The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-15
bon BONS
That Uncle Sam Threw In the
Lap Of Miss Cuba.

Lap OF MISS NuDds
| Washington, August 10.-The bureau
}of inslIlar affairs OF the War Depart
Iment has prepared q statement sh~~ing
what the United States accomplished
tduring the occupation OF Cuba from the
time the military government was es-
ltablished, July Is, 1895, until May 10.
1902. At the close OF hostilities In
Cuba it Is stated the country was In
state of devastation and ruin, both as 70
its political organic alton as we'll as its
industrial condition Without pre-
leedent to guide. and many OF them
without previous experience in state
n.irs, the officers OF the United States
army at once undertook to set up q form
lof government which would provide
sufficient revenues for the immediate
needs. aud which might be developed
into . stable aad lasting system,
4 Sixteen custom houses were estab-
alished, one At the chief port, Havana,
and others at the principal SUPPORTS OF
the island, and tariffs were put in force.
1.-The principal changes in the tariff have
(been the gradual reduction OF duties on
exports from time TO time, until April
III, 1851, when these duties were entirely
al,olished.
Postodices were opened throughout
the island, and native postmasters were
Iappofnted. More than 300 postOffices
lestablished.
Other improvements.
There was established q department
of finance, presided over by general
|, treasurer and six provincial treasurers,
lone for each province. Subsequently
these provinces were redistricted and
formed into eleven so-cslled fiscal zones.
These officers conducted the assessment
and collection of conveyance, inherit
ance, commercial and Industrial taxes,
and administered internal affairs
municipal schools, hospitals public
works, fostering industries, and stock
log farms and plantations.
Thousands of brood cattle and horses
were purchased and resold to the ma
tives on easy terms, enabling them TO
resume work which would not other
wise have been possible.
The number of school housee provid-
ed nearly equal those in this country
for q corresponding area.
There was constructed q telegraph
Iliue connecting with the principal cities
Through the island. and maintained by
the United States Signal Corps.
Public roads were opened throughout
the island, which, together with the
construction and repair Of bridges, have
been of invaluable benefit to the in
habitants.
As sanitary measure the streets OF
many Of the cities were paved, and ex-
tensive systems of sewerage construct
ed.
The harbors Of the island were great
lily improved; an admirable system OF
buoys and beacons vas established, gov
ernment warehouses and docks were re-
lpaired and constructed, and regulations
CONFORMING to those in vogue in this
country governing the hsrbors OF the
. island were established.
Revenues and Expenditures.
The total revenues from all sources
Icollected during the occupation was
ISL, 200, 900 and the expenditures there
from s55, SIC. 600, the remainder having
been turned over to the republic o
lCuba at the time of the withdrawal o.
United States authority, May l9, 1902
A feature of the expense account ir
Cuba was occasioned by the condition
of the various municipalities, all o
which showed large deficits In theil
Iannual budgets. In the fiscal year o
1899 more than one million dollars Wa
lcontributed to defray these deficits ant
thereafter the schools, police and
municipal hospitals and charities were
maintained almost entirely at the ex
= pense of the insular government. Thi
condition has been very largely over
come, and the majority OF the munich
palities are now self-sustaining.
The following shows some Of the ex
q penditures made from Cuba revenues
justice and public instruction, Gil. .l05,
s3s; rural guard and administration
o, 247, ,6S5; agriculture, industry. AM
commerce, 81. l29, 535;. barracks ant
quarters, q, ,6S2; public buildings
works, ports, and hsrbors, s., ,955, ,39O
,charities and hospitals, "a, 12s, ,O57; sani
tation %, 703, 457.
Sanitary Conditions.
Il The buildings selected for barrack
( and quarters for the army were use
s only temporarily by the troops, an
when put In thorough repair and goo
( sanitary condition were turned over t
the municipalities as hospitals. Man
of the most completely appointed no:
( pitals in the island have been fitted ou
( in this way.
That the administration Of the depar
: ment of sanitation was judicious an
} thorough in its results Is apparent in tn
} large decrease of the death rate in th
island since modern sanitary measure
( have prevailed. The death rate prit
{ Ito shis time had been as high as eight
or ninety Ia the thousand, but decrea
ed 10 less than twenty-three in or
thousand; and during the season ju
\ Dassed. when yellow fever was forme
Sliv at its height, Havana was entire
, free from this epidemic. The marir
tlona.antine conducted by the Unite