The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-09
SANTA CLARA TRANQUIL
Stories of Brigandage Proved
Unfounded.
RURAL GUARDS DlSBANDED
The Wages Will Be Used to Better Adj
vantage-American Banking Meth
DDS to Be Introduced-Land
Owners Starving.

Havana May s.-Major General Will
son, military governor of the new de-
partment of Matanzas and Santa Clara,
has visited within the last 10 days every
railroad point in Santa Clara province
At several points he received reports Of
brigandage, but upon investigation the
reports proved to be unfounded
General Wilson was told that two
bodies of men, evidently murdered, had
been found at one point, but it turned
out that the find was a single skeleton
With skull marked by a machete, OBJ
viously relic of the Spanish regime.
Nor was there any better foundation
ior the stories of the disorders which
mad come to his ears before he started
on the tour of investigation. Indeed,
ne found the province of Santa Clara
absolutely tranquil
To-day General Wilson came to Ha-
Vana and conferred with Governor Gen
erai Brooke, representing that there
was no necessity for rural police in the
| new department, and that it would be
| useless expense to arm 500 men in
each OF the provinces merely to catch
a few chicken thieves. He said he de-
| sired to use the appropriated $4,000
| month in other ways. General Brooke
|
guards in Santa Clara will be dis
| banded.
President Mckinley has instructed
| General Brooke ITO make the North
American Trust company here the de-
pository of all the funds of the govern
ment in the island, and consequently
| the money now in the strong rooms of
the customs houses will be Immediately
moved to the bank This afternoon
100000 was deposited and tomorrow
81, 100000 will be transferred. 1t is ex-
pected that American banking methods
will increase in popularity in the city,
particularly the check system, which
was formerly practically unknown.
Many customers of private banks now
demand the Introduction of this fea-
ture. The North American Trust COM
pany is loaning largely on bills of lad
ing and other equally good securities.
The institution refuses at present, to
| lend on mortgages, as the laws regu-
| lating them are apparently not quite
clear. Occasional loans are made upon
existing sugar and tobacco crops, but
| land is not considered safe invest
ment. Many persons. consequently,
| though rich in land, are clearly starry
ing. Though unable to obtain loans,
they refuse to sacrifice their property
which would sell for practically moth
ing under present conditions, owing to
| the unsettled Sldle VI TIE CbuHlIy anu
the disposition of investors to hold off
pending the final settlement of the po-
litical situation. During the month of
May 100000 INDECENT rations will be dis
tributed in Havana 4r4 &.s
A prominent Havana banker called
upon General Brooke to-day to report
that the owners of coasting vessels who
have been asking recognition and the
right to visit foreign ports are willing
| to use the United States flag. La LII
cha in a long editorial on the subject
says:
whether intentional or otherwise, a
more manifestly unjust arrangement
could not be conceived. 1t should be
changed Immediately