The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-28
A TRIP TO CUBA.
What The Intelligencer's Representa-,
tive Saw and Heard On the Island.

1t was my good fortune to be one of
the fourteen members of the South
Carolina State Press Association who
took advantage Of tho generous offer
of the Southern, Plant and Florida East
Coast Railways to visit Cuba. | will
say in the outset that those Of my
brethren who failed to go missed one
of the grandest and most enjoyable
trips ever taken by the journalists of
South Carolina.
Our party left Columbia OIL Tuesday,
18th inst, at midnight, passing through
Savannah, Jacksonville, st. Augustine
and number of other famous winter
resor J. reaching Miami, Florida, on
Wed esday night, five hours behind
the schedule time. There we boarded
the "Prince Edward" large and mag
nificent steamer, owned and run by
the Florida East Coast Railway. On
account of high winds and very
rough seq we did not anchor in the
Havana harbor until Thursday evening,
being on the water abOuttwenty hours,
five hours longer than the time usually
required to make the trip. This route
to Havana is comparatively new one
and is the shortest and quickest from
the United States. The trip can be
made from Columbia to Havana in
forty hours. On account of the rough
sea only five of our party escaped sea
sickness. Fortunately was one of the
five.
Tho view of Havana as we entered
the harbor was one of irlescribable
beauty Tie city is brilliar tly lighted
with electric lights, and the light in
MORO Castle can be seen eighteen
miles out from the city. Going in one
has magnificent view Of the cclebra-
ted Moro and Cabanos Castles on the
left. On the right stands Santa Clara
and Vedado batteries. When l saw
these Notifications then realized what
an impossible task it was to have taken
Havana by the sea.
The arrangement for landing passen-
gers in Havana harbor is great incon
venicnce. Our steamer did not go to
tho wharf, but anchored 200 yards out
in the harbor, where we were transfer
cd to q small steamer, which landed us.
For this outrageous privilege passcn-
gers arc required to pay so cents each.
The examination Of our baggage was
quickly done. and we were socn regis
tered at the Hotel Ingleterra, one Of
the leading hHte!s II the city and owned
and controlled by Spaniards. Here we
thought we had u special rate of $1.50
day, but the proprietors denied hav-
ing agreed to such q rate. The party
spent the night there. and next morn
ing, through the kindness of Maj. Bar
ney B. Evans, OF this State, who holds
IL responsible position in the Postoffice
there, quarters were secured for us at q
hotel kept by an American, who enter
tanned US nicely and at a very reason
able rate.
Our party lost no time, and during
tho six day, we spent on the Island We
were walking and riding day and night.
We met q number of Americans and
several Carolinians and they were cx-
ccedingly kind to us, accompanying us
to many points Of interest, guiding lis
through the grand old historic forts
and showing us many things and places
that the average visitor. without
guide, woulG never sec. The United
Suites officials extended many courte-
sizes to rs and granted uspermits to en-
ter any place where the soldiers are on
guard. Our time was spent in and
around Havana, all of us going some
distance in the country in various di-
,rections from the city, several going on
a railroad to Mantanzas, fifty miles
from Havana.
All systems of agriculture have been
heretofore conducted under the most
primitive and simple methods. Cuba
has been 80 fertile that it was but
necessary to tickle the earth and she
would laugh harvest Tilling the
soil, as our farmers understand it, has
been unknown. The customary plow
has been but sharpened stick, and
even under such crude conditions Cuba
has blossomed like rose. Up to tho
present time the chief development of
the Island has been confined to tho
growth of sugar cane and tobacco, the
former overwhelmingly prcdominating.
Preceding the last war, was informed,
the annual crop of cane was valued at
$50, 600, 900. besides giving employment
to extensive commercial interests. No
country in the world grows tobacco
which can be compared with the Cuban
lenf- The immense plantations have
been largely destroyed or neglected
during the recent war, but opportuni-
ties are now offered to shrewd inves-
tors to enjoy the profits which are GER
tain to fellow Che revival OF this enor-
mons industry nndees. s..:ash5iie stable govern
ment. ] was reliably informed that as
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