Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11
Instructions in Cuba Only Prevented
BY the Guards That Are Hired
by the Spanish.
BRTGANDAGE YET AT A PREMIUM.
Grants Fealty to Friends Illustrated in an
AnecdOte Told of Reformed
Young 0ficehOlder.
BE WAS JUST AS GOOD AS HIS WORD.
Other Interesting Interviews culled From Reporters
Notebooks

The Cubans are long-suffering people,
according t, Senor " de la Gale, a resi-
dent of Havana, who was in the city during
the week Senor Gale deals largely i'll ma
chinery and supplies, and buys his stock at
this time He had purchased in New York,
previous to coming here, because, as he said,
''he had not heard of Pittsburg." He left
an order here for So 900 worth of machinery,
and promised TO call again next year.
Referring to the condition of the Cubans,
Senor de la Gale says they are the worst
governed people in the world.
Think of it, he said, ''the population
of the island is / 800, 900, and these people
paw the Spanish Government S26,0OO,000
annually. They pay property tax of 10 per
cent in addition TO various municipal and
local taxes. They also pay for an army of
10000 soldiers which the Government must
keep there to prevent an open revolt of the
people.
SAVED BY THE SoLDIEBY.
''To sav that dissatisfaction is rife is to
use a very mild term. If it were not for
the soldiery the people would rise and seize
the Government themselves. The authori-
ties are absolutely Indifferent to the well
fare of the inhabitants. For instance, the
great scourge of the islands is the yellow
fever A primary cause of this is the un-
sanitary condition of the shores and cities
The outlay of a very little money in cut
ting canal through peninsula to connect
two WATERWAYS would flood an area of
ground which periodically dries up with
very horrible results. This is where the
yellow fever is bred and whence it spreads
''The ardent wish of the Cubans is for an
ne1ation to the United States. If
couple of war vessels and regiment or two
were to run down and demand possession
they would be received with open arms.
Possession by the United States is the only
hope in the heart of the Cuban for the bles-
sings of fostering Government, such as
they now obtain here.
MANY SUMMER VISITORS TO CUBA.
''We have many visitors during summer"
continued the Cuban. ''Fully $4,000 per-
SONS visited the island last season, and the
number increases annually. This seasons
crop of sugar was unusally good, the pro-
portion of saccharine matter in the canes
being above the average. By a recent
improvement in the process of making
sugar the operation has been made
more continuous and profitable. The
stalks, which are used for fuel, are
dried by artificial means. as they come from
the crushers, and fed directly from them
into the fires Before. the stalks were per-
mitted TO dry naturally, and if the weather
was damp delay ensued. The climate, 1
though, is delightful, the temperature never
falling below go or exceeding 800.
RGUGANDAGE VERY FLoURIsHING.
"Brgands are numerous, and the business
Of capturing rich Cubans is a profitable un-
dertaking. Not long ago a wealthy friend
Of mine was captured and taken to the
mountains. He was told to write to his
friends and say his ransom had been fixed at
81. 600 He did so, and he also eau
toned them against trying to res
have been killed without doubt.
ward. 4 went for some time without food
and at length cried: "Oh. if only had
cup of milk and some oatmeal coald en-
dure this. ''Why, certainly" said the chief
hriCand; 'the Senior can have everything he
desires"
"A whistle blew: boy appeared, received
the order and quickly returned with ex-
cellent milk and oatmeal l was well taken
care OF, butt was expensive living: it
cost ME S17, ,000. The Government makes
no attempt at suppressing brigandage.
Americans who come there, though, gener-
ally know how to take care of themselves
and the 'chevaliers d industrie' know it. "