The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-18
Many Spanish Families Have Left
but Tradesmen Do Not Be-
grudge This.
A PERIOD OF INACTIVITY
Trade Is Not Brisk at Present. but
Merchants Expect Improvement
When New Tariff Takes Effect.

NEW YORK. Dec. IA dispatch to
the Tribune from Havana says:
Havana is al the halfway stage be-
tween the departure Of the Spanish troops
and the coming Of the Americans The
city looks lonesome. II ls not desolate,
because hopetuIness and desolation do
not go together. and every body IL hope
ful OF the future. Trade is not brisk.
because. except In breadstuffs, there are
no ,mportations. That will be changed
as soon as the new tariff goes into effect.
In the retail districts occupied by the
middle classes. a fair amount Of business
is done. A walk through these sections
shows more activity than there was
month ago.
This Is due to the return OF SO many
Cuban families. In what would be called
the shopping districts OF the city, such
as oblspO street, which is the Fifth
avenue OF Havana. nothing is done. New
ertheless, the Spanish shopkeepers are
complacent. They prefer period OF dull
ness for single reason. The families Of
the Spanish officers and officials were
good customers. but we're not good pay.
The tradesmen dreaded their patronage
and sought to evade It as much as pos
slble. Neither were the Cubans good
pay, but credit could not be refused to
them without fear Of the consequences.
The Americans are coming; they are at
the same time good customers and good
pay. So the shopkeepers are content
with the present dullness in trade.
The city Ieeis the departure Of so many
Spanish families in a way. They helped
10 give It life. A few weeks ago 1t was
almost impossible to rent house in any
respectable quarter Of the city.
cubans, chiefly provisional men return
ing from their exile in the United States
and Eurore, had leased them. Now In
the suburbs the number of houses which
are closed and barred gives these places
the appearance Of a deserted town. They
have been occupied by both military and
civil officials who are returning to Spain.
The deserted appearance will not last
long. American officers whose duties
will keep them In Havana for some time.
and who have been looking in vain for
homes, will take advantage OF the op-
portunity as will a number Of business
men from the United States, who are
likely to change a short stay into a per-
iod OF permanent residence. Some OF the
Spanish officers are anxious to secure
their discharges and return to Cuba.
They have property which they do not
want to sacrifice. 1t would not do to
inquire too closely how they became pos
sessed of 1t. That was under the system
by which they all profited. AS Spain will
not have need OF large army in the fu-
ture 1t is presumed that these officers
will succeed in securing their discharges
Some of them have Carlist connec-
tion and this Will be an additional rea-
son for enabling them to return to Cuba.
Civilian classes who are going back to
Spain are taking their properly with
them or are arranging to have 1t con-
verted into cash and forwarded to them.
They have plucked 1t to the last feather
and all Of them return.
To assume otherwise would be to as
sumo that they have not taken advan-
tage Of their opportunities. No Spanish
official. whether he served under the old
regime or under the regime of autonomy,
cares to be placed in that category.
he was in the custom house or
some other branch of the public service
he would consider 1t reflection upon
MS ability.
The effect OF the departure of so many
officers and army camp followers on the
'afes Of Havana was few weeks ago
he subject OF interesting speculation,
It was thought most Of them would be
to close for lack Of patronage.
This will happen in some parts OF the
,ity, where the barracks were located
But in the section which Is the center of
social life, the neighborhood OF the
Parque Central. the theaters and the
clubs, this will not be so. The proprietors
nave met the new conditions by leasing
heir places to 'enterprislng" Americans,
who are converting the cafes into bar
rooms, with all the gilded attractions
which 60 with these institutions in the
states.
The bar rooms have annexes, where
gambling or all kinds can be indulged In
after the most approved American
methods. The annexes are, in fact, the
main concerns. Their managers expect
% do a rushing business. One Of the
eadlng hackers is understood to be the
proprietor of the game which is patron
zed by wealthy New Workers who go
% Long Branch or Saratoga in summer
rhe Spanish proprietors were at first
doubtful about putting their places in
he hands of the Americans. They
thought trouble might arise with the mill
airy authorities after the flag was float
ng from Morro Castle They were as
'ured that all this had been arranged
Che first business Of the American mil
tary commander Of Havana will be to
how that 1t has not been Arranged"
When the details Of the Spanish evacua-