Evening star., 1898-10-08
Mr., Peppers Advice as to What to
Do and What Not to Do.
THE DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVELLING
Business Opportunities Offered to
Enterprising Americans.
FAT POCKET BOOK NEEDED
Copyright, 1882

month will begin also it's occupation by
American civilians. A large number of
small capitalists, prospectors and others
who are seeking for business chances are
going with the troops. They have chosen
the season wisely, but many of them have
apparently little notion of what is before
them. For the benefit of these and of 9TH
ers who are planning the trip later a few
words of advice drawn from experience
may be given.
The first and most essential thing FOR the
American who is going to Cuba is to put
money in his purse. Cuban hospitality is un-
stnted, but an impoverished people in a
devastated country have not the means
to entertain strangers, however strong may
be their desire. In the present conditions
there will be opportunity for the man
Wfo has a knack of turning his hand at
anything to turn it to account in Cuba.
That may come within two or three years,
but at present it will be foolhardy for any
body to go to the island with the notion
that he can work his way after he gets
there. 1t is also necessary to state that
there will be no Immediate openings for
young professional men. They cannot hang
out signs as in new and growing settle
ments of the western states and wait for
their practic, to grow with the growth of
the country. The law will naturally be
closed to Americans unless they have been
educated in the code Napoleon and are
able to speak Spanish. Medicine presents
bar to immediate practice by Americans.
Cuba has a large number of physicians
educated in the United States They talk
English and they understand the diseases
incident to the country better Than a
stranger. There are also many dentists.
graduates of the dental colleges il PEila-
de1phia and elsewhere. They are likely TO
monopolize their profession for some lime
to come There is likewise considerable
number of civil engineers educated in the
United States. The Cubans who have enter
ed these professions are men OF edIcaJio1
who were excluded by the policy of The
Spanish government from taking part IN
public affairs. With the new order many
of them will undoubtedly find government
employment yet it will not be safe to as
sumo that the professional ranks will be
thinned sufficiently to offer openings for
lawyers doctors, dentists or civil engineers
from the United States until there has
been a large increase n the American pop
ulatiOn.
The Cost of Travel.
Comirg back to the question OF money
in the purse, it's necessity will be seen
after arrival in Havana when a railroad
journey into the country is undertaken.
First-class fares average between I and
cents mile in gold. The rates were even
higher till a year ago, when Capt. Gen.
Blanco arbitrarily reduced them and earn
travel. The Cuban railroads, some owned
by English capital and some by Spanish
capital, are managed on the theory of TAX
ing all that the passenger traffic will bear
and little more Second and third-class
fares are lower, but except for the eXpe-
rience, nobody is apt to make more than
one trip second or third class. There is,
however, one railroad leading out of Ma
tanzas in which ii is possible to travel first
class on a second-class ticket. A single
passenger coach is used, the only difference
being that the first-ciass passengers have
better seats than those who travel second
class. A Cuban marquis whose sugar plan
tation had been rendered unproductfve first
by the insurgents and then by the Spanish
troops explained the plan to me. His own
finances had reached that state where the
difference between a first-class fare and
second-class fare was important to him, SO
he bought a second-class ticket, and after
the conductor had come around transferred
himself to the first-class section of the
coach. Americans can do the same thing
without loss of prestige. The steamboat
companies which run vessels along the
coast towns also charge very high. They
are no worse, however, than the American
lines, which charge 81 for passage from
Key West to Havana distance of 80
miles, which Is made in seven hours. Re-
duction in railroad and steamboat rates is
one of the earliest reforms that is needed
in Cuba.
TO and From Havana.
Most Of the railroad systems begin in Ha-
vana and end nowhere. The town of Pinar
del Rio, in the province of the same name,
may be called the western terminus. and
Santa Clara, in the province of that name
the eastern terminus. All trains leave Ha-
vana at daybreak, or in the winter season a
little earlier. AS a rule there Is one train
day each way on all the different lines
Trains return to Havana at night The
1arthest Journey that can be made by leav-
ing in the morning and returning in the
evening is seventy-flve miles. There are no
sleepers and no night trains, for one rea-
son, because the distances are not long
enough. Another reason is the uncertainty
which would heretofore have attended night
railroading in Cuba. AS a rule the trains
on the main line make some pretension to
connections with the branches or with
other lines. 1t is, however an untrust-
worthy reliance. A not uncommon expe-
rience is to miss the connection by five or
ten minutes at some little station in the
country and in consequence have to remain
there twenty-four hours. Most of the rail-
roads have good eating houses, where a
meal can be had for 10 cents dollar.
Hotel Accommodation.
Nearly all the Cuban towns have fairly
good hotels. They are not kept after the
American fashion, and are not to be Judged
by the same standard yet they have some
pretenions toward accommodating guests
Ihe prices are a little higher than would
be the case in towns of the same size in
the United States Four dollars a day in
silver is a common charge, and not un-
usually 1t is more. Measured on a gold
basis, the traveller will have to allow at
least $3.50 day for hotel expenses II
the villages off from the railroad it is not
so great, though the entertainment is pas
sable. In Matanzas, Cardenas, Santa CIa-
ra, Sagua la Grande Cienfuegos and other
cities higher price must be paid There
are some stage lines off from the rail-
road, and the fares on these are pretty
stiff. Anybody who contemplates leaving
the railroads would probably save money
by buying a Cuban horse and saddle. The
animals feed on the native grasses and
their keep is not expensive.
Financial Complications,
The money question is likely to be both
ersome In travelling about the country
American money is at a premium which
varies from ~ to 10 per cent according as
exchange rises or falls with the shipments
of sugar and tobacco and other influences
that affect commerce. 1t would probably
be a safe calculation the coming winter to
estimate drafts or letters of credit from
the United States at a premium of 8 per
cent. This is on the theory that American
currency will not replace that which has
heretofore been in use. 1t Is not likely to
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