Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-06
ANCIENT CITY OF SANTIAGO.

,ningo. 1t was the former capital and
the third city OF commercial import
ance on the island of Cuba.
The name Santiago given to the for
mer capital signifies in English st.
James, ana has at various times been
cal ei San Jsgo, San Diego and Santi-
ago, ell with the same meaning. 1t Is
situated $50 miles in direct line
southeast OF Havana, and is still the
chlef city OF the eastern department of
Cuba. 1t is the residential town OF the
archbishop and is the seat OF several
yearly religious festivals which are Gel
ebrated with pomp and ceremony.
Santiugo is the terminus of two rail-
road lines, one Of which is the outlet OF
Lmas de Cobre, the celebrated copper
unes situated several miles inland.
The second railroad passes through the
rich sugar country, ailording trans
portation for that staple article OF ex-
portation. The exports from Santiago
are SAID to reach the sum OF IS 100000
annually. Tobacco, honey, rum, cocoon
and mahogany are also exported IN
great quantities. Santiago is inclosed
5n three sides by hills rising rapidly
from the bay 10 mountains OF great
height aud beauty, which besides being
.ovely to look upon afford perfect
drainage 20 the city.
The streets are all alike and appar-
eutiv have not been repaired since first
constructed, 400 years ago. Starting
at the shore, the streets, which are
very narrow, run directly up the hill
side. distance OF $50 feet or more.
Tropical rains have washed great gut
ler4 down the roads, in some places
three or four feet deep, and the traffic
has uprooted the cobblestones laid hun
dreds of years ago and left in the road
pitfalls and mantraps for the unwary.
The main street, upon which the
American consul lived, is in such a
coudition of decay that no effort is made
to drive a vehicle through it, and even
horseman cannot ride through it after
dark. There is risk in attempting to
navigate the street on foot in broac
daylight. Most Of the streets have ce-
mented sidewalks ten or fifteen inches
wide, but in some streets even this &C
commodatiou is done away with.
Santiago has the reputation OF being
che most unhealthy city in Cuba.
Hemmed in by mountains, with all the
oliy's filth fostering in the sun, it is
surprising that yellow fever does not
make the city its regular abiding place,
instead of visiting it annually, as II
does. No charge Is MAZE for living pic
lures in the streets of Santiago, and
children of both sexes and to the age
of 10 or l. years totally dispense with
clothing and chase about in the stree-s
aud highways in costumes akin to
those worn by the only residents Of the
Garden OF Eden.
Houses of me better class in the city
are as alike as two peas and descrlp-
non of one answers for all. Take the
building which was occupied by the
American consul, situated in street
absolutely impossible for anything but
pedestrians. 1t is necessary, should
one be driving, to leave the carriage at
the corner of tho street and pick his
wav down the so-called sidewalk to the
old fashioned building recognized as
the consu's home by the American
eagle, which surmounts the keystone.
Che walls OF the building are three feet
thick of solid cement, hardened to the
solldity of marble, the windows one
foot square set 10 various end unex-
pecteu places III its front wall. The
door posts are set in the ground IL feel =,
aud the building, as is evidenced oy its
strer 9Th, was built to resist the fre-
quent earthquakes.
la the business district of the city one
cannot but be interested with the quaint
and peculiar appearance of the shops.
Inc front OF the shop building is en-
tirely open, and inside can be seen the
{ clerk, divested Of every particle of
clothing except such as is absolutely
necessary for covering nakedness, CO.
quoting with bright, gaily attired MIL
Iatto girls. All the shopping is doLe
by servants, the women OF the aristoc-
racy never visiting the shops, but send
ing for everything needed either for
dress or for household purposes. Much
of the shopping is done on the corners
of the street, where heavy negresses sit
on the ground surrounded by huge
baskets containing fui', vegetables and
ysms.
Few vehicles are seen in the street,
and when seen the poor beasts of bur.
den are so commiserated. as there is
absolutely no care given TO the animals,
the owners apparently desiring only to
oet AS much work as possible out OF the
beasts before they surrender to fate and
drop dead In their tracks.
Half way up the bill, back OF the city
situated upon plaza. where tne m inlll'
tary band plays on cer!sin evenings
stands the cathedral, the most pretenIi'
ons structure in Santiago. The csthe=
dYal is the largest and finest on the
islana of Cuba, but its walls, built O.
porous stone. which is steadily crumolinl
SWAY. give Il the appta,auo:' Of he ne
: 49,. I..oran Y'hp pifV AbOuu,.S g.! tlut