The sun., 1900-12-08
FOR A RAILROAD IN CUBA.
ENGLISH SYNDICATE TO PUT CAPITAL
~ THE ISLAND.
Line TO he Built From San Luis. Santiago.
toRanta Clara. . Distance OF S3S Miles
work May BE Done in Q Year and 4
Halt, Sir william Van Horne Says.

work May BE Done in Q Year and a
| Half. Sir william Van Horne Says.
Special Gable Dsspdieh 10 THE Sun.
| HAVANA. Dec. 7.-Sir william Van Horne
has arrived here from Santiago and Santa
| Clara. He SAYS he expected to find Cuba
| fertile but what he had seen OF the island
| had really surpassed his expectations. lie
added that his syndicate will acquire a strip
| OF land from San Luis. Santiago. TO Santa
| Clara. distance Of 335 miles by the process
| OF separate purchases On this strip. which
| will have a minimum width Of forty metres.
| the syndicate will build Its railroad Sir
william expects that the work will be finished
| In eighteen months. About 5000 workmen
will be required and some of these may be
| imported from Galioia. Spain. Though he
has no concession TO build the line he ex-
poets no opposition from the local authorities
who. with the people showed themselves
delighted with the prospect OF having a
railroad.
There will he no heavy gradients or tun-
nels. Ties will be imported for the two ends
Of the track until IL reaches the wooded
country. which will supply all the ties and
other timber necessary. Sir William de-
clared that the line is part Of scheme TO
develop the richest tract OF country In the
WOTIu' Inc rNHulNhlf VIII
lines. establish industries. encourage settlers
and supply labor for the cultivation Of sugar
cane and other products. No subsidy will
be asked for. Sir william said he did not
know W hen the line would paw. but the scheme
obviously would be beneficial to the country
and people.
Sir William asked that a denial be made
OF a statement which had appeared in New
York newspaper TO the effect that he had
had a meeting with Philadelphia capitalists
for the purpose OF devising plans 10 acquire
all the industries OF Cuba. He declared
that no such meeting had taken place
The Diario dc Ia Marina prints an extract
from the Repubhcd which contrasts the
duties paid in the United States on Porto
Ricsn and Cuban sugars, and which says
that a reduction OF 25 per cent in the present
duty on Cuban sugar would make a difference
OF s75, ,Ooo to an estate producing so. 600 sacks
The Repuhhcd suggests that an appeal be
made 10 Washington for reduction of the
duty
The Diorio de Ia Norma says that no such
appeal should be made but to the Consttu-
uonal Convention. as Secretary of War Root
In his report has said he hoped the convention
would solve the difficulties which initiate
against Cuba's prosperity. namely. the lack
Of assurance as TO the stability OF the future
government and the uncertainty regarding
market for Cuban productions. The paper
says the problems rests with the convention
to give the island a government which will
satisfy the United States. and also to deter
mine the relat ons TO exist between Cuba and
the United States In such a way as to satisfy
the latter.
Many Of the local papers comment on the
message OF President Mckinley to the Con-
eress The Didr,o de n Marina and the
Nuero Pals express disappointment with IL.
They say it was not sufficiently clear regard
ing the future OF Cuba. The D,ar,o dc Ia