Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-08-16
WHAT UNCLE sam HAS DONE
FOR CUBA IN FOUR YEARS.
From the Thine the Military Govern
ment Was Established. 1898 to
1902, Their Entire Government
was observation-disclosures Titles Are
Passed to Cuban Republic.

ment has prepared statement show
| ing what the United States achieved
during the occupation of Cuba from
| the time the military government was
established, July 10, 1898, until May,
1902.
At the close of hostilities in Cuba
II is stated, the country was in a state
Of devastation and ruin, both in its
/ poitical organization and in it's indus
trial condition. Without precedent to
guide, and many of them without pre-
/ yious 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-
| Gent revenues for the immediate needs
and which might be developed into
stable and lasting system.
Sixteen custom houses were estab-
Hshed, 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 gradual reduction of
q duties on export from time to time I'M
4 I'll April 1, 1901, when these duties
we're entirely abandoned.
Postoff1ces were opened throughout
The island and native postmasters were
8ppointed. More than 300 postoffices
we're 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 redis-
4 trcted and formed into II 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
1 otherwise have been possible.
} The number of school houses pro-
I vided nearly equal lnose in this coun-
try for 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-
| hshed, 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 $55, 100000, the remainder havino
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
feature Of the expense account in
Cuba was occasioned by the condition
Of the various municipalities, all of
/ which showed large deficits in their
1 annual budgets. In the fiscal year
1899, more than one million dollars
was contributed to defray these defic-
Its, and thereafter the schools, police
and municipal hospitals and charities
We're maintained entirely at the ex,
pense of the insular government. This
condition has been largely overcome.
and the majority of the municipalities
are now self sustaining.
The following shows some of these
expenditures made from Cuban reve-
nues:
Justice and public instruction, SILL
l05, 1888; rural guard and administra-
ton, $5,547,645 agriculture, industry
and commerce, $1,129, 545; barracks
and quarters, $2,542,642; public build
lngs, works, ports and harbors, S.
o95,550; charities and hospitals, $4,-
l2S,O57; sanitation, $9,953,457.
The buildings selected for barracks
and quarters for the army were used
only temporarily by the troops, and
When put in thorough repair and good
sanitary condition were turned over
TO the municipalities as hospitals.
Many of the most completely appoint
ed hospitals in the island have been
ntted 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