Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02
Military Control Must Continue for
Sons Time,
CONDITIONS aN SANTIAGO PROVINCE
Opportunities Excellent for Invest
mept of Capital.
CT M A TIE IS PRAIS ED

ne war department has received q re-
port made by Gen. Leonard Wood upon the
conditions existing in Santiago and Puerto
Principe provinces Of Cuba. These are spe-
clal reports called for by the War Depart
ment with the view of obtaining all infor-
nation possible concerning the island.
Gen, Wood says that judging from the
experience of the past year. the military
control of the island must continue for
some time to come A straightforward and
honest administration of affairs will do a
great deal to make 1t apparent to the peo-
pie the intention of the government to
punish Offenders, no matter what their
rank or station. Department commanders
should nave authority to suspend any Of
i upon the presentation of evidence of
ncompetency or malfeasance in office The
present method of referring evidence to
havana mas tendency to leave the mil
ta5y department commander in contempt,
ana great delay is the result A reform in
tSSaIlCn is also recommended.
zen Wood devoteS the first part of this
report TO description of the geographical
slu physical features of Santiago province
roads, streams. etc Relative to roads he
says that many of the wagon roads have
Iahen INTO decay, which could be repair
eu ana reopened. He also enters into a
description OF the agricultural conditions
OF the province also it's harbors indus
.r1es, and, in fact, everything that could
Dol, pe OF Vaiue to the department or to any
person interested in Cuba He closes this
part or the report by saying:
Wonderful Opportunities,
Taken as whole, the province of San
tlaso presents wonderful opportunities for
Industrious Americans. | know of no nor
tloh OF our own country from which such
great returns can be expected in SO short
tlme, provided a stable government ex-
ASIDE from the seaport towns MANY IF
whlch nave been infected with yellow fever,
the country is healthy. Sunstroke is un-
known; neat prostratfon is rare"
lie says that there Is some malaria there
Dut treated properly it will pass off and
the selection of house sites Is necessary tn
AVOID SUCH diseases. The climate and rain
ran Is also discussed: also the character
ana prooucts or the soil. There is consid-
cradle barren land in the eastern end of the
highly fertile - 40
Since the occupation of the province by
the United States. there have been some
improvements made jim the towns of Santi
ago Guantanamo. Manzanillo, Baracoa,
Holguin, Gibara and 'bther towns occunfed
by American Troops. Nm Santiago the water
supply has IS beef doubled and the death rate
about these TOWNS. which have heretofore
been mentioned, are discussed in this re-
port Inland Transportation is almost en-
tirely by wagon ana, pack train. princi-
p"iiS tiiC ititteI. anu 4uiltll ROADS are con-
structed no real Development of the in
terror of the 'provinee is expected. Gen.
Wood says the CONSTRUCTION of the proposed
central rairoah from Santiago TO Santa
ance to the prosperity of the island While
some mines have been worked to advan-
tage, many DEPOSITS Of minerals have not
been developed at ALL.
a large part Of the area of the province
consists of lands which have never reduced
to private ownership and described as
public land. They are of two kinds; state
and municipal lands. No general system
for disposing of the public lands has ever
been adopted, nor has any complete sur
vey ever been made. Leaseholds Of such
lands and permits to cut timber have been
granted by the state and municipalities
General Wood says that immediate need
of the province is a complete survey and
a system devised for disposing of lands to
actual occupants.
owing TO prolonged disturbances in the
country, education. both public and private
is very backward. Lack Of transportation
and lack of means. have retarded the de-
velopmsnt of anything like an educational
establishment No school property exists,
nor is there single endowment of any ma
ture for educational purposes in the prov
ince.
The postal system of the island under the
American direction has improved A direct
II ali from New York to Santiago city is rec
commended More suitable terms should be
granted to telesraphs and telephones so
as to get a satisfactory service
Disposition of Church Property.
A serious question has arisen regarding
disposition of church property. Under the
Spanish rule the state held all the church
property and paid all the expenses of re-
HSion and public worship. including the
salaries of the clergy. 1t Is now claimed
by the church authorities that all property
used for religious purposes should revert
to the possession and ownership of the
hN fhH Cot
Spanish government to fulfill the ob!iga-
tons contracted when those properties
passed into the possession of the state. on
the other hand some of the representative
Cubans claim that the church property
should be regarded as any other pub
lie property. Pending the settlements all
the properties remain for the present in
the hands of the church, the expenses of
ownership being betrayed by voluntary
contributions.
Condition of the Courts.
A full description of the courts of the
province is given, together with land ten
ures and methods OF conveyance Gen
Wood says many conditions regarding the
courts call for immediate action as there
is great delay in the administration OF JUS
tice. Some changes, he thinks, are neces-
sary in the methods of conveyances and
a settlement of diverse claims of lands
should be made where disputes have long
caused contention.
largely destroyed means of production. but
he thinks there are still many opportunities
for investment, one of which is offered in
the establishment of agricultural banks
prepared to lend at reasonable terms for
four or five years. For small capitalists.
the purchase of smaii tracts for coffee and
cacao and tobacco is recommended Labor
is abundant, cheap and reliable Strikes
and trade disasters are almost unknown.
There are opportunities for water power
investments in LIE intarior.
He estimates the population Of the prov-
ince at from $1,000 TO 315 600 Manufac-
lures are unimpprtant,
The standard 6f moffey is American cur
rency, though rome nobligations are dis
charged in Spanish AMI French gold Span
ish silver has disappeared from circulation.
Gen. Wood recommends that institutions
in the nature of local self-government
should remain under the control of military
authorities until experience demonstrates
that such governments are capable of self
support. ,ai-
Gen. Wood refers t4 the fact that there
is no method 81 trial for American citi-
zens, except u9aer the Spanish laws still
enforced in Cuba The military code Of the
United States does, not control, and the
Spanish laws are unsatisfactory to Ameri-
cans. 7ie 10
Educafionalr Interests.