The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-25
SCRANTON CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL S
SCRANTON, PA.
I. ]. Foster, President. Elmer H. laval, Treas,
R. j. Foster Stanley P, Allen.
Vice President Secretary.

| time, the report for 1901 will show only five
fatalities due to this source.
havana was not only favorite haunt of yell
low fever, but OF numerous other diseases as
well. tuberculosis claimed 5000 victims during
the last year of Spanish rule. This meant seven
out OF every thousand OF the population 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 rcaped
harvest of death that was simply dreadful. I'm
der American rule the mortality for consumption
has been reduced by nearly one.haf, and the
deaths from fevers TO less than one-thrd what
they were formerly.
The total death rate Of Havana has been re-
duced from ol 10 "a These 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 GER
tany made remarkable showing and have every
reason to feel proud of their accomplishment.
Only those who went through this campaign can
have the slightest idea OF what it meant. When
they began the task OF giving dirty, tiltll.ridden
Havana the first thorough bath it had ever re-
ceyed in its entire history, the musty old town
made a very wry face. The people had never
heard of such notions. They said the whole thing
was outlandish and complained bitterly against
that which they considered Il trespass on their
privacy and domestic rights. But dutiful
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.
The Engineering department worked hand and
glove with the Sanitary commission and has ac-
complished results equally as wonderful While
the sanitary forces looked after the dwellings, the
Engineering department. devoted its energies TO
the renovation and improvement of the public
buildings parks streets, prisons tortifcatons,
etc. A description of the Dad repair OF one
building will apply equally to all. Every one
was in dreadful state OF unceanlineSs. There
was no sanitation attempted, and ii any plumb
ing existed at all, it was of an out-of-date pat
tern and in bad repair
When sewers were found-which was seldom
they We're constructed OF porous masonry and
We're generally clogged up, so that instead Of
carrying of the refuse as intended they merely
acted rs cesspools to retain it, Few roofs We're
found that would shed heavy rainfall perfectly.
All OF these public buildings have been thor
oughly Ovcrhaued and brought up to a modern
standard Of equipment. Rigid rules of order and
cleanliness have heen enforced, and the institu-
tions OF the island, instead OF being Ieproach,
would now do credit TO any country.
The parks Of the city of Havana were formerly
OF no practical use to the public. They were
generally incloscd by fences on tho prctcnse OF
the flowers As matter of fact lit
tie attention was devoted TO The culture Of any
hing but vegetables, which The keepers sold and
confiscated the funds. One of the first things the
American military governor did was 10 serve mo-
tce on these thievng officials that ii they wanted
10 follow gardening they had better move TO the
country, ami they, with one accord took to tic
tall timber. A wonderful change has been
wrought in the appearance Of the city in this re-
speet. The fences have all been removed, walks
laid out seats installed and they are now sery'
ing the purpose for which they were intended.
Aside from the parks the most visible evidence
OF improvement under the American adminisra-
tion IL, naturally, the streets. Under Spanish
rule, there was no attention paid 10 repairing
the thoroughfares nor cleaning or sprinkling
them. That they were wretehed goes without
the saying. The American engineers have put
down 100 miles Of modern paving in Havana
alone. They have put in order hundreds vi
blocks that were ont OF repair They have es-
teblished stations along the coast where water
can be procured or sprinkling purposes, sea
water being the best for this use. They have in
augurated system for the collection OF gar
bage that renders its services 10 10000 houses
every twenty-iour hours
Ono OF the principal features OF the "Nankee
i2ation" OF Havana has been the introduction Of
electric cars There were formerly about six
miles of track in The capital, but the equipment
Onsisting of little, hobtailed cars and scrawny,
mules. did not combine to make a
service worthy of enthusiastic mention. When
The track was heightened ont 10 twenty-four
miles and Wizard Edison's big electric flyers
lut on, all OF Hayanas 10000 inhabitants wanted
10 ride at once.