The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-29
WHY III Is CALLED MATANzAs.
A Beautiful Town and Once one Of
the Richest in Cuba.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record
A little more than four centuries ago the de-
lghthtl situation OF Matanzas was occupied
by the populous Indian village Yucayo In
lose just 200 years after the discovery OF the
isand by Columbus--a Spanish hidalgo named
Masaneda purchased IRON Carlos II lew
Hectares OF land, including the then long de-
serted 1ucayo, and settled thereon with thlrty
famine. OF Canary Islanders The coon,sts
arrived on Saturday in October The next
day being sunday, Bishop Compostollo
changed the name OF the place. with mass aud
solt mn ceremonies, TO San Carlos san sew
eirine. and on Monday, the third day, the
corner stones were laid of the cathedral and
the castle oil san Seyernu the most remark
ahle instance OF expedition on record Ia this
land OF manana tomorrow. The coionisls
aiterward acquired considerable more space In
tho adjacent Yumur valley for cattle range
and devoted themselves TO the raising OF beef
Tor the Havana market, Hence the place be-
cane known AS III atantanzas (the slaughter
pslQ. In time the names of the SAINTS wete
lett oil altogether, and not only the settle
meht, but the bay, the district and the whole
province rejoced under the name OF the
slaughter pen. ~
Straight through the middle OF the city runs
the san Juan river, the portion on the south
sioe OF 1t being known as Pueblo Nuevo ,Sew
ToNh). and that on the north Versailles.
several handsome stone bridges cross mo
river. among them the notable puente fefein.
The New Town contains the railway station
ana many beautiful Villas, IL has one of the
han dsomest streets in an Cuba, the Gaze,ia
de San Estovan lined for two miles with I'M
| posing residences, all With pillared porticos in
| frunt paved, like the terraces, with mosaic
| OF black and white marble, or blue and yellow
Venetian tiles. These cssas of the old TIM
| graz set flush with the pasemon,s,
| bu. each has its beautiful gardens ut the
| sides. hlled with palms ana flowers, surround
| ed by tall iron ratings and stcne pillars top
| ped with urus
The worst calamity that ever befoll her was
| the great connagration OF forty three years
| ago. After that the we'll to do ctizcns bum
| their residences on the heights above the city.
| where ocean breezes blow and the wide eprAd-
| ing bay forms delightful picture. Two rail-
| way lines connect Matansas with Havana, ono
| OF them running Via Jaruca and Cardenas. thu
| other coming from the southeast, through
| villa Clara, Sagua and Cienfuegos, interseet-
| ing rich sugar district, and In peaceful
| times bringing large amount of freight to
| the coast for shipment. Both lines are Aineri-
| can built drawn by American engines. equip
| ped with American cars aud Will doubt
soon be run by American engineers
| few years ago Matanzas province WAS the
richest in Cuba rejoicing in the possession OF
! farms and some 300 Othar plantations OF yari.
Gus sorts. It's rapid decadcnce from a A,Auri-
Gus center OF wealth and fashion, as Well aa
| of productive industry and commerce. renderu
| its present poverty the more pititul. Many OF
| the finest plantations OF the ole aristocrauy
were years ago Confisuated. others passed into
the hands Of Spanish advehturcrs and ipmi.
grants who kept VI the exhausting struggle
| as long as they could against system
grounded upon collation. OF every economic
laW-and the torch Of war finished the regt