Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1902-08-13
WHAT UNCLE,SAM HAS GONE
FOR CUBA IN FOUR YEARS.
From the Time the Military Govern
ment Was Established. Is3S 10
1902, Their Entire Government
Was Organixed-CIenr 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 1S, 1898. until May,
1902.
At the close of hostilities in Cuba,
1t is stated, the country was In a state
of devastation and ruin, both in its
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 sufii
cient revenues for the immediate needs
and which might be developed into a
stable and lasting system.
Sixteen custom houses were estab
lished, 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 a gradual reduction of
til April /, 1901, when these duties
were entirely abandoned.
Postoffices were opened throughout
the island and native postmasters were
appointed. More than 300 postofIices
were established.
There was established department
of finance, presided over by general
treasurer, and six provincial treasur.
ers. one for each province. Subse
quently these provinces were redis.
tricted 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-municipa schools, hos.
pitfalls. public works: fostering indus.
tries, and stocking farms and planta
tions. 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.
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 sanitary measure the streets
of many of the cities we're 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 $55, $40 900, the remainder having
been turned over to the republic Of
The total revenue from all sources
collected during the occupation was
$57, 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
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
were 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, $11,-
105,83S; rural guard and administra'
tion, $5,547,645; agriculture, industry
and commerce, $1,129.545; barracks
and quarters. $2,542,642; public build
ings, works, ports and harbors, $5.-
595,550; charities and hospitals. $4,-
128,057; 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
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 sani-
tation measures have prevailed. The
death rate prior to this time had been
as high as 80 and 80 in the thousand
but decreased to less than 23 In 1000;
and during the season just passed,
when yellow fever was formerly at its
height, Havana was entirely free from
this epidemic.
All branches OF the government were
organized and had been gradually put
into the hands of native officers who
had been associated in the respective
departments with American admin
strators, whereby opportunity was
given for a full understanding Of our
methods OF government.
The former assistant auditor under
the American administration became