Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-22
CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
Scant Opportunities for Those Who
Would Settle There.

Scant Opportunities for Those Who
Would Settle There.
From the Havana Lucia.
The passing of the locusts was as nothing
compared with what the coming of the
Americans will be during the approaching
winter
1t is said that one of the local firms, rep
resenting large shipping interests, has been
advised that over 5000 passages to Cuba
have already been booked in New York
The probability Is that, approximately
200 600 Americans, of every class and COM
pexion, will visit us before May of next
year. These figures may be excessive, but,
at any rate, there is question but that
Americans will flock here in immense num-
bers.
This is a serious matter for every one;
particularly so for Americans already To-
Gated here.
Any one remembering the experience of
last winter can readily foresee the conse-
quences of an influx which promises to be
ten times greater In spite of the knoWl-
edge that this was bound to be the case,
the city has no better hotel or boarding
found last year. During the month just
passed, without any business to speak of,
hotel proprietors have been idling their
time away instead of making necessary
preparations. Only one, the Inglaterra, has
made any Improvement or addition The
boarding houses are no more numerous or
better fitted for taking care of guests. The
result of 1t all will be to cause prices to
jump.
Wealthy tourists will obtain the best of
everything-at prices which would spell
ruin to the average citizen. They are not
the ones who will suffer. Those who will
feel the effects are the regulars the
Americans who are In business here; those
employed in the different departments of
HD,in STRAIT vi
pecially. The latter class does not receive
consideration enough anyway.
The same salary which gives comforta-
BILE living in the states is hardly sufficient
to pay board here. 1t is exceedingly diff
cult to board decently on less than S45 per
month. Another $50 for room. $40 for
sumes eighty-tive good, American dollars.
Ii clothes must be bought, there is not
much left to send to the wife and children
in Americans many of the clerks have to
do. Clerks in government service should
receive 80 per cent more In Cuba than at
home.
The best solution Of the matter, in view
of the advance in prices which Is sure to
come this fall, would be for the admins
tration to arrange to care for all employees;
provide kitchens. dining rooms, cooks, wait
ers and edibles. 1t should not be a con-
tract job, but a regularly handled branch
of the commissary. With government ia
cilities for purchase and transportation of
supplies, the men could be cared for at far
Tess Sosl 10 themselves imam Wneu COM
PEELED to deal with grasping profit seeker.
Apart from the clerks, all Americans
here will be Inconvenience by high prices.
The increased demand and lack of proper
shipping facilities will cause food stuffs to
be sold at figures equal to those during the
blockade, fiuctuating, of course. according
to supplies on hand Therefore, the Ameri-
cans who board should take proper precau-
lions against being bled.
For that is what 1t will amount to- II
renting house is intended. do so now.
don't wait. If life in boarding house Is
the program, select the place and make an
iron bound contract, and do it at once. All
Americans who have friends In the states
should bear these facts in mind.
When asked If Cuba is a good place to
come to, detail the true facts. When asked
what the prospects are for salaried posi-
tions, answer none" Explain that Amer
leans who come here to go into business