The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-06


GOVERNOR GENERAL LEONARD WOOD
rs a promoter Of extensive transporta-
tion schemes. has recently been in Gu
ba inspecting possible routes in the
Santiago province, and he stated Just
before leaving that the settlement of a
few minor details would start active
work on the enterprise. 1t will be a
unique undertaking. AS a franchise
cannot be obtained until the American
military occupation ends and civil
government established it has been
necessary for the company, which
holds charter from the state Of New
Jersey, to buy land for its right of way
from individual owners. Whether the
company after laying rails and building
stations will be able to operate the line
for public purposes is question which
must rest in allegiance for the present.
The road is to be built east from San
tiago to Baracoa, the town which the
Spaniards founded near Cape MaysI
early In the sixteenth century, and
west to Santa Clara, at which point
connection can be made with the rail-
road system of western Cuba. The on
~ Official railroads in the province Of
Santiago today are q freight line owned
by an iron company running from Dali
1Quiri to Santiago and passenger ard
freight line connecting Palma Soriano
IN the Interior with Santiago by way of
San Luis, El Cristo and Boniato. The
first is perhaps 20 miles In length, and
the other Is not more than 40. u
Sir William predicts that Cuba viii
become the American Riviera. He says
significantly that he has seen places
that were deserts compared with east
ern Cuba become productive and profit
able. Ninety per cent Of the people. In
his opinion, want peace and a. chance
to develop the island. One has only to
read the journals of Columbus to know
that eastern Cuba Is a paradise. There
has been comparatively. little change
since his day. The Spaniards were
content with paths. and trails Even
the Road of the King, which skirted
the coast near Santiago. was a poor
dirt road, impossible after rain.
A man who is materially aiding the
new railroad scheme Is Santiago Rous-
seau, wealthy planter. Rousseau. a
Frenchman by birth, but who came to
Cuba many years ago, is the owner Of
tremendous tracts Of land lying direct
ly in the path to be followed by the |
projected railroad. He has offered to !
deed the use Of certain parts of his |
property to the company free Of charge. |
The Cuban constitutional convention |
IN Havana Is continuing it's work In |
rather desultory manner. The friends |
of General Maxine Gomez are using |
their influence to have a clause insert |
ed In the constitution providing that |
any one who fought in the revolution /
shall be eligible for the presidency. A |
new paper has been started in which |
the principal opponents of the clause
are described as enemies of General
Gomez. Some of the delegates who are
endeavoring to introduce such q clause
declare that they are doing so as a mat
ter of principle and that General Go
meZ does not enter into the proposition.
The prevailing opinion is that those
who vote for the introduction of the
clause will do so because of a desire
to see the valiant warrior made presi-
dent The teachers at the capital are
somewhat concerned as to the future
Of Superintendent of Schools Frye and
his fiancee. who is a Cuban. Their in
terest in the matter led to the idea of
asking Governor General Wood to APP
point Mr.. Frye commissioner of schools
instead of Senior Forrero, a Cuban, but
this plan was dropped.
Secretary of Agriculture Lacoste has
appointed four agricultural improve
ment committees. two for Santa Clara
and one each for Santiago and Puerto
Principe. These committees will act as
and supervisors of the cat
lie which are expected to arrive short
~. The cattle will be sold to poor
peasants on easy terms, payments to be
made in from is to 20 months. They
will be branded and numbered. The
Veterans at Sancti Spiritus. where one
)f the committees will be located. have
protested against the appointment of
IN ex-soldier Of the Spanish army as q