Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-24
TELEGRAPH AND RAILROADS
What Will Be Needed in Cuba After thu
War.
Col. Cfsneros Investigating Our Syr~
tems-Amcrican Capitalists Inter-
ested-Mafl Facilities.

cuban engineer. well known in South and
Central America. as well as in the United
States, is in Washington, enlisting the sup
port Of capitalists in the interest OF several
projects which he will undertake in Cuba
at the close OF the war. Col. Cisneros has
been spending the last two or three DAYS in
company with Senior Quesada charge
d'affaires of the Cuban junta. and Lieut. j.
f. Arteaga, visiting the Post Office De-
partment and inspecting the various meth
DDS employed in the different branches of
the postal service. They have been con-
Quoted through all the divisions and obtain
Cd tood idea of the general WORKINGS of
the Cnited States postal system. Some
'line has also been spent with the local
Officers of the Western Union Telegraph
company in acquiring knowledge which
Will be of great value in constructing the
proposed telegraph system in Cuba after
Spanish soldiers have left the island and
IN Which project Col. Cisneros is greatly in
t,ssted
The postal and telegraphic systems in
Cuna under the Spanish regime were very
inefncient, and since the outbreak of the
war they have been almost entirely aban-
doned. The insurgents have rendered the
transmission of mail by the Spanish gov
eminent thing practically impossible and
they nave also cut the few telegraph wires
and poles extending across the island Only
In the extreme eastern section of the island
90 the Cubans maintain what is in fact a
Is very uncertain and has practically no
system.
The purpose of Col Cisneros in this CITY
al THIS time is to familiarize himself with
the Workings OF these two important sys-
tens in the United States in order that he
may undertake the establishment of such
institutions in Cuba as soon as peace is de-
clared. The present constitution of the en-
pan republic provides for the appointment
OF an officer corresponding to our POST
master General but there is no such officer
IN CUBA now, owing to the fact that there
would be no duties for him to fulfill and
the want of any postal or telegraphic svs-
tenn There is no doubt however that Col
Cisneros will occupy that portfolio in the
krst CUBAN cabinet when peace is secured
Tor the island, and his purpose will be to
organize thorough and efficient postal
system, and also have the supervision of
the Geographic service.
Col Cisneros also has plans for the con-
struction of the Grand Central railroad Of
Cuba, to extend through the island from
east TO west and connecting all the princi-
pal cities and towns. This project will cost
many millions of dollars. and Col. Cisneros
has already enlisted the attention and SUM-
port of number of wealthy Americans in
the proposed road. and expects to have a
company organized with practically unlim-
tied capital and ready to undertake the
work as soon as Spain withdraws her sol.
diers from the island.
Col. Cisneros is somewhat reticent about
talking OF his proposed plans, but is con-
fdent that at the close of the war Amer-ll
lean capital will readily invest itself int
Cuba, with the positive assurance of large
and remunerative returns. Practically every
progressive institution will have TO be built
up anew In the island, and the latest i'm
provements in every line will be taken adj
vantage Of Railroads will have to be
built, Geographic lines constructed, schools
and public buildings erected, and this to- =
Gether with the large profits to be gained
through Industrial and commercial pur-
suits, will produce flourishing conditions at
~ he wal IL h.alf a-r. fasat
are fortunes awaiting those who will cast
their lots in the island during the next few !
years, and that Cuba will be one of the
most prosperous republics in the world.
Everything Will be and upon the most
advanced plan,
Col. Cisneros has a very interesting per-
sonality, and is man of wide experience
and knowledge. He is sixty years Of age
and was born on the Island of Cuba. He
received his education in Havana and in
Spain. He received his degrees Of civil and
mecha nical engineer in La Sobornne Uni
versity in Paris, and the Massachusetts
Polytechnic Institute at Boston. After
graduating he served in the ten years war
during the entire struggle, from 1865 to
ISIS. and his services civil and me-
chancal engineer were most valuable TO
the Cubans. He entered the Cuban revo-
lurionary army with the rank of lieutenant
and WAS promoted 10 a colonelcy. lie has
been engaged by large English syndicate
in the construction of a railroad In Colom-
bia, S. A, and for number of years has
been employed in South and Central Amer
lean countries on large engineering projects.
He has frequently been in the United States
and is well and favorably known by many
American capitalists. He has amassed a
considerable fortune, but has expended
more than one-half of 1t, amounting to
several hundred thousand dollars, in the
present Cuban cause, and has been in fact,
one of the chief supporters of the insur-
gents during heir struggle.
While engaged in enlisting the support
of moneyed men of the United States in
Cuban enterprises, Col. Cisneros is also
travelling to benefit his health. and Will
remain in Washington for several days.
He is stopping at the Hotel Cochran and
is accompanied by his daughter and niece.