The times., 1899-06-04
RAILWAYS IN CUBA.
Interesting Facts Concerning the
Lines and Their Facilities,
From the New York Tribun,

From the New York Tribune)
The National Railway Publication Com
pany. OF New York. has issued a valuable
pamphlet in the shape of a railway guide
for Cuba, which, with the maps that form
part of the publication, will be found val
liable by travellers. The time tables in
clude schedules for the following lines:
Habana and Jovellanos, Habana and Union,
Guanajay Branch, Union and Alfonso XII,
Empalure and Robles, Guines and Robes
and Madruga Branch, Habana and Bata-
bano, Guanabacon Branch, Cardenas and
Jucaro Yaguarmas Branch, Itabo Branch
Macagua Branch, Matanzas Railroad. Ca
bezas Branch, Jaquey Grande Branch, and
Cienfuegos and Villa Clara Railway. It
gives also time table of the steamer line
between Batabano and Santiago de Cuba.
In a carefully prepared article, which is
printed in connection with the time tables,
the railway managers in Cuba are describ-
ed as active. intelligent, and very courte-
Gus gentlemen. Their business is transact
ed with promptness that leaves nothing to
be desired and compares favorably with
the methods of railway managers in the
United States or any other country"
The roads are fenced in with cactus
hedges and stone walls, and the roads are
laid with steel rails from 80 to so pounds
to the yard. The passenger trains are pro-
cars are small, but have permanent tops
and not the tarpaulin covers employed in
European goods trains. The European
methods are followed in the matter of bag
gage which Is weighed and measured, and
the amount charged is collected and a re-
ceipt given. An ordinary trunk costs Sl.30
in Spanish silver from Havana TO Cardenas,
a distance of 1O5 miles. The rate of first
class passenger fare is about cents a
mile, or cents in Spanish silver.
The writer of the article says: THE tick
ct agent does not have an enviable time
in making change He now has three cur
rencies to deal with-American money,
Spanish gold and Spanish silver Ameri-
can soldiers in uniform are allowed to
| travel at half fare"
The cars are shorter than in the United
| States, and each train, as rule, consists
| of three coaches-first, second, and third
| classes-althought the classes are occa-
| sionally divided by partitions in the same
car. The conductor is called the chief
| of train,' and wears no uniform except a
service cap The brakemen wear no uni
| forms, and a man in that position bare
foot is no uncommon sight. On the Carde-
| mas and Juearo Railway buffet is con-
| Quoted in the baggage car, and articles TO
| eat and to drink are served in the passen-
ger coaches. Dodgers containing list of
the articles for sale are distributed on the
train
Captain Hand. of Gen. James H. VIII
| sons staff, says in his report on the sub
| iect OF Cuban railroads: They are gener-
ally well built and fairly equipped. The
roadbeds are generally OF good width and
well drained, and the main lines and more
important branches are laid with steel
| rails more or less worn, of weights vary
| ing from fifty to sixty-two pounds. Cross
ties are mostly of the hard woods OF the
country, and are spaced as the rate OF
1000 to 2,640 to the mile. The masonry
for bridges and culverts is of stone or ce-
ment All the bridges noticed were OF
short span with either iron girders or
| wooden stringers for superstructures. The
station buildings and freight warehouses
are mostly of concrete, with tile roofs.
Nearly all sidings are in poor condition.