The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-09
Maj. GEN. WILSON
IS INVESTIGATING
Everything Looking Favorable in
Rural District
NO NEED FOR GUARDS

Z ss -
NO NEED FOR GUARDS
The General Looking Up Statistics on
Brigandage American Banking Sys-
tenn Fast Becoming Popular-34,-
600 Rations to Be Distributed
Havana. May s.zMajor General Wilson.
governor of tho department of Matanzas.
santa Clara. has visited within the last ten
days every point within Santa Clara prov
inee. and Secretary Alcalde has interviewed
every, Judge, priest. school teacher. banker
aiid Important planter in the localities he
has4Sisited. He now intends to go on
horse back TO. many communities off the
railway lines. His experience has been to
hold receptions Tor the purpose of his i'm
vestigatfons until 10 O'Clock every day and
tken dance until u or L Everywhere hs
has been the recipient of complimentary
/. at tentfons, half dozen balls having been
given in his honor, and the people of dae
province have evidently been greatly
| pleased at his appearance among them in
this way. %
Investigates Brigandnge
At several points weAere he received re-
ports OF brfgandsge he made.it a point 70
investigate these personally or through
|. members; Of mis- staff While he was near
Calabasa, he was told that six bandits had
ATTACKED the Los Angeles estate and been
driven off by the police after sharp ex-
lcl1a nses Of shots. He sent, Lieutenant Col
onel Reber and the. Cuban general, Jesins
Montaguedo, to make inquiry They found
that there had been no bandits near~ the
estate and that the only basis Tor the story
was that MIR. McCullach, owner of the
estate. has seen flashes of squad firing in
the direction of Los Angeles. The theory
is that some SPANISH tobacco buyers had
arranged to have shots fired to give color
to the rumors of the presence of bandits
In order to cause timidity among tobacco
sellers and thus secure sales at low prices.
General Wilson was told that two bodies
of men, evidently murdered, had been
found at the point. but it turned out that
the eefnd'' was a single skeleton with the
skull marked with machete, relic OF
the Spanish regime. Nor was there any
better foundation for the stories OF dis
order which had come to his ears before
he started on the tour on investigation. IN
deed, he found the province Of Santa Clara
absolutely tranquil.
No Necessity for Rural Guard
Today General Wilson came to Havana
and conferred with Governor-General
Brooke, reporting that there was no neces-
sity for rural guard. He said he des red
to use the appropriation of $1,000 month
| in other ways General Brooke adopted
his conclusions, and the rural guard in
Santa Clara will he disbanded General
Monteaguedo their commander, will aid
General Wilson in every way to keep the
province quiet.
General Wilson was very greatly I'M
pressed with the docility of the people in
the country which he traversed, and he
earnestly deprecates the acceptance with
out proper investigation by the newspa-
pers Of wildcat stories circulated by gos
sips or DIES gning persons, especially by
those who wish to get jobs as rural po-
ncenen'' He believes, he says, that there
is no more need for rural guards in this
department than in the United States.
49, lllSpa IcHeS IfOIn ucllO AHSipC
that five mounted negroes made an attack
upon store and carried off $500.
President Mckinley, through the
adjutant general, has instructed Governor
General Brooke to make the North
American Trust company here the
| depository of all the funds of the
| government in the island and consequently
| the money in the strong boxes here will
be Immediately moved to the bank.
1t is expected that American banking
] methods will increase in popularity.
Many customers of private banks now
demand tine Introduction of this feature.
The North American Trust company is
| loaning largely on bills Of lading and
| other equally good securities. The
institution refuses at present to lend on
mortgages, as the laws regulating them
are apparently not quite clear.
Occasional leans are made upon existing
sugr and tobacco crops but land is not
considered a safe investment. Many
persons consequently, thought rich in land.
are nearly starving. Though unable to
obtain loans, they refuse to sacrifice their
property which would sell for practically
nothing under present circumstances
| OWING lOr.sInS srtsAssellISu state u lue
| country and the disposition of investors to
hold off, pending the final settlement of
the political situation.
ls'4 ssathns viii Be Distributed
During the month of May $4,000 INDECENT
rations will be distributed.
A prominent Havana banker called upon
General Brooke today to report with own
crs of coasting vessels who have been ask
| ing recognition and the right to visit for
eign ports are willing to use the United
| States flag The Avisador Commercial
SAYS that the Americans are reserving this
| .,,.i,.il.,.r.n 10, tlnna snlvas aNclnsiNalv La