The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-03
CONFIDENCE IN CUBA
PervadeS the Business Class
If Not the Political.
NO STIRRING EVENTS NOW
Havana's Queer Shops and
Their Exorbitant Prices.

New Yor. Feb. 1.-The Havana CORE
spondent OF the Evening Post writes: In
the consideration of the greater number
of questions effecting the island, it may
almost be said that Havana is Cuba. Much
of the wealth of the country is drawn
to the metropolis from other points, but
Havana is the general focal point of most
of its interests. 1t is the populous city Of
the island and the seat of government.
The first weeks of American occupation
have now passed. and the opportunity IS
offered for a general review Of the open
ing hours of the new era.
One of the notable features here though
out the week have been the general COM
ment of press representatives concerning
III scarcity OF news matter that was really
worth Telegram. The days have not been
devoid of incident, but they have been
quite barren Of events. With the excep-
ton of one or two occurrences 10 which
no political significance can be attached
and which have only been such as "dy be
expected al any time in a city Ct a ouple
of hundred thousand people, all has been
quiet and orderly. The presence cf troops
in some of the central squares gives those
points something of a warike appearance.
Two or three of the leading hotels are quite
blue with the uniforms of American Off
GERS. But, except for an occasional guard
with his Krag- Jorgenson rife. the business
streets of the city present no sign of war
or OF other conflict than the purely COM
mercial.
The commercial problem which so ser
iously affected the merchants of Porto
Rico during the early days of American oc-
cupation there has not been presented
here The framing and the operation of a
definite tariff law which took effect in
practical coincidence with the American
administration have given the merchants
of Cuba clear working basis for CONNER
cial transactions.
La Lucha sums up the week in CONNER
cial circles as follows: Business is gradu-
ally recovering from its former prostration
and since the commencement of the year
a fair number of transactions have been
closed at the Provision Exchange at stead
Ter prices than those which formerly ruled.
A feeling of confidence which is fast
spreading among our people imparts strong
hopes for a more settled situation Than
has prevailed for the last four years. We
now feel sure that under the influence
of peace and a prudent honest, and eco
nomical administration, Cuba VIII need
but a short time to totally retrieve the
losses caused by war and regain her former
rosperity. The recent publication cf the
new tariff. which reduces that Of .he Span
i-:
e:gn:hs, has considerably improved the
good feeling that is likely to impart
greater activity to the market"
Such a report in paper Of the standing
of La Lucia is certainly hopeful and en-
couraging. There have been and there
still are those whose faith in the honesty
and intentions of United States govern
ment presented a strong flavor of the scep-
teal. So far, theen, as commercial affairs
are concerned the new boom in the island
seems TO be working quite satisfactorily.
Another paper, the Havana Herald, ex-
presses its opinion in a two column review
of the week, l quote: Business is now
seeking to resume its customary sway, and.
while it is hardly possible 20 make a sud-
den leap into prosperity, a sense of Sc
curity of life and property is being felt
such as has not been experienced for
years" This IS also encouraging and graft
flying if, as is doubtless the case. it voices
the general sentiment of the merchants Of
the city and the island.
1t is to be remembered that the occupa-
ton of Cuba by the government of the
United States has been met by not a little
open. and still more badly concealed. dis
trust on the part of many people on the
island. Uncle Sans landing in Porto Rico
was hailed with general and vOciferous
protestatiohs Of sstisfactics and hearty
welcome. IT is true that some of them
were of doubtful sincerity. but they we're
given voice just the same. The welcome
here has certainly been less general, and
there has not been lacking an element
of more or less distinct objection and pro-