The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-16
AMERICAN india.
Starvation and Suffering Ex-
isting in Porto Rico
Is Little Short of That in the
Orient in Its Intensity.
NO FOOD OR SHELTER.
People Could Not Work If They
Had Chance.
DeyOur RayenOusly Whatever
Is Given Them.

Correspondence Of Associated PressJ
San Juan de Porto Rico, Nay 10
William r Corwine, Of the Merchants
association OF New York has been ID
Porto Rico for several weeks to thor
oughly investigate the existing condi-
uons and TO use his judgment in recon-
mending to the central Porto Rican re-
lief committee how its surplus OF $4,000
could best be spent After few days
in this city he visited 1dayaguese, Ponce,
Arroyo, GuaymO, COamO, Cayeys AibOn-
ito. CaguaS and intermediate towns. He
Travelled on horseback into the heart OF
Ene country devastated by the hurricane
Of August last. His report TO the COM
mittee VIII recommend that a large part
Of the g, 900 be expended for an orphan
asylum at Ponce, the balance TO be pro-
poTuOnately distributed among the hos
pitals Of the various towns and to go
toward helping the destitute in the way
of providing proper cooking utensils,
etc
Ponce was selected BY Mr.. Corwine
as the site for the proposed orphan
asylum because OF the terrible havoc
wrought by the hurricane IN the vicinity
of the city and in Ponce itself. Damage
done by the storm on the southern side
of the island was greater than else
where. The heart OF the great storm
swept over the district and the coffee
plantations which gave employment TO
thousands Of persons. were destroyed
and as consequence many Of the pe0-
PIE have died of starvation through
want Of employment. In Ponce the
number that met death from the hurTI-
cane and from the flood exceeded
that of the other districts. therefore the
number Of children without parents is
greater Through the assOcia tiOns form
ed by their homeless existence in the
streets these children are liable to grow
up vicious. Tn establishment of an
orphan asylum would tend to better the
condition of the coming genera tlon.
would avoid sickness and would reduce
the mortality which would otherwise
follow The rainy season is about due.
and hundreds of poor, naked children
are exposed to the unWhOlesome night
air
Mr. Corwine made proposition to the
municipal authorities Of Ponce and vas
assured by the mayor. Jose GuseIIlan
/ Ren1tez. that the matter WOuld De IaN-
! orabIy voted upon by the city council
The central Porto Rican relief COM
mittee viii erect and equip the orphan
/ asylum on ground TO be donated oy the
city of Ponce The municipality IS 10
assume the financial responsibility OF
its maintenance and support Mr. Cor
wine will recommend that the building
I be constructed as cheaply as possible.
so as to accommodate greater number
4 of children. The asylum. as planned.
/ will be capable of caring for from 800
/ to 500 children and viii cost about S5,09os
/ of which sum 5000 probably VIII be ex-
/ pended for equipment The Ponce branch
/ of the Wcman's Aid society and the
/ Porto Rico Benevolent society have
/ promised to lend their aid and influence
/ After providing for the asylum about
| $50. 600 will remain on hand for distribu-
/ ton among the hospitals The island )
| smaller towns are badly OF financially.
Dozens have not a peso in their treas
| ury Small accounts. say $3.50 here and
$500 distributed among the smaller
towns Will accomplish q great deai
| toward replenishing the dispensaries-
There are many towns without even a
physician.
'sThe district around Yauco." said Mr.
COrwine to the correspondent Of the As
sociated Press, seems to have suffered
/ the most from the hurricane and the
people there exist among most deplOfa-
bic surroundings That town IS in the
center of the coffee district. and even
now, nine months after the hurricane,
the plantations are not cleaned up
saw trees which had been torn up by
the. roots still lying on the ground COW
ering crushed coffee trees. When vis-
/ tied the island few months before the
war 1 found the coffee industry badly
of but now it is worse. because the
plants are destroyed. This condition has
thrown hundreds of persons out OF
work. At Yauco I saw dozens camped
out in the open air: poor. thin wretches
without strength enough TO even rise u
to look at a passing stranger the W0-
men Ihin-Iimbed with emaciated faces