New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-14
CLEANING UP MANILA.
Hoo Epidemics We're Pre0ented
from Spreading.

The Americanizing of Manila has been q
revelation to the Filipinos- Never did city
need cleaning worse, and no city was ever
cleaned more thoroughly. Between American
doctors anxious to prevent epidemic Of
plague, American sanitary commissioners who
eliminated open sewers and American road
builders eager for good highways between
these and others, Manila has been turned upside
down
Il was city Of sickening smells The sewers
in many parts ran in the centre OF narrow
street, and refuse from the houses on either
side was emptied into them. The smell from the
bitches was monstrous thing, but II was handy
and cheap having the drain there, and the
native does not mind smell Some Of them
even protested against any change. The idea
that smell was unhealthy, that ii might bring
the dread cholera, never entered their heads.
They were satisfied with the miserable old
paving which made some streets almost i'm
passabIe- The department OF public works now
employs nearly 1000 officers, mechanics and
l2bOreTs. They have widened some streets, raised
others by filling IL heavy stone, and now they
at work system OF parks, of which
Manila was sadly il need Indeed, the lack of
open air spaces. Fairgrounds for OLD and young.
was causing no little anxiety. The natives
take readily to games, but until recently they
have had no encouragement There are hun
dreds Of clerks and under officials in the govern
Dlent service who have little CO with their
spare time, and who have been crying for parks
The field in front OF the Luneta is being con-
verted into an open recreation ground Games Of
al sorts viii be permitted and there viii be
chIldren's piaygrC Ind modelled after those in
this city. a city park laid out with broad drives
and walks, aviary and geological reserve
are added attractions.
With the plague always present at Hong Kong
f is not strange that it should stalk the six
hundred miles to Manila II was discovered III
the last week of the year 1899, and increased
steadily until 1901, when the number Of cases
was 432- Then the fight began in earnest.
To the rats was laid the blame Of spreading
the disease Hundreds Of traps and many
pounds Of poison OF various sorts were distrib-
uted TO the people. reward was paid for
every rat killed Some sixty thousand we're
tagged and sent TO the government laboratory
for meteorological examination OF the forty
thousand examined with the microscope go
were found Injected with plague. The houses
from which the infected rats came were treated
Just IS we're those where the disease attacked
human occupants. During one month"; accord
ing TO Dean A. c. Worcester's report, 20 $40
traps were set and 403, 7o9 plates Of poison
placed by the rat catching squad Many houses
which were hopelessly unsauitaTy were burned
during the plague clean up and the cholera
scare which followed Il In each case the
owner was remunerated- Many Of the market
places were abandoned by order Of the authoTi-
ties until they could be rebuilt
As result the spread Of both epidemics was
prevented and the general health greatly i'm
proved The natives wonder at all this activity,
and. feeling secure in the possession Of their
charms against disease grumble q great deal
Il the disturbance of the house and the city
cleaning