Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-26
Real Estate in Dispute in the Island
of Cuba.
EFFORT AT A COMPROMISE
What the Policy of Bishop Sbar-
retti Has Been.
NJ / l. LION S NOLN ED
Copyright, 1901

Copyright, 1901
Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
HAVANA January ~. 1901.
Some immensely valuable property Will
come into the possession of the future gov
eminent of Cuba. Spain always was liberal
In making provision for the state. She
erected many buildings which were occu-
pied by her officials. The practice was uni
rersal to make provision for the officials to
reside in the public edifices. Henccsit hap
pens that many Of these structures are very
commodious.
In Havana the least desirable is the pal
ace Of the governor general. He has to
make his residence here just as the Presi
dent occupies the White House in Washing
ton. The Ayuntamisnto, or Havana munich
pality, also has its quarters in the palace.
Adjoining 1t is the sesundo cabal, or second
palace. which was occupied by the general
staff of the Spanish army Then there are
the hacienda, or treasury building; the
Maestranza, which was formerly an artil-
Iery barrack: the Commandments de la Ma
r.na. which was the headquarters of the
Spanish admiralty, and the arsenal or navy
yard which has very extensive grounds
and some delightful residences. There Is
likewise the Quinta de Molinos. a fine COM
try place, with extensive grounds, just GUY.
side the city. which adjoins the botanical
gardens of the University of Havana. me
Quinta formerly was the summer residence
of the Spanish governor general
There are also various hospitals and state
Institutions though most of these belong
to the municipality rather than to the state
The municipality has most of the water
front property, and some OF the pulldiiisS
occupied by the government it claims as us
own Moro Castle and Cabana Fortress,
La Fuerza. Castillo del Principe Atares
and other forts are the undisputed property
of the state. After they had been thor
o,,I frty,, itr1f l1
can officers found the MaestranZa and SINH
lar places most delightful residences. Some
of them will move with regret to other
quarters when the Cuban officials move III.
There are enough of these desirable places
to provide handsomely for nearly all the
ambitious Cuban politicians.
Telegraph and Telephone systems.
The telegraph line and the telephone sys-
tenn under Spanish sovereignty were Inc
property of the state. The telephone con-
cession was permitted to he operated ID!
private parties, but the government IN AN
aged the telegraph lines III conjunction Will
the Post Office Department. Since inc
American authority was assumed the teiS
grapb lines have been operated under the
direction of the signal service corps, 2nu
the probab ility is that in the future II VIII
be kept separate from the post ONCE
Some railway lines are owned by ihe
state. The Jucaro and Moron line, winch
connects the north and south coast aionS
the border of Santa Clara and Puerto rim
cine provinces was built by the Spanish
government for military purposes. Inc ter
minaIs at either end are poor, and the Vai'''
Of this railway property Is probiematicai.
There Is, furthermore. the Iflscorhia Dei'
line of six miles across the bay from Ha-
vana. which was built by the American
military authorities out of the CUBAN luiiuS.
and which the new government. "nefi II
is formed probably will decline to receive
as II is valuefeSS. n >.
1t is possible that in the final arrangement
hetveen the United States and CUBA some
of this state property may be Connected 10
tho American government for military anu
naval stations. The Interesting questloi, DIT
present Is the effort to determine the ciaihS
of the Catholic Church to large amount Oh
real estate which is occupied by the govern
,nent Two or three commissions We're APP
nointed by the governor general before one
vas formed which could take the subject
nm systematically. Soon after Blshop spa
retti came TO Cuba he addressed hiinseli 70
The matter That and the rebellious CUBAN
nriests and the political clement Wnlch
keeps demanding that the bishop retire, IN
order to make room for a native prelate'
have kent him pretty busy. But the prop
ertv interests of the church at no time nave
heen lost sight of by him. These are very
large and the whole question is most COM
plicated one.
The Catholic Church Claims.
AS it stands now the bishop is willing 10
,x,;.h III. on basis OF