Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-02
Captain Street Has Been Taking
Rations to Them.
HAS A POOR OPINION OF TEE NATIVES
Believes That They Are incapable
of SeIf-Government
GOLD ON TIL ISLAM d


commissary officer in charge of supplies
10, is in the city and was seen at the RAJ
| leigh by a Star reporter today.
Captain Street has carried to Cuba 1900,
900 rations to be distributed to the Cubans
| since January 10. In excess of those ra-
lions he has taken to Cuba 100000 cans
| of condensed milk, 100000 cans of soups,
consisting of oXtail, beef, chicken and some
clam soup; also rice, sugar, coffee, pepper,
soap baking powder, fresh yeast. He has
visited Havana, Sagua, MatanZas, Nuevi-
tas, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Tunis, turn
ing his supplies over to the depot commits
saries of those places.
How do the Cubans receive these gifts %
the reporter asked.
They take all they can get, and do not
thank you a d bit for it. That is the plain
English of it," was his reply. Il think
they are the most ungrateful set l ever
came across, and no one was stronger
pro-Cuban than | was before the war was
begun. Any officer there will tell you
the same thing
What do you regard as the present pros
pect OF getting these people on a se.f-sup-
porting basis?"
Cuhans Unwilling to Work.
IF they desire to work do not see why
they could not be put on that basis now
The war has been over for some time.
was told by a gentleman who is running a
Dig plantation near Nuevitas, a plantation
carrying $20O0,0o0 of machinery, that he
wanted to employ 1000 men at $40 a month
ana rations. That is regarded as good pay
for them. He could not get the men and
when inquired why he could not get them
he said: The government is feeding them
ard they do not have to work. The vice
1{s3f- out of
Nuevttas told me he could give employment
TO 1000 men If he could get them, but he
could not. There are a large number of the
widows and orphans of Cubans who were
Killed OF died of disease during the war.
They are largely in the interior, and it is
necessary that they should have food. 1t is
question in my mind whether they get it.
1t is not possible to distribute relief SUD-
plies in Cuba as that work might be done
In this country where there are organiza-
tons that could assist in the work. Our
idea is that man will supply the women
and children of his family before he sup
plies himself, but these Cubans supply
themselves first. and it is doubtful Ques-
ton what their families get
What do you think of the ability of the
Cubans to govern themselves"
Not Qualified for SeIf-Goyernment
They have no such ability. If they I'M
dertake that it will result in anarchy,
hrigandage and revolution. I would rather
see the government here turned over to
the negroes of Georgia than the govern
ment Of Cuba turned over to those people
Understand M. there is a large number
hundreds of them, of Intelligent Cubans
who have property and have had advan-
tGges of education, but they form an ex
ceedingly small part of the whole To the
ignorant class independence would mean
| license. They all want to be officers. There
has been a great improvement of the sani-
tary conditions in Cuba since our troops
have been there. There is no reason why
Cuba should not be as healthy as our
southern states If they followed proper
sanitary rules. Gen. Wood has built 200
miles of road about Santiago that is as
good as roads about the Soldiers Home
here. He has put sewers in Santiago and
has given contracts for laying asphalt
pavements there. Gen. Wood told me the
receipts from customs at Santiago are
$4,000 a month, and from that he has
paid all expenses of administration and
made flaSe improvements; he has establish
ed sixty English schools there and is pay
ing the teachers, and he has turned over a
large sum to the head officer at Havana
for contingent expenses. He has announc-
ed that h will give no free rationS to the
men. They must work for them. He is
supplying rations to women and children
who have no support and cannot work,
but the men have to work for what they
get"
How do the educated Cubans feel about
the question of the independence of the
island?" Capt. Street was asked
Such Cubans of that class that l have
talked to favor annexation he replied.
They recognize the fact that they can
not control affairs.
Gold and Silver in Abundance.
Capt. Street was in the west during the
height of the gold fever there, and is thor
0ughly familiar with mining countries. He
had with him a large lump of quartz, which
he said contained copper and silver, having
brought it to the city to be assayei.
IF l had been put ashore on the south
coast of Cuba, without knowing where |
was" said Capt. Street, Il would have
thought L was In the vicinity If Mount Da
wilson, where the Bonanza mines of Ne
Vada are located There is the same forma-
ton that is found in the richest mining re-
sions. and nature never lies. ] an satisfied
that gold and silver will pc found in Cuba
in the greatest abundance, an /. in my Cpn-
ion, the development that will accompany
that industry will solve ne C.iban CUES
ton. What has occurred in parts Of the
United States will occur here. An er.clI.s
will rush in, and Cuba will &c : me rcan-
lied, There is also rich ron land trtre,
and although coal has not 'tullly been
discovered. we always find .:"al rear he
iron The Carnegie company has been set
ting iron there for some ime.