The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1901-01-04


Photo copyrighted. 1900. BY Purdy. Boston
GOVERNOR G GENERAL LEONARD WOOD.
sas a promoter OF extensive transporta-
ton schemes. has recently been In Gu
Ia 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 a civil
government established IL has been
necessary for the company. which
holds a charter from the state or 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 a question which
must rest In allegiance for the present
The road is TO be built east from San
-tiago to Baraeoa, the town which the
,Spanlards founded near Cape Maysl
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
ly official railroads In the province OF
Santiago today are a freight line owned
by an iron company running from Dali
quiri to Santiago and a passenger and
freight llne connecting Palma SorlanO
in the interior with Santiago by way OF
San Luis. FL Crlsto and Bonlato. The
Nrok L. no In
the other is not more than 40,
Sir William predicts that Cuba will
become the American Riviera. He says
significantly that he has seen places
that were deserts compared with east
eTn 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, a 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
" I'm the path TO be followed by the
projected railroad. He has offered TO
deed the use OF certain parts or his
property to the company free or charge.
The Cuban constitutional convention
in Havana is continuing its work In
rather a desultOry manner. The friends
OF General Maxine Gomez are using
their influence to have a clause insert
ed I'm 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 or the clause
are described as enemies or General
Gomez. Some or the delegates who are
eEdeavoring TO Introduce such clause
declare that they are doing so as mat
ter OF principle and that General Co
mez does not enter into the proposition.
The prevailing opinion is that those
who vote for the introduction or 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 dancee, who is a Cuban Their In
terest In the matter led to the Idea or
asking Governor General Wood to ap-
point Mr.. Frye commissioners or schools
instead or 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
distributors and supervisors OF the cat