The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-13
possibilities lM GREAT.
1hlpDiag, which for Gestures n1s
Doen Controlled ~ Spain, VIII
- Directed 10 This Counsfs-
I En~l.na Has Heavy Interesss-

NEW YORK, Dec. IA csspaieh 70 st'e
Trftune from Havana says:
New enterprises In Cuba are sor Amer
can capital The opening % incI~&ssu
means Of communication bef~esh f'a' ala
and the Florida ports has s5issa6a th's
conclusion Communication - no" esaap-
lixhed three times a week with tampa, On
the ~ss, coast ard twice a week with
Ntams op The eazt coast The BUSINESS
may not be suftcisut for while 70 Keep
two lines In operation. The competisaon
vii probably be sharp. But after TINE
there vii. be enough for both. The gsif
porfs. with the exception Of New Orleans,
are also awakening TO their opror tunisss
and an increased trade TO the South prom
ises to be soon developed.
These are only incidents in the future de-
vejopnent OF the islands. What liz signifi-
cant In the complete recognition by the
foreign capital invested In Cuba o. the
new conditions. None Of this capital Will
be crowded out. az has been assumed IN
many quarters. Instead, II VIII remain In
the assurance OF future stability given
by the United States Much English money
Is invested in the railways and tobacco
plantaftons and manufactures some OF IL
was actually pushed into Havana In order
10 seize the opportunities that were open
before the time was ripe for American In
also rushed out to assume the trade that
was already theirs II Is probable the bar
celona houses will carry out their plan OF
erecting jute mills IN Cuba This Is some
thing they never seriously contemplated
while Spain ruled the island. II was
enough to have the Havana portion OF their
capital invested In the mercantile business
without the additional risk OF the manu-
factories. A common delnsion that the re-
e. $tsE.r ait ynytH
pass rapidly into American hands must also
be noted The Spanish merchants will hold
this trade so stubborniy that It's future
II not worth considering. The only point
Of consequence Is that they will buy In
larger quantities from houses In the United
States. With the full knowledge then that
American capital is not expected to dis
lodge European capital. the interest lie In
the fields which will be opened for II. The
European trade representatives have toll
erabiy clear idea Of where the first deyel-
opment will come. They have vivid re-
membraEce OF American ships which were
beginning TO crowd the harbor OF Havana,
Natanxas and other ports when the Blaine
reciprocity was interrupted by the exigen-
Giles Of partisan politics In the United
States. Now they know. independent OF the
political significance, what II will mean
10 have the ports Of the United States
brought 30 much nearer Cuba by shorten
ing the time aud increasing the means of
communication. That was the first re-
Election today when the vessels came into
the harbor.
1t Is a swift, method OF reasoning by
which the conclusion has been reached
that the future carrying trade OF Cuba al
most In Its entirety will be under the
American flag. The dependency OF the
island on the United States. whatever form,
It's government may take, settles that
point In the minds OF the European trade
representatives. They have also looked a
little further than the Americans I'm the
coastwise trade. That In their view here
after Is solely a question of American
ships. The difference viii be that the Span
ish ships will not be privileged monopoly
without competition. The theory OF the
Spanish authorities was that limited
ocean traffic at high rates was better than
unlimited business at low rates. A passage
from Havana to Santiago cos. more than
. voyage from Havana to New York
FreiEht rates were In the same ratio. The
backbone" railroad through the island
was not allowed TO be built because II
would interfere With the coastwise vessel
monopoly. What should have been a -four
ishinx infercoast trade among the many
towns which had natural harbor advan.
saEes became an Intermittent business
with Few small vessels engaged In IT, The
fishing smaeks were limited, America n
ccsssing ships will change all this, possibly
faster than has been anticipated. IL they
do not preees!e the Industrial eevelonnap,
OF the interior OF the island they will A,
least keep pace with It.