The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-27
It IS Very Rapidly Becoming
Americanized.
ALREADY A NEW CITY
SPANISH TAXES WILL CEASE
THERE on JULY 1.
PREPARE TONS FOR A BIG "fOURTh'
Political Future of the Island sill Matter Of
Uncertainty. Ma y Es- o'diers Set
g n the Island. t 6 For
tunes VIII be Made.

A member of the News and Observer
staff is in receipt of very interesting
letter from Mr.. John y. liar
rell. who is now living in Havana. Cuba.
He writes most enthusiastically OF the
natural advantages of the island ana
speaks hopefully of its future. In the
course of his letter Mr.. Harrell says;
I'm 1892 | spent Il week III Havana
and have a very vivid recollection OF that
visit. Although quite young at the time
I was much impressed with the beauty
and fascinatioG of the Cuban calAtai.
Upon my return to this city now, aIter
it has been so fortunate as to ran uh
der American control, | find 1t more
charming and fascinating than ever.
The work that has been done here D.!
United States officials in cleaning up
improving. and identifying the city can
hardly be described. There is to be
seen every where evidences of thrift,
prosperity and civilization. All the
streets are thoroughly swept and washed
every day-new pravements are being
laid in every observation-disclosures being re-
painted and remolled, and new struct'
ures are rising in every quarter of the
city. Surely Havana may now be
called an ideal city and home. The eli
mate is delightful, the heat not so OPP
pressive as in our own Southern States.
The nights are cool and one can ENJOY
refreshing and pleasant sleep.
"This is what is known as the rainy
season. and it's terrors have been most
wonderfully magnified. 1t is true that
it rains quite often, but the showers
are similar to those we have in April
at home, and they do not in the slight
est degree interfere with either pleasure
or business.
1.-The city is becoming rapidly 'Ameri
canized' in some ways, but yet there
are many antique and interesting Span
ish customs which will no doubt remain
in effect in Cuba until the end of time
and this fact will not detract any from
the charm of Cuban life.
"There. are great many American
people now in Havana. some engaging
in various enterprises. but great mum
bers of them seem to be solely on pleas
ure bent and l am of the opinion that
this latter class, unless their bank ac
count is very strong, will soon find that
the very high cost of living here, will
shortly make them 'sorrow-broke.'
''Most of the Americans who are here
are learning the language. while the Gu.
bans are very slow in acquiring enough
English to make themselves understood
at all, and this shows that the language
of the Island will forever be Spanish
"The people are looking forward with
great interest to the first Of July, when
Spain will have nothing more to do with
levying and collecting the taxes, as this
will bring about considerable reduc-
tion in the price and cost of living.
I'VE are doing remarkably well in our
work and expect soon to have established
an American colony Of 100 families
between this city and Matanzas. Most
Of the men to whom we are now selling
these farms are discharged soldiers and
Government employees. and they are all
delighted with their new work. With
pluck and energy many fortunes will
be, made very quickly upon these rich
Cuban lands, and any man who is will
ing to work need not have the slightest
doubt as to his success.
Great, preparations are being made
here by the Americans in this city for
the proper observance and celebration
Of the '4th Of July There will be fire.
works and parades of every description
with general wind-up Of the days fes-
tivities in ten-dollar-a-plate dinner at
the rooms Of the American Club. OF
course we shall be among the most en-
thnsiastic Americans on that occasion.
and if you were here you would see
the dear old North Carolina State Flag
proudly waving in front of our office
throughout the day.
There seems to be a feeling of I'M
rest and uncertainty throughout the
island as to what will be the final poIiti-
cal destiny of Cuba. A great diversity
of opinion prevails as to what steps
the United States will take in the mat
ter. The Cuban leaders of course, de-
sire absolute control Of the island while
great numbers of the people on the
other hand, having seen the beauties
and benefits of American administration,
desire annexation to the United States
The Cubans is general have a very mis-
taken idea as to the meaning of Free
Cuba and claim that it is nothing more
or less than Cuba turned over to the
Cubans. This is a great mistake and the
United States Government ought to take
full and complete possession of the is
land, which has been earned at the
cost Of thousands Of American lives
and also millions of dollars. An Ameri-
can Civil Government should be estab-
lished at once which will give to Cuba
the same beautiful and glorious free
dom, prosperity and civilization. as
is enjoyed by all the other States of our
American Union; and thus all contro-