The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-01
HAVANA TODAY AND
TWELVE MONTHS ACO
IMPROVEMENTS FROM AMER
IcAN OCCUPATION.
Evidences Which the Visitor Can
See That the Incoming Of the Yam
KEGS Has Been in Most Respects
Beneficial-The One Exception Is
in the Introduction of the Amer-
can Bar Room.
From Havana Letter by Dr. Charles T..
Fisher,published in the Chicago Record.

I
Fisher.published in the Chicago Record.
To the tourist who was here last
spring 1t Is not difficult 10 note that
improvements of the most substantial
and satisfactory kind have been going
on during the summer, though per-
haps not in the degree expected or
desired. Put Havana Is in infinitely
better condition than when the Amer
lean soldiers entered it's gates at the
close of 1898, and far and away i'm
proved over the spring of 1899. Not
only are the improvements of a char
acter to please the eye in many in
stances and crafty the olfactories. but
they are also of character to appeal
to the consideration of the incomer
from the poirt of convenience and per-
sonal comfort
Beginning at the very beginning. the
methods at the customs house landing
are more satisfactory. Last spring
there was confusion worse confoundei
on almost every hand. Employees VINO
mad been accustomed to the Spanish
regime were often annoying in their
ofucinusness, and alva ays indicating
their wish tn he tipped for every move
ment made. even though legtimat,, in
every sense. Today under the direc
ton of an American who understands
his business this is all different. Cour-
teo'lsness has taken the place of Of
iiclousness. Promptnrss has super
seded the tediousness of timn
methods. The fees Of the office are
prominently posted. SO that each in
conner knows Just what he has to pay
To have his baggage handled during
examination. Last spring trunks were
aS rudely enlptied on the dirty floor
of the inspection room as is too often
the case in New York and some 9th ar
American ports. while this year rea-
sonahy careful and not annoyingly
thorough inspection satisfies, unless.
perchance. the trained official of the
Office is led to believe & critical exami-
nation is required
EVERYBODY Is BUSY.
The streets are Just as old, just as
narrow, just as interesting. because
of their foreigness. but they are a hun
dred fold cleaner. a thousand fold les :
smelly. The older and narrower
streets, paved with heavy blocks Of
stone, are just as rough and noisy
ir the wholesale district in the appear.
ance Of the houses themselves. but
that business is better is quickly ap-
parent. Everybody seems busy. There
are few loiterers and hardly any beg
gars; whereas last January thousands
were ragged. dirty, unemployed and
offensive, while beggars and cripple
of the most repulsive character were
to be seen on every thoroughfare.
Entering the retail district tn.
change is even more pronounced.
Many of the stores and shops have
been more or less modernized. though
the changes in this particular are not
enough to destroy the foreign aspect
of the city. French plate glass en-
ables the shop-keeper to display his
goods to better advantage that for.
merly. modern glazing having SUPER
seded many of the old and dilapiCateG
shows windows in Obispo. Compost
la and O'Reilly streets. Some Of the
stores have been deepened by having
the residence department formerly oc-
cupied by the employees thrown into
the main store, larger stocks having;
been added and positive attempts hay
ing been made to keep up with the
spirit Of the day. New and pretty
shops have crowded out some of the
joints" found here and there last year,
new awnings have taken the place OF
old and dilapidated ones, more of vat.
ETY. of stock Is shown, and Havana
is clearly trying again to become TIE
Paris of America. as 1t was styled be.
fore the late civil war between the
states.
ALONG THE PRADO.
Arriving at Central Park and ira
versing the Prado again it is notioeo
that improvement has been the or lar
of the day. The park is cleaner and
better kept. Where occupied last
spring by Uncle Sans troops. the
Prade has been filed into the depth
of several inches with gravel and treat
ed to heavy rolling with steam
roller: several of the business build
ings have had another story a idei, or
this work is now going on; the Ingla-
terra hotel has been enlarged by the
addition Of three e-story building to
the north. the upper floors of which
, are to be used by this hostelry. ami
the whole course of the Prado has had
corded it in front of the Hotel Pasai,,
where our troops formerly hivouacked.
An especially delightful Improvement IL
thclighting of the esplanade of theTrado
by arc lights, a row of tall white poles
having been planted in the center from
La Punta to the south end of the
course, beyond the Pasaje. This work
has been well done, and as the nightly
promenade of the Prado is a striking
feature of Havana nfe, the brighter
light of the arc lights. elevated beyond
the distance of annoyance to vision.
makes the evening scenes of the espla-
made especially attractive.
Many changes have occurred on the
Prado during the summer, some for
the better some. unfortunately, for the
worse. To the south. beyond the park,
the business district has been some
what bettered by higher class of
shops having crowded out many of the
dens formerly located thereon. New
American shops have taken the place
of some of the dingy ones of the Span
ish regime. and modern American bars
have found their way into some of the
buildings in that section. A decided
improvement in the character Of the
shops is also noticeable in the Pasais
arcade. though here there Is yet room
for betterment.
ONE BLEMISH.
Down the Prado to the north. where
the promenading Is done, there Is also
considerable change. The American
bar has, unfortunately, ercroached
upon this residence district. There
| are a number of cafes not here last
spring. There has been some build