Arizona republican., 1899-09-09
Military Control Must Continue
for Some TIME.
AS TO SANTIAGO PROVINCE
Excellent Opportunities for the In-
VeSfmenf of Capital The Gil
mafe Is Highly PraISed-Ab0uf
the Only Thing at Present Unsat.
ISfacfOry TO americans Is the
System of Justice.

Washington Sept S-The war de-
partment has received a report made
by General Leonard Wood upon the
conditions existing in Santiago and
Puerto Principe provinces of Cuba.
These are special reports called for by
the war department with the view of
obtaining all information possible con-
cerning the island
General Wood says that judging
from the experience of the past year,
the military control of the island must
continue for some time to ccme A
straightforward and honest admins.
Etration of affairs will do great deal
ito make it apparent to the people the
intention Of the government to punish
offenders, no matter what their rank
or station. Department commanders
should have authority to suspend any
official upon the presentation of evil
denee of inccmpetency or malfeasance
in office. The present method of re-
ferring evidence to Havana has ten
dency to leave the military ccmman-
der in contempt, and great delay is the
result A reform in taxation is also
recommended.
| General Wood devotes the first part
Of this report to a description CT the
geographical and physical features of
Santiago province. describing the
country, railroads, wagon reads,
streams. etc. Relative to roads, he
says that many of the wagon roads
have fallen into decay. which could be
repaired and reopened He also enters
into description CT the agricultural
conditions of the province, also its
harbors, industries, and, in fact, every
thing that could be of value to the de-
partment or to any person interested
in Cuba. He closes this part of the
report by saying:
Taken as a whole, the province Of
Santiago presents wonderful opportun-
ities for Industrious Americans. I
know of no portion of our own country
from which such great returns can be
expected in so short a time, provided
a stable government exists.
aside from the seaport towns,
many of which have been infected
with yellow fever, the country is
healthy Sunstroke is unknown; heat
prostration is rare
He says that there is some malaria
there. but treated properly it will pass
off. and the selection of house sites is
necessary to avoid such diseases. The
climate and 1hinfall is also discussed;
also the character and products cf the
soil There is considerable barren
land in the eastern end of the prov
ince, but in the western section it is
highly fertile.
Since the occupation of the province
by the United States, there have been
some improvements mada in the
towns of Santiago, Guantanamo, Man
zanillo, Baracoa, Holguin, Gibara and
other towns occupied by American
GCops. In Santiago the water supply
has been doubled and the death rate
reduced forty per cent Other improve
ments about these towns, which have
heretofore been mentioned, are dis
cussed in this report Inland transpcr-
tation is almost entirely by wagon and
pack train, principally the latter, and
until roads are constructed no real de-
of the interior OF the prov
ince is expected. General Wood says
the construction of the proposed CEN
trail railroad from Santiago to Santa
Clara, with branches, is of vital impor-
tance to the prosperity or the island.
While some mines have been worked
to advantage, many deposits of min
erals have not bsen developed at all.
A large part of the area of the prov
lnSra consists of lands which have never
bean reduced to private ownership
and are described as public land. They
are of two kinds: state and municipal
lands No general system fer dispos-
ing OF the public lands has ever been
adopted, nor has any complete survey
ever been made Leasetholds of such
sands and permits to cut timber have
been granted by the state and munich
oalities General Wood says that an
immediate need of the province is
survey, and a system devised
lor disposing of lands to actual Occu-
Iants.
Owing to the prolonged disturbances
n the country, education, both public
ind private, is very backward. Lack
If transportation and lack of means
lave retarded the development Of any
bino lilo an aducafinnal establish