The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-11
THE SANITATION or CUBA.

THE SANITATION or CUDA.
Before Gen. Ludlow cleaned Havana just
a. Gen. Sanger cleaned Matansas, and ~
Gen. Wood cleaned Santiago, and - various
other American officers cleaned various
other Cuban cities, the municipalities OF that
island were In . deplorably unwholesome
condition. In that respect. however,
Cuban cities wore not unlike . very largo
number Of cities throughout the world 1t
Is even possible to-day to find municipali-
ties In the United States that are far from
being models OF cleanliness. A special
allowance must be made for Cuba at the
time Of American occupation. Three years
OF war had resulted in general municipal
disorganization. Municipal treasures we're
empty and had been empty for months.
Many officials had resigned their places,
and others had deserted them The af-
fairs OF every city In the island were in DIS
order and confusion. At no time COM
mendable, their condition on Jan. /. 1899,
was deplorable.
For many years Cuban cities had been
regarded by the American people as a seri-
Gus menace to the well-being Of the United
States The people Of our Southern cities
lived In constant dread Of an annual reour-
renee Of an epidemic Of yellow fever. OF
which Cuba was regarded as an active dis
tributtng centre. Expensive and annoying
systems OF quarantine were obligatory, and
even they were only partly effective Trade
conditions were disturbed, and the entire
problem had long been Q matter OF grave
concern to American authorities, both State
and national The Spanish American War
placed the responsibility for its solution and
the opportunity for it's correction entirely
in American hands, and the work was be-
gun almost coincidenty with Gen. ToraPs
surrender OF Santiago Province on July
II, 1893.
On the day before the surrender the Red
Cross relief steamer entered the harbor OF
Santiago. Among those on the ship was
Mr. George KEENAN,, the well-known author
and traveller. OF the condition OF the city
at that time, Mr.. KEENAN, says in his Cam
paigning in Cuba" that -the first impress
sion made upon the newcomer was one OF
dirt, disorder and neglect. II had always
had the reputation OF being the dirtiest
city in Cuba, and at the time OF its surren-
der it was at It's worst. In long and
tolerably varied experience in Russia, the
Caucasus, Asia Minor and European Turkey,
have never seen streets so filthy as in some
parts Of this Cuban city Yet its condi-
ton was probably no worse than might
have been expected after its experience as
the quarters Of besieged Spanish army
American brooms and shovels were
promptly set to work Results were 80
Immediately apparent that the correspond
ents with the army made prominent news
feature OF it, and endless encomiums we're
showered upon Gen. Wood as the Military
Governor Of the city Yet, without
minfying the work Of that officer. it
should be said and realized that the
work done by him in Santiago was done in
all the other cities of the district, in Man.
zanillo. in Bayamo, Holgrlin. Gibara, Guam
tanamo and Baracoa, with equal eff
cheney by men Of whom the public has rarely
If ever heard. Without taking any rightful
aurels from the brow OF Gen. Wood, his
Ave years Of exclusive use Of the entire stock
should be sufficient to justify fair distri-
button OF their proper share to those other
officers who SO justly deserve them. Ray.
and Petit, and Hood. and a dozen or so
others whose work has had no newspaper
advert Using are quite entitled to similar
il not TO equal claims on the stock OF laurel
leaves. and to public approval. Wood did
his work in Santiago. where it was seen
and commented on The Others did
theirs where few saw it and fewer said
anything about it.
Gen Francis V. Greene did the initial
work in the cleansing OF Havana, with an
appropriation Of $4,000 made for that pur-
pose by the authorities in Washington
This WAS during the autumn OF 1893. prior
to the American occupation Of that city
On Jan. /. 1890, Cen William Ludlow, for
merly of the Engineer Corps Of the United
States Army became Military Governor Of
Havana OF conditions at that time Gen
Ludlow says, in his official report The
regular service Of the city was practically
cleaning, al best q farce,
suspended No sanitary measures or
rules were in force, and the thronging
population--soldiers reconcentrados, ma
tives and citizens-used the streets or any
open place for deposit of refuse and filth
Of all kinds" Under Gen. Ludlow Surgeon
Ma jor J. q. Davis was placed in charge OF
the Department of Sanitary Inspection. and
Capt William l.. Geary Of the Second United
States Volunteer Engineers was placed in
charge Of the Street Cleaning Department
That which was done in Santiago by Gen.
Wood and in Havana by Gen Ludlow. was
done in Matanzas by Gen, Sanger; in Pinar
del Rio by Gen. Davis; in Puerto Principe
by Gen. Carpenter and begun in Cienfuegos
BY Gen Bates and continued under the COM
mand Of Gen. Wilson. who succeeded him
in the control Of Santa Clara Province.
The same may be said OF all the minor cities
in the provinces under the charge Of the
various department commanders. 1t may
seem to some pity TO deprive Gen. Wood
IF any portion of the exclusive renown that
proceeds from the erroneous Eelief that it
Is to him that Cuba owes her redemption
from a pest hole and her conversion into
health resort. but truth supports these
statements and Justice to others demands
hem. When Gen. Wood became Military
Governor of Cuba, in December, 1900 he
'ound the island cities and towns exactly
IA clean as they were when he left them