“In order completely to stamp out yellow fever it will be necessary to destroy a limited number of the worst infected houses occupied by the poorest classes, to construct a system of sewers, and lay new pavements. This will involve a very large expenditure of money, and it is not at present clear how the city can raise this money. It is probable, however, that a feasible financial scheme could be devised after thorough study, and in the meantime a commission of engineers should be appointed to study the problem, and either acquire the existing surveys by purchase, at a fair valuation, or else make new surveys, and a definite report covering the whole ground, so that the matter may be intelligently considered.”
EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF THE HAVANA YELLOW FEVER COMMISSION, 1879
TEMPERATURE
“This is conceded to be a climatic element of greatest importance, and the ‘annual mean’ to be the chief factor. Throughout the West Indies the mean annual temperature, near the sea, is from 78 degrees to 80, the mean daily range is only about 6 degrees, and the extreme annual range does not usually exceed 20 degrees. At Havana the mean annual temperature varies in different years from 77 degrees to 79; the mean temperature of the hottest months, July and August, varies from 82 to 85 degrees; and of the coldest months, December and January, from 70 to 76 degrees. The minimum temperature is very rarely as low as 50 degrees, and the maximum as rarely exceeds 100 degrees; in fact, the thermometer, in the shade, seldom rises above 94 degrees. There are no records nor any tradition of frost having ever occurred except on December 24 and 25, 1856. It is alleged that even in the sparsely inhabited mountains in the east of Cuba, where the Tarquino peak reaches an altitude of about 8000 feet, frost rarely occurs, and snow never.”
RAINFALL
“During the sixteen years, 1859-74, the average number of rainy days at Havana was 113; the minimum number, 97 days, occurred in 1869, and the maximum number, 141 days, occurred in 1862. The average amount of rain for the sixteen years was 49 inches, the minimum was 42.5 in 1861, and the maximum was 70 inches in 1867. The maximum amount of rain falling in any one season is from May to September, inclusive, but especially during August and September. The rain then descends with such rapidity that it runs off in torrents; but, as is seen, the usual belief that the annual rainfall is excessive is erroneous. The annual mean relative humidity varies in different years from about 73 to 74.5, and that of the different months of the year from 66 to 79; the minimum, occurring in any day of the year, may be as low as 34, and the maximum as high as 96. Evaporation is extremely rapid.”
ANNUAL DEATHS IN HAVANA, 1870-79
| Deaths by all Diseases in the Military and Civil Population. | Deaths by all Diseases in the Civil Population. | Deaths by | ||||
| Yellow Fever. | Small Pox. | Cholera. | ||||
| Military and Civil Population. | CivilPopulation. | Military and Civil Population. | Military and Civil Population. | |||
| 1870 | 10,379 | 9,451 | 665 | 277 | 681 | 1,655 |
| 1871 | 9,174 | 8,290 | 991 | 796 | 1,126 | .... |
| 1872 | 7,031 | 6,036 | 515 | 372 | 174 | .... |
| 1873 | 7,755 | 6,932 | 1,244 | 1,019 | 47 | .... |
| 1874 | 9,604 | 8,523 | 1,225 | 1,236 | 772 | .... |
| 1875 | 8,390 | 7,044 | 1,001 | 94 | 711 | .... |
| 1876 | 9,122 | 7,438 | 1,619 | 904 | 160 | .... |
| 1877 | 10,217 | 7,139 | 1,374 | 567 | 97 | .... |
| 1878 | 11,507 | 8,594 | 1,559 | 758 | 1,225 | .... |
| 1879 | 9,052 | 7,826 | 1,444 | 737 | 523 | .... |
| 92,231 | 77,273 | 11,837 | 6,760 | 5,516 | 1,655 | |
“Spanish army losses to January 16, 1896: