The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-26
SANTIAGO PUBLIC WORKS.
THE LOCAL BOARD or TRADE WANTS
IH1fEDLATE IMPROVEMENT.

lMAhDlAIB LAEROIAWkNlAs .
Its Members ORer 20 ray an Additisnal Tax
on All Imports, the nEoney'to he spent
for Wharfage. Warehouses and tDredG-
ing-Geh. Wood Thinks Well of the IDEA.
special c.bt. psspaioA 70 THn son.
SANTIAGO DE- oUBA. Oct. 25.-A committee Of
forty prominent citizens. comprising the Board
Of Trade Of Santiago. waited on Gen. Wood
this morning and volunteered to pay az adj
ditlonal tax on all imports brought into the
city. Their idea II TO have the money devoted
to the improvement OF the wharfage and ware
house facilities OF the city and the dredging OF
the harbor. The scheme submitted to Gen.
Wood 10 to have the tax collected by officers Of
the municipality at the Custom House after
the regular duties have been paid to the regu-
lar customs collectors.
The merchants who proposed the scheme
are the leading men OF the city. and they are
all annexationists. They desire that the col
lection OF the tax shall begin Immediately, but
are willing to leave the whole matter 70 Gen.
Wood. The lattor regards the plan In q favor
able hght, andhO told the merchants that he
would give the proposition careful oonsidora-
ton. TIL merchants are confident that under
existing conditions 100000 could DO raised
annually by a tax SO light that It would
scarcely be felt. They think that the fund
W01AA AhSANoIS RANeNhy NOeA W val - bhN
commerce OF the city grows. There IL imme-
diate need Of hsrbor improvements here. The
water at the ship landings IL steadily becom-
Ing shallowor. and the wharf and warehouse
facilities are wholly inadequate to the de-
mands Of trade. Gen. Wood intended to mako
the improvements during the coming winter,
using The municipal funds for the purpose, but
the voluntary offer OF the merchants will
enable him. II he accepts the plan. to begin
work in q very short time.
Aspanish coastwise steamer which arrived
here to-day from Havana By way OF the
north coast brought word to Gen. Wood that
one transport had left Gibara with part OF the
garrison Of the Holguin district. Another ship
was in the harbor waiting to be loaded with
troops, The United States IL represented In
the harbor Of Gibara by the Gunboat Marietta,
which has relieved the Nashville. The evacu-
alton Of the Holguln district IL being conducted
according to the plans formulated by Captain
General Blanco and officers OF Gen. Nario'O
stan. who were summoned TO Havana q month
ago for consultation. An American oflcer Is at
Nuevitas with an interpreter Watching the
preparations OF the Spaniards for leaving the
island.
A south coast steamer came In this afternoon
from Batabano. She reports that the Spanish
garrlsons at Cienfuegos and other towns along
NAAS ~ NNNcN ASNS kANAA AN8eeoS IVAN eAA
all arrangements made for leaving for Havana
as soon rs transports come for them. The
Spaniards are all anxious to get away and are
willing to facilitate tho American occupation.
Upon the departure Of the SpaniardB and the
occupation OF the country by the Americans
there will be an extensive revival Of the coast
wise trade. The merchants Of Havana and the
smaller towns are awaiting q final settlement
OF the matter OF customs duties and the rela-
tive value Of Spanish ana American money be-
fore making their winter purchases.
The trade Of Santiago has received new i'm
petus under Gen. Woods Intelligent port
regulations. The revenues OF this city and the
supports Of Manzanillo. Baracoa. Guantanamo
and SaEua de Tanamo have quadrupled In the
past six weeks. The collections here In De-
tober will exceed 100000 II the present rate
is maintained to the end of the month. With
the establishment OF q regular customs collec-
tor at Gibara for the Holguin district the GUS
toms service Of the province will be completely
organized.
Gen. Wood has received o despatch from
Manzanillo saying that the battalion Of the
Third Immunes. under Col. Ray. which occu-
pied the town after 1t had been evacuated by
the Spaniard. have sailed for Guantanamo,
leaving Col. Petit OF the Fourth Immunes in
command at Manzanillo. Col. Ray will not
stop at Santiago. but will hurry to Guantanamo
where his men are needed to maintain order.
Gen. Wood is daily receiving reports concern
Ing thed lsordorly conduct OF the Cuban soldiery
in the small towns and on the plantations In
the Guantanamo district. The Cubans ride
into houses. occasionally shooting off their
rifles and reyolvers and frightening the people.
Gen. Pedro Perez. the commander of the Gu
bans in the Guantanamo district. did not lay
down his arms and dlsband his force on Oct. II
as he promised he would do. He told the
Americans that he was awaiting the action Of
the Cuban convention at Santa Cruz. num-
Der OF his men have been disarmed and locked
up By the Americans for rlotous conduct.
aEN i n REPoRr