The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-07-25
HOW UNCLE SAM PROVIDES
FOR BIG LEPER POPULATION
Victims of the Worst of Human Diseases Are Kidnapped
and Carried to One of the Philippine Islands, Set Aside
for This Use Alone Never to Leave Again.
by A. H. ULM.

man to escape perpetual incarcera-
ton, and there wore away-and
died.
These conditions have been some
what changed by the American oc-
cupation.
One of the thousand twenty-mil-
lion dollar islands we purchased
from Spain has been set aside as a
leper colony. 1t is partly self-sup-
porting, the remainder being fur
nished by the government. 1t has
the best climate of the archipelago;
is completely separated from its
fellows.
1t is the island of Cuilon, situated
almost midway between Luzon on
the north and the Sulu archipelago
on the south.
This tiny bit of ground has been
made into an island prison, and is
being rapidly turned into a hOtbed
of leprosy, a living hell on earth.
To it lepers are forced by the
authorities. They are kidnapped as
enemies-physical enemies of man
kind--taken as wild beasts of the
field; and no writ of habeas corpus
or court paper can penetrate the
impenetrable wall of proof of this
dreaded disease.
These represent by no means the
entire lepers colony on that island,
for many take time by the forelock
and evade the authorities until
death relieves them.
The LePer Colony.
The colony is not only surround
ed by wide acres of fertile lands in
the island, belonging to the colony
where those who are able and so de-
sire can find diversion in tilling the
! soil and in that way assist in bearing
a part of the expenses of their susie
nance, but the island is eXcellently
adapted to cattle raising and this has
already been introduced IN the colon
ial possessions with marked success.
Cattle will be raised for the market,
able to provide money for the pur-
chase of those articles of necessity
that cannot be raised or manufactured
| there. Cattle and animals of every
kind are not subject to leprosy and by
raising cattle the authorities believe
the colony can be made self sustain
ing There are at present over four
thousand anut-bearing trees on
she lands to be occupied by the lepers,
and fine gardens will be laid out and
cultivated, where vegetables of every
description will be raised.
The climate of Culion is excellent.
The colony is located on knoll, on
the shores of Culion harbor, about
one hundred feet above the sea level
/ where constant sea breezes make the
climate most delightful. The height
above the sea level also provides the
colony with excellent drainage.
Culion harbOr abounds with fish, so
the colony can find any abundant sup
ply of the finny tribe for consumption.
Religious Martyrs
There is an excellent church build
| ing at Culion, and Father Wales, of
the Roman Catholic church, has vol
unteered to give his life to work
among the lepers. He has been as
signed to CuliOn, where he expects to
! administer to the spiritual needs of
the people and where he will live and
die In the heroic work to which he has
consecrated himself. A number of
sisters of charity have also consecrat-
ed their lives to work among the lep-
ers and will voluntarily live and die
in their work of faith and love on the
island from which the inhabitants,
members of the colony, may never be
allowed to depart.
About one hundred and fifty cot
tages have been erected IN Culion,
which, counting four persons to cot
tages, will accommodate six hundred
patients. Osher cottages will be built
( as fast as funds are available. As
fast as vacancies are caused by
! deaths. others will be sent to the colo
nv from the various islands.
| Culion has an up-to-date sewerage
system. Modern sewers have been
laid along all the streets of the
town and so connected with the water
mains that they can be easily flushed
whenever desired. A modern water
works system has also been establish
ed. A reservoir has been built on
the mountain in the rear of the colony
fully one hundred and fifty feet above
the town, thus giving an ample gravi-
ty supply, while the water will be
pumped into the reservoir from clear,
pure mountain springs.
Culion leper colony is under the
charge of DR.. c. F. deMay, chief OF
the Culion leper colony division Of
the bureau of health.