The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-04-10
CUBA CAPTURED
By GEORGIA EDITORS AND WIVES.
A Pleasant Visit to the "Queen Of the
AntilleS.0

Some sixty-six Georgia editors attended
the annual meeting Of the Press Associs-
ton at Savannah on the 25th of March,
The editors and their ladies were the
guests of Col. j. 81. Estill of the Savannah
Morning News, at the DeSoto HOTEL re.
Gently built at cost Of $500. 900, magnif-
cent in architecture and finish 1t is sur
passed only by the Ponce de Leon at St.
Augustine, Fla.
Savannah is the great commercial sea
port of Georgia, as her crowded wharfs
and warehouses show, doing an immense
business, growing and increasing in wealth
and Importance. 1t is city Georgia
should be proud Of and every friendly
influence should be accorded by inland
towns to add to her greatness. Real es.
tate is enhancing in values all the time and
big fortunes have been made out of small
investments. AS an instance, few wears
ago, Col. Estill paid $4,000 for piece of
land on the outskirts of the city. A few
weeks ago he refused $65, 900 fer it,
While in the Forest city," the editors
visited the magnificent steamship, the
Kansas City" and also Tybee Island.
At night the editors took Pullman cars
for Jacksonville, Fla, an all night ride.
After breakfasting at the Everett House,
the body visited the Sub Tropical Exposi.
ton, and other points of interest
A ride OF I'll miles up the St. Johns
River to Sanford, was as delightful as one
could wish. The scenery along the St.
Johns is beautiful. Orange groves on either
side while the palm and the palmetto, moss
covered, line the banks. Aquatic birds
were flushed as the steamboat plowed the
placid and sluggish waters, where water
lilies are in endless profusion and fishing
is carried on with great success.
Sanford, Orlando, Winter Park and
Kissimmee were visited. We reached
Tampa Z p. m, Thursday. At Port Tampa
at 10 o'clock, the elegant steamship, the
"OEvette, )" was in waiting to carry the
excursionists to Key West, Fla, and to
Havana, Cuba. The "Olvette" is said to
be the fastest steampship in the United
States, making 20 miles an hour. She is
292 feet long, IS feet in width, 1900 tons
burthen, and accommodates $50 passen.
gers. From Port Tampa to Key West is 27O
miles, and from Key West to Havana 80
miles. We arrived at Havana Saturday
morning at 7 o'clock, and stopped at the
Pssaje Hotel.
On nearing Havana, the view of the
city is very pretty. The white granite
buildings, glistening in the sunlight, their
massive columns. church spires, elevated
fortresses, very appropriately entitle her
to the appellation, Queen of the Antilles
The Island has an area of about $1,000
square miles, and is irregular in form re-
sembling long narrow crescent. The cl-
mate is perpetual summer The soil is fer>
tile, resting mainly on calcareous rock of
porous character. The fruits, vegetables,
and cereals grow on the Island to perfec-
ton, such as bananas, sugar cane, corn,
sweet and Irish potatoes, tobacco, oranges,
lemons, lines, grape fruit, pine apples
grapes, guavas, pawpaws, mangoes, cocoa
nuts, etc. In the market we saw roasting
ears. Cuba has population of 100000
Havana has 100000 population and is the
capital of the Island, where the Governor
General and Civil General reside.
The Island is garrisoned by $4,000 Span
ish soldiers, whose military rule is one OF
great oppression. In fact Spain has
established military despotism on the
Island and property is frequently con6sca-
ted. The city is policed by Spanish
soldiers, and the Cubans are allowed no
voice or vote in the selection of their
rulers. The Spanish government makes
all appointments and sends officials to
govern the city, unwilling to trust any
Cuban. These $4,000 soldiers are main
tanned, by the levying of an iniquitous
system of taxation, at a cost of $50, 600 per
day. This heavy burden has paralyzed
the energies of the Cubans, despoiled
many industries and deprecated property.
Once prosperous and well cultivated sugar
and tobacco plantations are in some
instances abandoned. Everything is taxed,
even to every hotel guest and every letter
in sign over place of business--all to
sustain the soldiers. These soldiers are
placed in squads Of twelve every four
miles throughout the Island, in telegraphic
communication with the Governor General.
ready on notice to be transported to and
consolidated at any point where there
should be an actual or threatened revolt of
the natives against the misrule of this
bayonet and carpet.bag crowd
The Spaniards care nothing for the
improvement or advancement Of the
Island The officials come from Spain
and wiring from the people all they can
and return wealthy, only to be succeeded
by another hungry horde; consequently
they are sucking the very life blood out of