The record-union., 1898-12-18
A TRUNK RAILROAD IN CUBA.


The Secretary Of War in his annual
report advises, as a war measure OF
real necessity, as a means for pacifica-
ton Of Cuba, and the practical relief OF
her suffering people, that our Govern
ment should construct line of railway
the entire length Of the island with
| several branches to the coast towns.
This road, after its purpose has been
accomplished, can be sold or leased /;
for the Government does not wish to
go into the railroad business, nor should
1t do so. 1t can not operate a road as
| economically as can private interests,
while Government ownership means
| gross political involvement. Besides
we are not proposing to retain Cuba,
but to rehabilitate it, set the island peo-
pie upon their feet again, and fit them
! fully for self government. Then, if
| they prefer to come to us as a part of
the nation, that question will be opened.
| 1t is wholly unnecessary and unprofit-
able to consider it now.
| Such a road as is suggested would
| cost, says the Secretary, $2O,000,000
But we will probably expend that much
money in charity in Cuba if we do not
build the line, while it's construction
would give employment to the people;
disburse the larger part of the money
among them; enable the country TO be
developed in all it's richness and fertil
now idle; give opportunity to the tillers
| Of the soil to return to their homes and
| reach markets with their supplies; de-
velop sections now untouched; bring
the people closer to each other; quicken
industry and tend in all ways to the
pacification of the State and the relief
of it's distress.
Thus the road will not only pay. but
it will do a great deal besides. 1t will
do more to pacify the island than arms
and soldiers, or charity aims. The ISL
and is paradise Of fertility, but it will
not be opened up to the use of man
until the mule is displaced by the iron
horse, investment, development and civ
ilization of the best order always fol-
lowing in his path.
We will have positive assurance that
we will get our money back, for the
road will sell for all it costs to build it,
since once established and opened the
franchise alone will take on a value
| equal, possibly, to all we will expend
in charity for relief Of suffering with
out consequent permanent betterment
of the people. There is no place in the
world, says a good authority, where the
| means of movement and communica-
ton are so poor as in Cuba Spanish
misrule and neglect has left an island
| of incalcuIable wealth poverty strick-
en- as to roads, so that the widely sep
arated sections of the fertile spot are
| as widely separated as foreign nations
| to each other in their facilities for COM
munication and movement between
each other.
| A road such as is advised will in
vite millions of American capital to
| good investment. 1t will make the
sanitation of the island less difficult.
| 1t will teach the people habits of indus
| try, and open up to their intelligence
| knowledge of American methods Of be-
| coming and remaining thrifty. Be-
| sides. the road is needed for the move
ment of troops and supplies under our
| temporary rule, which, however, VIII
continue some years in all probability,
and will prove an arm of strength ana
power for unity to the new government
| that must succeed ours.