The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-08
HAVANA AND ITS HISTORY.
Its Founding i'm 1915, Its buildings
md Its Commercial ImnOrfance.

anu COmmerc1nl
Havana, as the capital, metropolis and
chief seaport of Cuba is one of the best
known cities in the American hemisphere.
Its splendid harbor its commercial i'm
portance, its climate and the tinge of ro-
nance that ever attaches to its people
have made its fame world wide. Havana
has about 100000 inhabitants 1t was
founded but twenty-three years after the
discovery by Columbus, and has always
been the commercial emporium of the An
titles. 1t is situated on beautiful bay.
whose entrance from the Gulf of Mexico is
by a narrow estuary between two promi-
nent headlands. This entrance is guarded
on the east by the famous Moro Castle,
and on the west by the Castle de la Punta,
both built at the close of the sixteenth
century.
Havana, in its topography. architecture
and every other physical attribute, is es-
sentially Spanish. The houses are identical
with the architecture of the South of Spain.
They have heavy walls of stone, low cell
ings, broad verandas and are built upon
narrow streets, which, though well paved.
are uncleanly 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 172i Here lie,
or are said TO lie, the claim being denied,
the remains of Columbus, transferred
thither from Santo Domingo in January,
1885, There are fifteen other churches, nine
of which belong to the monaStic orders.
Two Of these churches date from the six
teenth century. The other public edlhces
of note are the palace of the Captain Cen
eral. 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,
a vast quadrangular structure, built in
III. There are also a number of fine hos
pitfalls.
Few cities have such beautiful parks and
driveways as Havana. The great Plaza de
Armas is the chief 1t comprises four parks,
in the center of which is a statue or terdl-
nand VII. Then there is the Alameda de
Paula, bordering on the bay, and the Cam
military. This is an enormous park. IL
has four handsome gates, named respec-
lively Colon, COrteZ, PiZarra and Tacon
The Paseo de Tacon is a magnificent drive
with double rows of trees. 1t has numerous
columns and statues, among the latter one
of Charles Ill, ranking among the hnest
works of art in America.
The commerce of Havana is only sur
passed in the new world by that of New
York. Two-thirds of the product OF Cuba
find outlet through havana. The exports
of sugar alone are annually about lzO,OU,-
600 pounds.
Havana was founded in 1915 by Diego de
VelasuueZ, the conaueror of the island. 1t
was first called San Christobal de la Ha-
bana in honor of Columbus, but gradually
the prefix was dropped. Havana has been
frequently attacked from the sea. Drake
tried to take il in 1885, but failed. In lf6Z
a British fleet under Admiral Pocock bonn
barded the city and compelled il to capitu-
late, but it was restored to the SpanlardS
the next year by the treaty OF Paris.