The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-23
ENGLISH MONEY I'M CUBA.
A Meeting of British FinancIers Held
In London

4
in London
LONDON. April pa highly interest
ing meeting Of inanciers took place yester-
day morning in Browns Hotel. Dover
Street, so well known to Americans.
There were but four Of these gentlemen,
three Of them having been brought there
by the fourth who was Mr. Robert P. Por-
ter, whose name is familiar in connection
with the statistics OF the last American
census and as student of treaties OF COM
meree, international production, and the
exports and imports of all countries.
One OF the distinguished guests, for al
though so few in numbers ali three repre-
scented large responsibilities. was none less
than a representative of President Nc
Kinley, who had come from the United
States with message of peace and Justice
TO the other two guests of Mr.. Porter.
II is well known in financial circles that
the railroads now existing on the Island Of
Cuba have been in the hands Of English
groups and fnanciers. who it appears. if
what has been published in the press be
true, have been considerably alarmed for
the future of their properties In the island.
being apparently In dread lest they should
lCSclfc. HON Unfair treatment dL TIE EdiiQS
or the American Government, but that
they would be discouraged in their en-
terprises in every way possible, whereas
any American railroad ventures would. on
the contrary. receive every support and
encouragement.
This sentiment Of mistTust has been still
further aroused since the formation of
vastly powerful syndicate OF American
inanciers to run railroad from the east
- md f.f he isl he mi N
districts. having its centralizing point at
Santiago
Such weH-known names Ia lie financial
world as those OF Morgan. HazieT, Levi p
Morton and Sir William Van Horne were
all in il. including General Samuel Thomas.
who might perhaps be termed not inaptly
the commercial adviser and representative
OF the Government and personal. esteem
ed. and close friend Of Mr.. Mckinley.
General Samuel Thomas represents the
American group and il was he who yester-
day came at Mr.. Porter's instigation TO
meet these other two guests in the privacy
of a room at Browns Hotel. and thereby 10
give the latter infinite satisfaction and 4
high appreciation Of the broad-ninded in
tentions Of Mr.. Mckinley as TO the future
government Of Cuba
The two guests whom General Thomas
came thus TO meet and TO give assurances
&
Todd. President OF the Cuban Central Rail-
ways, LimifeS, with capital Of &3.500 Geo
and the Western Railway Of Havana. Lin
Z lied. with capital and debentures Of nearly
( G1.900. coo. and his associate. Mr.. Z. N.
I Underwood
/ Both these gentlemen have placed their
/ interests in the hands Of Mr. Robert p.
I Porter; that IS to say. the entire railroads
/ Of Cuba so far built-that is from the west
81 -
AT the eastern end there Is so Tar ne
/ railroad The one projected by the Amer
I lean group will. however. be commenced
/ with as little delay as possible
Now, what General Thomas had 70 tell
I the members Of the English group. and be
1 did so with particular emphasis vas that
I Mr. Mckinley wished them 10 know
I through him. that cot only would every
I one Of their rights be protected. but they
would also be respected just as much as
/ those OF the American group and With
! equal imparriality. That he would gusraa
/ tee. for he further assured them that
( America was keenly anxious 10 encourage
I foreign capital and intelligence to enter
Cuba and that he specially wished that
I intention 10 be known 10 all
/ General Thomas was asked a few qGes-
/ lions about this new Eastern Railway in
I Cuba. and n said il was merely a large
I commercial venture and that they con
sidered that there were good chances for
a handsome return on the capital in the
I rich mining district through which his
I railroad would pass and which had been
I up till nov little beyond virgin forest.
He was also asked whether his new rail-
/ road would amalgamate with those OF the
| English syndicate. and he said that was
/ scarcely a matter for immediate consid-
/ Grafton. yet there was absolutely no rea-
! son why it should not do so in the future,
u
/ terests OF the concerns.
( He stoutIy denied that there was anE
/ idea Of cutting rates or interfering with
/ existing companies.
/ He said that Sir ". Van Horn. whose
| home is IN Canada, would undertake to
| live in Cuba for a certain period each year
/ in the interests Of the railroad.
| General Thomas. returning 20 New York
on the 25th Of this month. will go via Liv-
/ erpool so as to take the opportunity Of
| seeing there some Of the plants OF the
| greatest dredgers in the world. which are
/ used in dredging the Mersey. and copies Of
| which are being made in the United States
| for purposes Of better dredging the Bay Of
1 New York
Talking about Cuba. he does not admit
| at all that the labor difficulty is insu-
| perable-
He considers that when inducements
become greater than in the past which
| they certainly viii under American au-
| spices. with extra developments, railroads,
| and the means Of living more attractive.
/ than in Spanish times. Italians. Spaniards.
] etc. VIII come in freely enough
With an ever-increasing demand for
1 mineral ores, he holds that there should
( be good markets at profitable prices for all
/ me minerals that can be worked out Of
| the American trade.
| Its prospects General Thomas spoke OF
| as wonderful. and, as be puts it, they
/ almost stUpefy us"