The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-22
THE CHARACTERIZATION" OF CUBA
How Spanish Neglect and MsruIe Have Been
Overcome---YelloW Fever Checked and
Streets, Parks and Sewers Reno
vated---Havana Model City.

them in place. Inspectors made the
rounds at frequent intervals to see that
the precautions were being observed.
Every building in the city was given
number and entered in book at head
quarters. The reports Of the inspectors
were entered in this book. This system
gave the commission perfect record of
the condition of every house in the city,
and those who could afford it, and failed
to keep the regulations, had to defray the
expense Of the work being done by the
agents of the organization. If the fever
ragged in certain quarter, the energies OF
the force were conferred on that locality.
First the patient would be removed to the
fever hospital. Then all the furniture
and effects would be carried away to the
disinfecting plant and thoroughly fumi-
gated. The premises were gone over
carefully and completely cleansed
Such heroic measures soon began to
make a showing in favor of the commits
sion. It's efforts were redoubled and fhe
mortality from this dread destroyer was
gradually reduced until last November
due to it. This cannot be said of any
preceding November for 140 years. Under
Spanish rule the death rate from
this source ran as high as 262 persons
monthly. From a Spanish record Of LIS
deaths in Havana in twelve months time,
the report for 1901 will show only FIVE
fatalities due to this source.
= How the Death Rate Has Fallen.
Havana was not only a favorite haunt
of yellow fever, but of numerous other
diseases as well. Tuberculosis claimed
5000 victims during the last year of Span
ish rule. This meant seven out of every
thousand of the population. Think Of it.
And the mortality from this source ran
equally as high for ten years prior to
the coming Of the Americans. Typhoid
and malaria fevers, of the most malignant
form, abounded also and reaped harvest
OF death that was simply dreadful. I'm
der American rule the mortality for con-
sumption has been reduced by nearly
one half, and the deaths from fevers to
less than one-third what they were form
ally
The total death rate of Havana has been
reduced from 81 to "a. Szese figures tell
more eloquent story than words can
convey. They compare favorably with the
most sanitary cities of the world. The
authorities in Cuba have certainly made a
remarkable showing and have every rea-
son to feel proud Of their accomplishment.
Only those who went through this cam
paign can have the slightest idea of what
it meant. When they began the task Of
giving dirty, flth-ridden Havana the first
thorough bath it mad ever received in
its entire history, the musty old town
made very wry face. The people had
never heard of such, notions They said
the whole thing was outlandish, and COM
planned bitterly against that which they
considered a trespass on their privacy
and domestic rights. But no dutifuI
mother ever stops rubbing because her
baby cries, and in the case. of Havana,
the child is clean and happy and smiling
after the job is done.
Engineering Problems Also.
The engineering department. worked
hand and glove with the sanitary commits
sion and has accomplished results equally
as wonderful While the sanitary forces
looked after the dwellings,, the engineer
ing department devoted it's energies to the
renovation and improvement of the public
buildings. parks, streets, prisons. fortifi-
cations, etc. A description of the bad
repair of one building will apply equally
TO all. Every one was in dreadful state
of uncleanliness. There was no sanitation
attempted, and II any, plumbing existed
at all 1t was of an out-of-date pattern
and in bad repair. When sewers were
found-which was seldom-they were con-
structed Of porus masonry and were gen
orally clogged UP, SO that instead of car
ry1ng off the refuse as intended, thew
merely acted as cesspoeIs to retain If.
Few roofs were found that would shed a
heavy rainfall perfectly. All of these
public buildings have been thoroughly
5overhauled and brought up to a modern
standard Of equipment. Rigid rules Of
order and cleanliness have been enforced.
and the institutions of the island, instead