New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-15
CONDITIONS IN MATANZAS.
NEED OF SANITARY REFORM BY UNITED
STATES AUTHORITIES.
RUMORED EXTENSION OF THE FLAGI.ER EAST
COAST SYSTEM OF HOTELS TO CUBA

A RUMoRED EXTENSION OF THE FLAGLER EAST
COAST SYSTEM OF HOTELS TO CUBA
MATANzAs AS WINTER RESORT.
Matanzas Nov. s-Cuban cities not COM
monty ambitious for fame. Matanzas. however. In
its time has been known the second Naples. and
It yet has a Versailles. The name Of Naples was
given In the last century by the topographer who
traced the boundary lines. The chroncler says the
name did not prevail. because except in topogra-
ply, there resemblance to the Italian city.
Versailles IS more modern creation. II lies
across the Yumuri RIVER from the old town and
stretches up TO the hill OF Cumbre along the slope
Of which the Hospital Santa Isabel the mu-
nicral Quartet. or barracks. and other government
institutions The Versailles drive on the shore OF
the bay. ont Punto Gordo. celebrated In the
days when Matanzas was the next city to Havana
tn wealth and culture II will probably become
celebrated again when the era OF Amercanzation
develops. At present 1t is il-kept and neglected
The old Castle. or Fortress. Of San Severino Is
ut the end % the Versailles paseo II is not
formidable defence though the guns mounted on
is walls-the San Juan Eattery-did occasionally
BEECH at tho blocka ling squadron. Some Of these
guns are modern. Presumably the law mas already
been aid down by the American Military Commits
sion that these guns a not automobile. though
they swing pvOts. No attempt TO remove them
has thus far been made by the Spanish military
authorities 30 vessel has been here in which they
CoulQ nave been taken away. InrSe cannon may
not be very valuable bu: they are the only prop
orty in the fortress that Is worth anything. San
seyerino is valuable Only as an antiquity. The
Ines are said to have been laid in 1893. and the
original castle served as a garrison against the
incursions Of the pirates and buccaneers. The
present walls were rebuilt In l773 The drawbr!dge
IS ancient and the meats and fosses are inter-
esung reminder Of what constituted military de-
fences before modern invention revo.utionzed ord
The interior is like the interior OF all these
fortrcsses chiefly notable f0r its foul smells The
barracks OF the soldiers have the average amount
| Of filth They Will be uninhabitabe for American
troops until after fumgatlon lasting for months.
The nag must fly from san Sev.rino. but probably
the safe course Will be taken Of keeping the sol
diers IN the camps the sopes OF Cumbre and
| the other hills
THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROVOST GUARD.
| Further than this. when tho military occupation
! begins the provost guard Will be tho impor-
'ant feature % n. The many buildings which have
| been occupied by the Spanish troops may not be
| burned because the property s too valuable. but
they can be put Immediately under the cleansing
process. Moreover. several hundred bohias-pal,n
/ nuts OF the Observation-Disclosures be given over TO
the flames a. once. They nave no tenants now.
! he huis were vacated when the inmates were
carried out either 70 the hospitals TO the grave
, yarus. victims Of smallpox dysentery and "palu-
/ cid or starvation fever. on Cascaro Hill whore
was concentrated the greatest amount OF misery
! is custer Of pcstiential huts which ara a men
| ace 10 Whomsoevcr ventures 10 enter them long
! enough 10 breathe the fetd atmosphere The mu-
" ' attHoriiIeS are doing what they can and
.r..." ."' surface OF some of the streets
| cI'an. That j. the limit Of their means and %
ing need Of Maanzas When This is had TSe town
nay hesn 10 mink Of revived commerce and old
ms cleaning Up can BE- done with fair degree
90 'hoIoushn~ss IN 4 single season. The return to
more gradual but Will surely follow Possibly the
! EN- motel when Is projected for the benefit OF
fIf fir-F
~ "i MatanzAs mas mad the p.easurabIe sensation
Flagcr TO extend the Florida east-coast system %
I'M. lo" aII also 10 establish direct water com
II Nh Flager has not this enterprise in view some
| oiner American capitalist Will undoubtedly under
,aN. j.. VI me years mat the deSoation Of war
! mar 10 apprar 50 far back Matanzas was fa-
! yorie place with Americans who came 10 cuba
~ mas manifold ATTRACTIONS besides The climate for
! TIE winter visitor. The heights Of Monserrate and
/ Dumnrc. from which are had the views Of the
the other. The bay Itself win the Versailles paseo
opposite the San Juan River following its crooked
/ way through The hills and the caves Of Bellamar
o~'E pc" OF me pF3ies5i2ha Writer OF
American visitors 70 Matanzas and TO insure the
efeciion OF nne hote That NH keep golden
what flows through the regular channels Of com
THE SUGAR CROP
As to the immediate future the coming OF the
American troops continues TO be the promis
| Ing sign The railway managers and the sugar
planters are agreed in the view that they cannot
count this season a sugar production equal to
that OF last year. To be on the safe side they are
estimating falling or OF % per cent. The grind
/ ing VIII begin IN December. Small as the crop will
! be-. It's movement Will bring some activity to the
I harhor o. MatalZas \ few vessels are here nov
mostly cattle ships Since the importation of cattle
! was made free larg, numbers have been brought
( IN and shppel 10 the southeastern and eastern
| parts Of the prov ince. The commercial. firms are
agreed that A. soon the United States takes
nol OF the cusiom-houses and fixes the tariff rates
! there Will Doe heavy impOrtations. They look
ing for an immediate revival ~ tho shipping trade
! Politically. IL is to 10 said that Matanzas has al
undu" proportion OF Spanish iirecouclables They
! do not taxi" kindly 70 the order. whsther II
shall develop into permanent American control or
! shall emerge into an independent Cuban govern
! ment They have prohted hy Spanish rule. They
! VII gather together their plumber and go back 10
Spain. A. offset 70 these ciahles there IL
! an element Of influential Cuhans who identi-
| fed with the instruction and who are now advO-
eating annexation. The actual insurgents not
! following them. but there appears to be- mutual
liberation OF opinion. Tho question is not one call
ing FOR immediate solution II can be left 70 work
itself out while American military authorities
proceed with energetic sanitary measures and COM
merce gathers itself together In a normal manner.
III ~ III