Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-14
What the Americans Have Accom-
pished in Cuba.
GEN. LUDLOW'S SYSTEMATIC EFFORT
Great Reduction in the Number of
Rations Required.
w O. MEN W o r K E r S
Copyright, 1900, by ]. D. Whelpley)
pecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HAVANA, March 10, 1900
The story of the relief work accom-
plished by the Americans for the people of
Havana and the surrounding country is a
reflex of the general effect of the American
occupation of Cuba in its physical aspects.
No who needed it has been refused
food from the day the Americans entered
Havana. The cost of this relief during the
first month was about $4,000. During the
month of January 1900-one year later-it
cost but $500 including the cost of admin
istration. Food has been distributed in the
form of rations. A single ration weighs
about one pound and a half, and costs the
government ten cents. 1t is composed of
bacon, cornmeal, sugar and rice, to which
is added, in case of illness. little milk.
The work has all been done under the
supervision of the American military
authorities but has been carried on by NJ.
r. Suarez, an Americanized Cuban, who
mites to a marked degree love of his own
people and practical conception of their
needs and deficiencies. The present per-
centage of paupersm in Havana is less
than in many of the cities of the old
world and possibly there are fewer cases
of real restitution, relative needs con-
Sidered, than there are in some of the cities
of the United States. Havana has a popu-
lation of about 225, 600 and there ara at
least $1,000 more in the suburbs who have
been included in the population of the city
in matters of charity.
The revolution, which began in 1895, in
augurated a trying period for those who
lived from hand to mouth for great
many of the supporting members of these
families left for the field. The war, with
its violence and long train of horrors. shook
the whole community to its very founda-
ton. A general paralysis of business fol-
lowed, people emigrated in great numbers,
prisons We're filled, and the rural inhabi-
tants were reconcentrated into towns. and
misery reigned everywhere. Many of the
weather. families lost their homes and
properties, thereby becoming bankrupt; the
poor became beggars, and the well-to-do,
after selling the remnants of their belong
ings, also became destitute
4 System Of Relief.
Such was the condition of affairs on the
first day of the American occupation of
Havana. Some 1900 to 10000 persons. of
both sexes and of all ages and conditions
in life, roamed around the city, either des-
titute, sick starving. 1t was then that
Gen. Ludlow ably seconded by Capt.
Greble. initiated a system of relief for the
destitute. and it can be said that the de-
partment commander. although at that
time overwhelmed with other pressing and
important duties. gave this work his most
earnest attention and support.
Emergency rations from the subsistence
department were issued for the immediate
relltI OF Une hungry. IN the meantime inc
various orphan asylums homes and other
charitable institutions were visited, and
their needs, as well as those of the outlying
rural districts, were ascertained and re-
ported On January %. 1879. the first gen
eral order issued. and the relief work
throughout the department was formally
established.
The general office of Cuban relief work
was first located at La Punta. and five
lief stations were established at various
points, the city being divided into five dis
tricts. Ratons We're also issued from tenn
pOrary stations by officers Of the army. The
destitute of the towns of Regla and GUIANA
bocoa We're relieved by the alcaldes of those
towns, to whom rations in bulk were sent
by wagon trains. The other outlying towns
in the department had their destitute and
sick cared for by officers specially detailed
for that work. and who were sent out at
stated periods in charge of wagon trains,
From January 16 1899. to June 20, 1899 a
monthly average of 100000 ations We're is
sued at cost Of about s21,OJO this amount
feeding about IS 526 families, composed of
about 1926 persons. The relief service
was not only useful in feeding the hungry,
but has been very important factor in
lowering the high rate of mortality shown
by statistics prevailing at the beginning
of lSg9. decrease OF over ~ per cent is
noticed in the mortality rate for December
1889. compared with that of January pre-
ceding.
BY July and August. 1899. the condition of
affairs had 50 materially changed that most
of the INDECENT had gained physical strength
and many of them had found work. There
fore, a movement was made toward getting
rid of some of the cases, and the number of
rations was cut down to $4,000 per month.
costing about $4,000 By September only
Il few men, who were either too old to
work or who were sick and had families to
support remained on the destitute list.
Women wEo were found TO be working
were dropped from the hist, but there still
remained number of destitute widows.
young women, girls and boys. Rations We're
further cut down to about 10000 per month,
charitable institutions and asylums in
cluded. Since October when this depart
ment began the purchase of rations from
funds appropriated for that purpose 10 Dc
cember 81, 1899, the expense of the depart
ment has been about. $500. AT The closing
of the relief stations in December the list
of destitute showed 32S male adults. old,
sick or unemployed: 2.226 female adults,
and 800 orphan children of both sexes,
aged from one to twelve years.
The Service ReOrganfzed.
To counterfeit the tendency among the in
digents to pauperization, which was becom-
ing developed owing to the length of time
they had been wholly dependent upon gov
eminent support and to oblige them to
seek some means of sef-suppOrt this de-
partment, on January ]. 1900. determined to
reorganize the service in such a manner
that only the really deserving cases should
be relieved. The work is now carried on in
this way: After thorough investigation
is made of each case. only the extremely
destitute ones are attended to. and all pos
sibility of misplaced charity carefully
avoided By this means the expense of the
department has been very materially de-
creased. amounting at present to about
81, 800 per MONTH all items included.
The question now being considered is the
disposition of the able-bodied destitute and
the widows and orphans, and permanent re-
lief for the old and infirm, and that class of
poor. weak creatures who are always de-
pendent upon the public. Orphan girls are
partially provided for by existing asylums,
and another large institution is soon to be
opened. AS yet no adequate provision has
been made for orphan boys. but 1t is under
stood that project for school of ample
capacity, similar to that to be opened for
girls, is being considered. Such an institu-
ton would be very much in order. as would
also the establishment of an almshouse
suitable for the needs of the chronic pau