The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-01
FROM CUBA.
Views Of the IsIand-Sk etches of the
PeopIe-NoIes Of the Material Re-
Sources Of our Newly Acquired

SOuEceS VI OuE SNS"hy ~~-
Territory.
Lieutenant ]. D. Rooney OF the Third Unit
ed States volunteers, better known as Rays
immunes, Is In Atlanta on furlough and has
given The Journal an Interesting interVie"
on the conditions existing IN Pa ana sonuS bn Ins
is in Hawkinsville.
.The Third United States volunteer regi.
ment, Colonel P. H. Ray commanding. was
organized at Macon, Ga, and has an excep.
tional record among the volunteer forces,
said Lieutenant Rooney. Colonel Ray reach
ed Macon June 5th and the regiment organiz
since which time It has been one among the
important regiments suppressiug outrages
and depredations among the sugar planta'
tions, and other interests affecting the Gu
bans. At the time our regiment landed IN
Santiago the city was in very filthy condi,
ton, but under the management OF Generai
day as clean as any city in America. One
great feature OF General Woods ability com.
prlses not only executive ability, but also be-
ing ing and as he is a f1rsi.ciass surgeon has the
requisite knowledge to place and keep city
in perfect sanitary conditions in fact be Is the
best equipped man on the Island OF Cuoa To-
"A great deal of the sickness that has been
among the enlisted men was entirely on ae-
o9ns S tasF EsnE ea1e
ipdulging In inferior drtn Ks, and paying no
attention TO the extreme heat OF the middle
of the day, hes placed many OF them IN the
hospital, that their superior officers and the
medical department we're blamed for. At
present the general condition OF all the regl-
Inents is rapidly improving, there being very
little sickness and very little discomfort
among the men.
INDUSTRIES IN SANTIAGO.
"The city of Santiago is the second of Inn,
portance on the island, aud has more varied
Industries and enterprises than any other
. tron nf 10
more thickly populated, 1t can only claim
sugar, tobacco fruits and vegetables as Its
principal industries, but the province OF
Santiago not only comprises these, but In ad-
dition there are large forests OF hard woods,
such as mahogany and rosewood, also cattle
raising chocolate and coffee, together win
one OF the largest iron mines In the word;
The steel pier is a matter OF history. the noted
Carnegie being Interested In this mine.
Vessels load every week from this pier for
different ports. This mine alone gives WORE
Sat El Cobre there was forme erly operated
one Of the largest copper mines In the world.
Prior to the ten years war several million
dollars worth OF machinery was destroyed
and since that time 1t has not been operated
Thisis grand opening for American capital.
1.-The climate Of the city as we'll as OF the
Ing nom loo, which is the highest, to 60,
which Ia the lowest. The nights during the
extreme bot months are very pleasant, anu
during the spring, autumn and winter are
60, occupied with its surroundings, Will no
doubt in q few years bo the great health re-
sort Of the world. The city lies very compact
ly on beautiful hill leading down TO
wharf on a beautiful bay, which is six miles
from the narrow entrance at MORO Castle.
Back Of this the mountains loom up from one
and unsurpassed background. Through this
mountains section are flowing beautiful
mountain streams, we'll filled with the finest
Of fish The hills and ravines In the finest OF
oh xuilh I'M
and doves. all Of which are In great abund-
ance, offering great inducements TO the sport
ing and hunting class.
ABOUT THE CUBANS.
"I find In conversing with great many OF
my friends in the states that they do not
understand the situation in Cuba. or the Gu
bans. looking upon them as people or ma ma
tion having enjoyed the same advantages
that we have, but we should STOP and remem.
ber that virtually since 1850 they nave
fSSs TO ISIS We know their condition, as this
was the history Of the ten years war.
"The majority Of the Cubans, knowing
what Spanish bondage meant. naturally re.
mained in the mountains. preferrlug to suffer
want and privation rather than return to
this former bondage. Hence the majority OF
them who have lived In the interior, suffer-
ing these privations, have practically had no
educational advantages since 1850. 30 they are
not In condition to readily accede to, or TN.
derstand what free and Delf-government Is,
but they are q people quick to catch on to
American ideas and American ways, and as
soon as they are educated up TO what actual
Independence Is and means, they will readily
and wishes to promulgate. Hence our people
should not be too quick or rash In Judging
our sister nation, but give them ample time
to show what they can do.
"From coming in contact with black Gu
bans ! find that they are different grade OF
II. humanity from the southern negro, those |
came IN contact with having high cheek
n lcfr i0h stQt hh
ing them to be above the negro, and can only
be classed unfortunately as black Cubans.
However, the better class OF Cubans hope TO
draw the line even as closely as 1t Is draw q
in our country between the white and black
"Our people should be slow to judge our
neighbnrs, livlng under government as @ tSey
were all thrown closely together, living and
subsistipg upon native fruits, and hiding In
the mountains has naturally drawn them
closer together than they would have been
otherwise.
CONDITIONS IN THE PROVINCE.
"Rsturuing to the general condition OF the
In the construction of interior roads and 9th.
er work, and 30 furnish employment. 80
there can be no discomfort among the laoor'
ing classes find In all the cities that nave
visited during my furlough none have receiv'
ed higher words Of praise or commentator
than General Wood. In fact. all say he is the
right man in the right place.
newspapers referring TO the Immune regi-
ment as Rays Mules or Immunes. This is
doing as grave injustice, as feel satisfied
show any clearer record than the Third Unit
ed States volunteers.
, "Sixty days from its organization 1t was
doing garrison duty On the island, WIN
scarcely any arrests or giving any trouble to
the city of Macon while there. and only two
of It's members being placed under arrest by
the provost guard while In the city OF SANTA.
go. This is entirely due TO the discipline OF
who Is considered one OF the best disciplina-
rians id the army. Although there are many
sarcastic allusions made to the Third and us
commanding officer. there Is no man IN the
service who looks more carefully after the
interests OF his regiment, and believe that
no regiment from the time OF Its organization
up to the present can show better record
'At the present this regiment is located as
follows: One company Is at Sagua Detanum.
three companies at Varacoa and one at
Jamaica. The remainder of the regiment is
scattered over twenty large sugar plan tations
looking after the interests Of the planters.
OUTLOOK FOR INVESTMENTS.
Santiago at present is one OF the best open
ings for the investment OF American capital
in the various businesses OF any city on the Is.
land, as the Cubans prefer dealing with an
American merchant instead OF a Spanish
reconcentrado, looking upon all others save
Americans with certain degree CT mistrust,
but SO far finding their dealings with Ameri.
cans to be such as to beget perfect confidence.
They have ex pressed themselves to me as be.
ing anxious for Americans to invest In the
various lines Of business pertaining to the
city OF Santiago. Correspondence with any
officer at department headquarters or any
prominent Cuban will readily verify these
facts. ! found no more hospitabe or genial
people anywhere than the promiDen ent Cubans,
and urge our American people who contem
plate visiting or investing to treat them with