The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-09-08
Affairs in Cuba.

Hon. Franklin D. Hale, of Lunen-
burgh, eX-state auditor, is now in Hav
ana, as private secretary to Mai. Ladd.
treasurer of that island. The Essex
County Herald of last week contained
an interesting letter from him from
which we copy. Concerning an Orange
County boy, he says:
Major Ladd, Treasurer of the Island of
Cuba, met me on the ship. Let me say
that Major Ladd is a Vermonter. He
was born in Thetford, attended school
at Thetford and Randolph, graduated at
| West Point, and has ever since been in
the regular army, most of the time in the
west. He came here last January, and
since that time has been doing for the
| finances of Cubawh Alexander Hamil-
ton did for the finances of our country in
| her early hours. His energy and tact
has changed a condition of chaos to the
! fair working of system which will in a
little time meet the full demand of the
Islands finances. A fine gentleman and
a true NermOnter still. Until today |
have been stopping at his home where he
has shown me great courtesy and kind
ness. The clerks in his office, number.
ing ten, are now located in a fine
house in a healthy locality, and expect to
lenjoy keeping Bachelors Hall, with the
assistance of a Spanish gentleman to
mako our beds ,was ,Ir floors 17laclc onr
boots and watca the castle generally.
Coming here at this season | was in
formed was taking my life in my hands.
In fact applied for a little more life in
surance and was refused solely on the
ground of the locality and the season
and yet have known but one day since
landing that did not feel unusually well.
The thermometer ranges from 50 to 81
each day, one day touching 81 Have had
no rain for four weeks now. The last
N n on l,n RI aft
my arrival. ! am not tunfavorably affected
by the heat, but it is not wise to be in the
sun near the middle of the day.
General peace prevails here. | have
seen but one intoxicated man and | yen-
ture the assertion that he was an Ameri-
can, There are but few instances of as
Sault or street disturbances. The rule of
Gen. Brooke and Gen. Ludlow has been
conservative and conciliatery, and in a
great degree very successful. Never be- |
fore has the sanitary condition of Havana
been what it is to-day and undoubtedly |
much of the present and unusually health
mess is due to it. Naturally this is an
place. The harbor has of
course for hundreds of years been the
dumping ground of all the filth and dis
ease germs, but American touch will in
time change this greatly, and do not zee
why in the future this may not be city
of health and comfort.
to the future of Cuba. | doubt not the
prevailing hope of the great majority of
the people is independence. There is not
any great sentiment for annexation. The
leading business men are Spaniards; the
principal real estate owners, aside from
bans hate them, therefore they are large
ly favorable to annexation. But the great
have fought years for liberty; it
has been promised them, and they expect
It in time. The better element of the cit
zens desire American protection until
such time as the affairs of the island can
be safe in their hands. They have got it
Ill to learn, and day or a year is not
ong enough in which to learn the science
)f government.
have been out in the country some,
md notwithstanding saw the ruins of
var and the ravages of revolution, still
he land is rich in all her natural reSour- {
,es and needs but to be touched into a
lew life by the heart and brain of high
n civilization to be one great perennial
.arden. In her better days the product
II Cuba was worth over S100,0OO,000 per {
lnnum, almost without a parallel on earth
There is no stay to the process of growth,
eed in the soil must grow, it cannot help E
There is great deal of English capital I
lere. and many of the business men are {
pretty good capitalists For instance the
Henry Clay Cigar Co. has S1O,0O0,OOO In
yested in their business. think from my
observation thus far that agriculture Of t
ers the best chance for quick money {
making. The best lands are already be- t
ng picked up and the race will become
more intense in the early fall and winter.
t is expected that there will not be !
Dom enough to hold all the Americans '
Who will come here this winter for pleas '
Ire and profit. q
Living is very high many things seem
o be worth exorbitant prices. A good
DOM at good hotel there are no first I
lass ones will cost from 50 to S4 per v
lay, and table board even more than that. n
But can see for the Pearl of the An t
lilies a splendid future. The wreck of a
he Maine was to her a new birthday. !,
from then her new history will COM
nence. Her higher civilization, her p
roader thoughts and life will make for
er a new people and she will in time o
xert her true influence on the worlds {
fe.
Mrs. Alma Craig arrived in town n
afternoon to visit her son, Il