The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-08-16
WHAT UNCLE SAM HAS DONE
FOR CUBA IN FOUR YEARS,
From the Time the Military Govern
meat Mas Established, Isas 20
1000, Their EntIre Government
Was Organiued-CIear TITLES Are
Passed TO Cuban Republic.

Washington. Aug. 12.-The bureau
Of insular AFFAIRS of the war depart
ment has prepared a statement show
Ing what the United States achieved |
during the occupation of Cuba from
the time the military government was
established. July IS. 1898, until May.
1909.
At the close OF hostilities In Cuba,
Il is stated, the country was in a state
Of devastation and ruin, both in It's
political organization and in its indus
trial condition. Without precedent to
guide. and many OF them without pre-
vious experience in state affairs, the
officers of the United States army at
once undertook to set up a form of
government which would provide suffi-
cient revenues for the immediate needs
and which might be developed into a
stable and lasting system.
Sixteen custom houses were estab-
llshed, one at the chief port, Havana,
and one at the principal supports OF
the island. and tariffs were put In
force. The principal changes in the
tariff have been q gradual reduction of
duties on export from time to time un-
til April l, 1901. when these duties
were entirely abandoned.
Postoffices were opened throughout
the island and native postmasters were
appointed. More than 300 postofhces
were established.
There was established a department
Of finance. presided over by a general
treasurer. and six provincial treasur.
ers, one for each province. Suisse
quently these provinces were redls-
tricted and formed into IL so-called
fiscal zones These officers conducted
the assessment and collection OF con
veyance, Inheritance, commercial and
Industrial taxes, and administered In
ternal affairs-municipal schools. hos
pitfalls, public works: fostering indus
tries, and stocking farms and planta
tons. Thousands OF brood cattle and
horses were purchased and resold to
the natives on easy terms. enabling
them to resume work which would not
otherwise have been possible.
The number OF school houses pro
vided nearly equal tnose in this coun-
try for a corresponding area
There was constructed a telegraph
line connecting with the principal cit.
les throughout the island and main
tanned by the United States signal
corps.
Public roads were opened through
out the island which. together with
the construction and repair OF bridges.
have been OF incalculable benefit to
the inhabitants.
AS a sanitary measure the streets
OF many Of the cities were paved and
extensive systems OF sewerage con.
structed.
The harbors Of the island were
greatly improved, an admirable sys
TEN OF buoys and beacons was estab.
lished, government warehouses and
docks were repaired and constructed.
and regulations, conforming TO those
In vogue In this country. governing the
harbors OF the island were established.
from SIS $40 900. the remainder having
been turned over to the republic OF
The total revenue from all sources
collected during the occupation was
S57 200 900, and the expenditures there,
A feature Of the expense account in
Cuba was occasioned by the condition
Of the various municipalities. all OF
which showed large deficits In their
b annual budgets. In the fiscal year
1899. more than one million dollars
p was contributed to defray these defc
It's, and thereafter the schools, police
and municipal hospitals and charities
7 were maintained entirely at the ex
, pense Of the lnsular government. This
, condition has been largely overcome
and the majority of the municipalities
+ are now self sustaining.
The following shows some Of these
2 expenditures made from Cuban reve
D nues:
:. Justice and public instruction, Si1.
e 105 1898; rural guard and administra
I ton, s5,547.645; agriculture, industry
5 and commerce, s1.129.545: barracks
and quarters, $2.542,642; public build
lngs, works. ports and harbors. s..
595550: charities and hospitals, 81.
128.057; sanitation, S9.953.457
The buildings selected for barracks
7 and quarters for the army were used
. only temporarily by the troops. and
7 when put in thorough repair and good
= sanitary condition we're turned over
to the municipalities as hospitals
J Many Of the most completely appoint
: ed hospitals in the island have been
fitted out in this way.
That the administration Of the de
partment Of sanitation was judicious
and thorough in its results is appar
ent in the large decrease Of the death
rate in the island since modern SAM
q tatlon measures have prevailed. The