The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-03-14
HAVANA HAS A HISTORY.
Cuba's Capital, Now ~Beleaguered by In
surgents, Is an Ancient city.

Cuba's Capital, Now B~eleaguered by In
surgents, Is an Ancient city.
Havana, as the capital, metropolis
and chief seaport of Cuba, is one of the
best known cities in the American hem
isphere. Its splendid harbor, its COM
mercIal Importance. it's climate and the
tinge of romance that ever attaches to
its people have made its fame world
wide. Havana has about 100000 in
habitants. 1t was founded but 90 years
after the discovery of Columbus, and
has always been the commercial en-
porium of the Antilles. 1t is situated
on G. beautiful bay, whose entrance
from the Gulf of Mexico is by a narrow
estuary between two prominent head
lands. The entrance is guarded on the
east by the famous MORO castle. ond
on the west by the Castle de la Punta,
both built at the close of the 10th cen
fury.
Havana, in it's topography, architec-
ture and every other physical attribute,
is essentially Spanish. The houses are
identical with the architecture of the
south of Spain. They nave heavy walls
of slime, low ceilings, broad verandas
and are built upon narrow streets,
which, though we'll paved, are unclean-
ly and unpleasant to the eye. Most of
the public institutions of Havana are
of ancient date. The great cathedral,
SO well known, was begun in 1924. Here
lie, or are said 10 lie-the claim being
denie1 = the remains of Columbus,
transferred thither from Santo Do
mingo in January, 1896. There are Is
other churches, nine of which belong
TO the monastic orders. Two of these
churches date from the 10th century.
The other public edihces of note are the
palace of the captain general, situated
on Plaza de Armas; the Tacon theater,
one OF the largest theaters in the world,
equal. in fact, to the famous Scala of
Milan; the various provincial offices,
the university and the great prison, q
vast quadrangular structure, built in
iii. There are also a number of fine
hospitals.
Few cities have such beautiful parks
and driveways as Havana. The great
Plaza de Armas is the chief. 1t COM
prises fou parks, IN the center of
which Is a statue Of Ferdinand VII.
Then there is the Alameda de Paula,
DOrucI ing Oh Tic Duy, anu Tie SdiHpO
de Marie, used as a drill ground for the
military. This is I'm enormous park.
1t has four handsome gates, named
respectively Colon, Cortez, Pizarro and
Tacon. The Paseo de Tacon Is q magnif-
cent drive with double rows of trees. 1t
has numerous columns and statues,
among the latter one of Charles Ill,
ranking among the finest works of art
in America.
The commerce of Havana is only sur
passed in the new world by hat of
New York. T~wo-thirds of the products
of Cuba find outlet through Havana.
The exports of sugar alone are annual
ly about 10000, 900 pounds. Havana
was founded in 1915 by Diego de Velas-
quez the conqueror of h island 1t
was first called San Christobal de Ia
Habana. in honor of Columbus, but
gradually the prefix was dropped.
Havana has been frequently attacked
from the sea. Drake tried to take IL in
1855, but failed. In 1862 a British fleet
under Admiral Pocock bombarded the
city and compelled it to capitu1ate, but
it was restored to the Spanjard he
next year by the treaty of Paris.-St.
Louis Globe-Democrat.