Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-22
NEEDS OF CUBA,
KANSAN'S LETTER ABOUT CON.
DITIONS THERE.
Americans Have Few Church Ad.
vantagss and Native Population Il
at Sea a. to Its Government and
Property Interests.

Rev. W. A. Crawford today receiv
ed from C, B. Riley. an old friend,
formerly county attorney Of Gray
county but now chief clerk OF the COM
missary department at Puerto Prin-
cipe, Cuba, an interesting letter,
telling Of some Of the needs Of the is
land. He says:
This department consists Of the
entire province Of Puerto Principe Of
which this City Of the sape name is
the capital with population Of over
10000 and one time a very wealthy
progressive people, that is progress
sive for this country. The one rail-.
road from here to Nuevitas on the
coast was built in the '40's, and has
made many families comfortable from
the dividends paid quarterly. Even
during the late war the dividends, re.
duced in amount, were regularly
paid Notwithstanding the Spanish
authorities controlled it part Of the
time and now owe it 100000.
The coast town Nuevitas on the
north coast is the Oldest point Of set
Element on the island and it is under
stood Columbus once landed there.
The little colony that settled at that
point were finally driven back into
the country by the pirates. Then
they came here and located this town.
Many buildings here are from 100 to
200 years old; the town has no regu.
larity in its streets or public grounds.
Upon a first visit man is apt to
travel an hour and round up at bis
starting point. The streets are mar.
row, no sidewalks, except small pro.
jections from foundations OF buildings
that average less than two feet in
width and intended to protect the
foundations Of the buildings than for
sidewalks. This is great city for
churches, about 20 Of them. Their
cracked bells ring almost constantly.
The priest has been a power in the
past and is yet to some extent.
"a few days ago went to the Gem.
etery and took some pictures Of
graves and Of the human bones being
thrown out to make room for others,
or because the friends had grown too
poor to longer pay the ground rental.
They have great pit in the rear part
of the cemetery where the exhumed
bones are thrown. Nothing to dis
tinguish the remains of one from
another, negroes, thieves. assassins
and children, all tumbled into one
horrible pit, open 10 the investigation
and dissertation of all that come
along. They say it is necessary to
exhume these bodies that Others may
be buried as the limits of the grounds
do not permit the remains to rest
longer than few years.
"In this cemetery we have buried
many soldiers and no minister Off
ciated at or before the burial, only
priests who charge So for each ser.
vice. Right here | want to offer
little criticism. am advised that
there are IS chaplains in the military
service and so far as | have learned
there is not one on the island OF Cuba
except few negro chaplains with
colored regiments. | do know that
there is not Protestant minister ia
this city or province, so those soldiers
who were mostly from Protestant
parents were deprived of the comfort
and consolation Of man they re. I
spected and believed to be honest.