The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-03
AMERICANS
POURING IN.
Havana is Rapidly Assuming
the Appearance
Of a City of the United States
of America.
A STEADY PROCESSION
Of Horses, Mules and Wagons
Through the Streets.
Business Men and SalOOnkeep-
ers Are With the Advance.

New York, Dec. 3.-A Herald dispatch
from Havana says:
The pier at Marianao beach is now fully
completed and Colonel Hecker in his re-
port shows it to have ten feet of water
al low-tide, sufficient for all ighterage
that may be attempted. General Greene,
who was reported to have rejected the
pier and whose alleged remarks were given
by correspondents here, says he was mis-
quoted. He approves the work and ex-
poets it to answer all purposes for which
it was designed.
Colonel Hecker, who leaves for home to-
morrow and is not to return to Havana
before January 1, yesterday signed con-
tract for the construction of a pier be-
yond Casa Blanca in Havana harbor and
for railroad track from the pier to
Guanabacoa. The contract was awarded
to the American Indies company of New
York, which is associated in this venture
with the railroad contracting firm of
Drake, Stratton & Co. The railroad track
is to be six miles in length, and at GUIANA
bacoa will connect with the Matanzas line
of railroad and by this means form direct
connection with the railroads leading out
of Havana.
Colonel Hecl1er today completed series
of conferences with railwty managers as
to rates OF transportation OF troops and
A reasonably satisfactory agreement
Havana now looks more like an Ameri-
can city than ever before in its existence.
Americans come by every boat, unde-
is being felt severely, officers being quar-
tered in all the hotels and in many resi-
dences. The unloading of transports
keeps an almost constant procession of
horses, mules and ambulances, army wa
gons and stores passing through the
streets.
Americans, even in uniform, no longer
attract more than passing notice. Ameri-
can business men are making themselves
felt, though, as usual the saloon man is
first to offer his goods to the public.
American saloons are opening in all parts
fOrded. This is something not likely to
be given, as army officers are opposed to
permitting gambling of any sort.
Not only has General rGeene brought
order out of chaos. and given good start
to the work of preparation for the Arneri-
can troops, but by his unvarying good ma
ture he has made discord impossible.
Speaking to me this morning he said;
Americans with a most critical eye They
will be quick to see any mistakes we may
jealousies exist among our officers or men,
for nothing would weaken US so thorough
ly or quickly as internal dissension."
1t has been decided that it would be folly
to attempt to clean the entire city, even
temporarily, with the $4,000 which has
been placed to General Greene's credit, so
Ma jor Davis has been making an investi-
cation of the city and has decided that at
tention should first be directed to the
and the slaughter house districts. When the
work is organized under the direction of
Captain Geary, who has been made in
Green, the first lesson will be given in
municipal cleanliness.
One reason why more extensive opera
tions cannot be carried out al present is
the fact that a contract for cleaning the
paved portion of the city has been given
over this at present would entail many
complications No attempt will be made
to deal systema tically with the cleaning
of the city until we obtain absolute con-
| troll Of matters.