The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-17
4 THE HALF WAYSTACE
.,,,,, Is Lonesome Looking During the
State Of Transition
\, ARE HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE
:. xot Brisk because lmporta-
Arc Awaiting the Eff
t.ctiveness of New Tarin.

vew York, Dece"uei w. '''"'' US
ran, Havana says; Havana is at the
,v stage between the departure OF
,.sh and the coming of the Amer
v The city looks lonesome, 1t is not
'-.,.,e because hopefulness and deser-
4, mt go together and everybody Is
~.,,, ~ the future. Trade is not brisk,
outside of breadstuffs, there are
,rnortat.ons. That will be changed as
u, az the new tariff goes into effect. In
4. ,e,aI districts occupied by the middle
...es fair amount of business is done.
walk through those sections shows
.,. activity than there was two months
~ This Is due to the return of so many
,s,Aan families. In what would be called
n shopping district of the city" such
!. obispo street, which is the Fifth ave-
me Of Havana, nothing is doing. Nevsrthe-
~ the Spanish shopkeepers are COM
slacen They prefer a period of dizziness
~ A single reason. The families of Span
M officers and officials were customers,
NM we're not good pay. The tradesman
dreaded their patronage and sought TO
wade it as much as possible. The Cubans
have not been good pay either. for they
lave nothing with which to pay.
The city feels the departure of SO many
spanish families in way. They helped
10 give 1t life. A few weeks ago it was al
most impossible TO rent a house in any
respectable quarter of the city. Cubans,
chiefly professional men returning from
Aeir exile in the United States and
Europe, had leased them. Now in the sub
urbs the number of houses which ara
tloed and barred gives these places the
appearance OF a deserted town. They have
BEN occupied by both military ard civil
officials who are returning to Spain.
~ deserted appearance viii not last
long American officers whose duties will
Aep taem in Havana for some time and
Who have been looking in vain for homes
vii take advantage OF the opportunity as
will number of business men from the
United States, who are likely to change a
short stay into period on permanent resi-
dence.
Some Of the Spanish officers are anxious
10 secure their discharges and return 10
Cuba. They have property which they do
not want 70 sacrifice. 1t would not do to
Inquire too closely how they became pos
hNed OF 1t. That was under the system
by which they all profited. AS Spain will
not have need OF a large army in the fu-
tine, 1t is presumed that their officers
vii succeed In procuring thfir discharges
Some Of them have Carlist connections
and this will be an additional reason for
cabling them to return to Cuba
The civilian classes who are going back
70 Spain are taking their property with
then or are arranging to have it con-
ymted into cash and forwarded to them.
1aey have plucked it to the last feather
sri all Of them return rich. To assume
Otherwise would be to assume that they
bare not taken advantage OF their oppor-
ftunttae. No Spanish official, whistler he
served under the old regime or under the
regime Of autonomy. cares TO be placed in
tM catagory. Whether he was in the
Custom house or in some other branch OF
The government service he would consider
u ref ection on his ability.
'Enterprlsirg" Americans are CONVEX.
NJ the cafes into barrooms with all the
eiiaed attractions which 90 wsth these in
Sltunons in the States. The barrooms
pave snsxes in which gambling of al kinds
can DO INDUCED after the most approved
American methods. The annexes are, in
iaa', the main concerns, Their managers
expect to do a rushing" business. One
q the leading hackers is understood 10 be
lS proprietor of the game which is patron
izsa oy wealthy New Workers who go TO
Long Branch and Saratoga in summer.
ia spanish proprietors were at first
soueunl about putting their places in the
nnos OF the Americans. They Thought
snoanle might arise with the military au-
aoNues after the flag Wiz floating from
., auio castle They were assured that i
'ak mad been arranged" The first bust
nsss Of the American military con>xander
y havana will he to show that it Dad not
osen arranged"
When the details of the Spanish eyacua-
~. "a were first arrengTl some anxiety was
u lest large number OF Spanish COM
"uv'al and industrial classes should also
Msr'ate themselves. This fear hiss not
q, w realized. Whatever doubts the Span
=. s. business men may have had about the
'ocrSy of life and property under the
'~ ~ order were quickly dissipated.
aa. q vacuum exists in Havana Is a
~, ss'eot fact. More people are going ont
snn are likely TO come in for many
nv, uDu,ns THE rottenness of the Spanish
~ ,riNsy methods could be Judged during
M AN 'nsurrecalon by the great Number OF
wv e.s who were always in Havana ON
Il Wiy; Tho disproportion to these who
sny circumstances We're seeing active
$3.50 In the field was marked. Since The
S St,sss nave gone the void created by their
A gives even a strong impression
al. melr numbers. They are literally The
.ay Glass Of the population which was too
ra' saous TO be counted The void is one
s, rSa VIII no, be filled. The American
sma.sns VIII be kep< out of Havana.
~ s a.a' officers Will not be quartered in
r,. ..V ana spread over 1t like cloud OF