New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-02-18
one Go. at a time on Sailboat

Being disappointed about the turkey
the men were put IN good spirits by beiu
paid for the month of December
Gibara is beautiful little town. ven
ture TO say the neatest on the Island Th
streets are macademized, the walks good
the houses painted, and the location mag
nificent. Around the town, peuning tn,
inhabitants to the sea as il werp-i
a semi circular brick wall on top of whicl
are several watch towers. The entranc,
to the town is large nrched gate. Churcl
was Just over. and the ladies were on tn,
streets as we marched from the RAILWAY
station. Here saw the prettiest an,
handSomest women of this Province.
This was New Years Day. but notwth
standing many OF them were dressed il
white
BY Il noon, we were already on the
train ready to move to our destination
Iolguin. We reached our present camp
ing grounds after a two hours ride through
rich valleys walled in between beautiful
round hills averaging about 400 feet high
There is no timber along this road. but
the country is covered with good graz
ing grass.
Minerals are plentiful in this portion of
the Island Near here is large gold
mine. There is also plenty of marble.
Some pieces are exposed. and are beauti
tul when the sun shines on them.
| On account of small-p which still en-
lists in Holguin, we were put off one mile
before reaching town: and one is allowed
to go to town only on important business
| had occasion to go to Col. Hoods Hdqs
in town Not knowing the town. of course.
it was difficult to find his place. II was
only after going all over the town, that
| found it.
Asi all Spanish towns, there are squares
galore. Two are in diapidatcd cond-
tion the third is in good condition. This
town has no doubt "seen better days"
It's appearance just now. however, is very
much dilapidated. But this is not aston
ishing, if we take into consideration. that
during the entire Cuban war there were
Guartered in it 1900 Spanish soldiers
There are enormous barracks, which are
now being cleaned and disinfected- for
us, hope. The Third Battalion has nev-
er been in barracks mt any time; and we
would welcome the change from tents to
buildings.
Between here and Gibara iss, what the
Spaniards called ''The Military Road"
kUlS Is II Wlut IIRl IHdtuufIliItu Nigh
way, built like the old roads in European
countries. 1t will last centuries yet. Col
Hood will extend this road to Los Tumas
about seventy miles from Holguin. | am
glad TO say that Sgt Guilfoux will have
charge of the work. He leaves tomorrow
with party of soldiers to survey the road. |
They will be gone twenty days on this trip |
might as well remind you that it was
~. ~ Il
went under Gen. Toral for the purpose of
forcing Gen. Linares at Santiago,
were stationed.
To-day the chaplain ofthe regiment came
to my tent with letter he had written to
the Congressman of his district from Iowa,
and read it to me before sending it off.
In this letter, he expresses his views of the
Cuban dilemma in a very forcibe manner.
He claims that as it is the Cuban
has "a good thing which concided with
my views so harmoniously, that, forgetting
he was minister, | inserted, under the
strong adjective just be-
fore good.
And it is true that the Cuban has "a
good thing" For example: the Cuban
imports his goods at less cost
han ever before, and has large demand
or these goods from the American soldiers,
whom he charges three and four prices
or everything. The leaders of the Cuban
soldiers are appointed by the Americansto
paying positions of honor heretofore held
,y Spaniards. The Cuban doctor who
scarcely made a living is appointed or en-
,loyed by Americans to doctor his own
people, and wears American uniforms and
shoulder straps, receiving the pay of con
ract DR.. in the American Army. The
Americans feed the Cubans, doctor their
lick, take care of their invaIids and aged.
The Americans clean the Cubans' cities.
ave their streets, drain their back yards, ,
,uild their roads and do their police duties.
The Cuban soldier will not give up his I
rms, because he gets his wife to draw ra {
ions from Uncle Sam Commissary. Gu
'ans are appointed and paid by the Ameri -,
ans twice the money paid to American
olders to act as police, when the soldiers |
re doing part of that. Then the Cuban, {
seems to me, should be glad to have us S
With them. Every month every Regiment /
paid about $4,000. most of which is '
pent in Cuba, All these are good 6
hings" for the Cuban; but why should the t
american people be taxed to pay tribute, t
s it seems to the Cubansg 1t is time to J.
1t the Cuban take charge Of his own af j
airs, and hope that Congress will soon
pttle everything. know that it is very
ifiicult broblem; | think and hope that
Congress- is equal to the emergency.
| think it not amiss to say a few words n
bout the climate. | have not seen a
lately; but know that in "a
ours it varies to the extent of several de c
rees. The days are still warm. The f
oung natives under six years of age have n
OF begun wearing clothes for the winter. :,
Ihen one of them has hat on, he thinks
imself well dressed. Except the chill p
rem of the wellto-do, no child wears
othes. 1t always amuses me to see them
inning the streets in a nude condition. .
he nights are very cool; but have yet to G
At meal in Cuba without perspiring I
he sun all day long is almost hot. Most G
the men have pets in camp. There are =
0 less than five hundred parrots in camp
,veral dogs, few crows, and even large
uban rats The last is mountain rat, q
sembling very closely our o'possum,
NY little smaller and easily tanned.
Yours truly,
II