Evening star., 1902-01-18

as in the United States The elevation of
the standard--Uf education cannot but re-
suit In the Improvement of the qualifica-
tiens for good citizenship all over the is
land.
Sanitary Conditions.
1nasmuch as the soundness of the body
is universally considered essential to the
soundness Of the gmind, the work of the
health or sanitary department has been
perhaps the most remarkable and far
reaching in effect and Importance. Where
as Cuba was formerly considered one OF
the most unheaithfui localities in the
world its death rate will now compare IA
vorably with thati7of almost any state in
the American Union. Had the Americans
accomplished nothing more than the prac-
tical extinction of yellow fever. it would
seem that all that the island has cost in
pIood ana treasure had been entirely justi-
ned. In order to prove that this has been
uohe II is unnecessary to produce any
other evidence than a comparison of the
record OF deaths from this cause during
the year before the American occupation
Win lts Total of LIS. and that OF 1901 with
total OF .. tuberculosis has been re-
duced about one-half and malaria more
than one-third, thus showing that the most
common and fatal diseases heretofore ex-
is.ins are succumbng to modern methods
u treatment and sanitation. The latter
has included the determination of the vel
low 1eVer mosquito the fumigation of in
lecleo nouses the isola ton of all suspi
cious cases, the observance of rigid quar-
anime, the establishment of modern hos
pItals. and the regular and wholesale clean
ing OF the streets and alleys of the cities.
me old Spanish hospitals We're even more
loalnsome than the jaiis with the incom-
petehce OF nursing and medical treatment,
the uncieanliness of wards, and the con-
.ahiihallon or patients suffering from all
manner OF diseases. There are now ex-
senehe hospitals in every town or city OF
-,
stltutions for the treatment of contagious
diseases such as leprosy, smallpox and
sSafiee 1eVer, and asylums for the insane
ane pduper. the aged and nffrm, the blind
INT Tn thase eme asaf, and all other unfortunates.
II ~ these are employed graduate physicians
VI the very first rank and the very best of
trained nurses A contract has lust been
.S. III lie city of Havana for a sewerage
1va+a em T.; "nlch Will be complete and ade-
49, Nj III every particular, and this work
WIN pe continued In other towns and cities
Iia. ior hundreds Of years have been neg
iected IN this respect. This will practically
-p'e'e the great work of sanitation.
Railways and TeIegraphs.
"hen the time for American Withdrawal
from the island arrives it is believed that
'iie last link in the railroad which is to
connect the city of Havana will have been
iaio' tnus affordiug quicker and cheaper
means OF both freight and passenger trans
g I.,oh iiom one end of the island to
1nI ale other than was ever before obtainable
sIis raiiWay, built under the greatest diff
Iicuity IN obtaining rights of way, with
p,S puol 5aclIlties and unsatisfactory labor, has
already greatly enhanced the value of prom
erty ali along its course and must in time
prove 10 be of the greatest benefit to the
Suoan farmers and merchants. 1t will have
m prahches TO all parts of the island and with
the splendid electric railway service al
ieauy existing In Havana and contemplated
III otner cities, will render travel as pleas
ant ana as economical as in almost any
country on earth. In addition, there is now
sood telegraph service between all places
OF Importance, and the larger towns and
citleS nave modern telephone euupments
mere is very efficient weather bureau on
the Island, furnishing free information to
tne pubic and affording great protection
American inventions, especially machinery
ana farming implements, are now every
~here to be zseen, and American business
methods are being adopted in all depart
ments. So r
When In connection with all of these in
u1sputaple improvements the vast natural
resources of this magnificent island are
taken into consideration, the future OF Cuba
certainly seems most promising, and It is
hard to believe that she Is not soon to enter
upon an era Of prosperity unprecedented in
her long and varied history. But however
that may be, the American people need
nave neither fear nor hesitation in submit
tlng to the nations Of the earth the uues-
ton as to whether or not we have rendered
a good account Of our stewardship and ex-
tended helping instead Of a shifting hand
to the paralyzed queen Of the West Indies.
j. Med. MATHEWS.