constantly <"
about dronching the street cutters with
preparations Of chlorideH and carbol-
les and no vile odor is noticeable.
In clearing the yards and vaults Cor
dering the tenants to do SOY. 1t first was
bitterly resented by many. and. in fact,
was agreeable to but very few The
order was generally regarded as an
intrusion on the personal rights--their
sacred homes!
INTERFERENCE"
Said a prominent merchant to ma
one time: "YOu Americans are very
queer: l do not understand you. You
are proud of your liberty and right to
do as you please. yet here you come ia
me. walk into my place and tell me
must clean my yard and sidewalk
and how and when I must do it, Why
the Spaniards never would dare dc
such a thing. But it is good order
and I will obey it," And he did.
Said another, Cuban captain, whose
modest house and the long narrow in
terror patio in the rear. were all found
reeking with vast accumulation OF
the filth OF many years. and where
the many vile odors We're almost un-
bearable. when he was visited and Or
dereu to clean the place: what" said
he, immensely angry and amazed
"What, you come into my house and
order me what shall do iE my house
tell you this is all mine. Here my
|
er owned and lived. Here was born
Here my wife and her brother and
my sister al! live We are very we'll
we are never sick. like this smell
If the neighbors all around like it no,
they can go away. Here I stay. &c
out Of my house! Go quickly. Ameri
can liberty! BAH"
|, ENFORCING ORDERS.
But he finally cleaned his house (ant
cleaned II mighty clean, too. and hi.
: wife and the able brother and sister
helped energetically, but it required
very lively episode Of fists and whip.
to beat it into his Observation-Disclosures
the order was for the good of the peo
: Pile! and must be promptly obeyed: anC
there were many other very simila
cases--maybe S0--where the whip ant
force had to be used to win the argu
. ment, There were no police courts her,
in those eventful days to sustain anC
{ enforce such civic orders, no "$5 ant
COSTS no precedents, and no law O
: such purpose known of by them.
. And it transpired that for SOM
months was somewhat of combina
tion of the duties Of the inspector. tn
l law, the order and the cnforcer. 1t il
2 all very different now and the houses
of all are clean. The law and its goo;
purpose, and it's true benefits to all. Il
now visible and is understood. and
/. believe the efforts excrted In those day
l is sincerely appreciated and valued b!
l all citizens Of Santiago and by all ma