The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18

Il INV HI AIoSA 1OcPCiO6S C0u4iA40Ss LII
actively engaged in the cultivation o;
tobacco. oranges. and other
fruits The manufacture or starch from
the yucca root has also OF late been add
ed to its industries
From this town to that Of AlQuizar.
the next stopping place. the line runs
through most fertile cultivated LAM
Alquizar is famous for the high class
tobacco grown in Is vicinity; many vi
h finest wrappers of the Lght co.OreI
tobacco In such great demand for tce
European market beng grown N this
neighDorhood. the prosperity Of ms
district has been greatly advanced by
h enterprise of an American planter
whose extensive and scientifically cui.i-
waited plantations are to be seen on tie
right. about one kilometre west OF the
station.
Alter leaving Aiquizar, the line runs
for a few miles through a district COW
cred with dense bush (Manigua). from
the depths of which the Cuban forces
frequently attacked the company >
trains and ambushed the Spanish COL
umns patrolliag the line.
After passing the roadside station If
Dagame burnt during the war;, he
line passes through widespread cane
fields of the abandoned St. Teresa sugar
plantation. the ruined buildings Of
which are to be seen on the right rs
the train approaches the next stopping
place. Las Canas (The Sugar Canes.
, the first town reached in the province
of Pinar del Rio.
After a short run OF six kilometres
through fertile fields dedicated to III.
cultivation of tobacco aid yucca for the
manufacture of starch). the train ar
rives at the important town of Artem!-
sa. interesting as being the centre OF
tho fa mnIIS Snonich trncha nr nilif nv
line. crossing the island with A lire OF
forts and intrenchments at this point,
terminating on the north coast at Ma
riel. and on the south at Majana. This
trocha was constructed by the Spa-isl
government with the object of cult ng
off the Cuban forces in Pinar del Rio
province from those in the east. but.
besides costing the lives of thousands
Of Spanish troops from disease during
it's maintenance. 1t proved Ineffective.
For many weeks his town, where five
OF the company's trains had run for
refuge, was besieged by the Cubans.
but was eventually relieved n he
trains and other property of the COM
pany saved.
From Artem:sa the line runs through
a very picturesque wooded district. ex-
tensive clearings which produce
sugar cane indispensable in size n
quality. Large quantities of pos.uras
tobacco seedlings) are also raise1 froEl
the ric!l soil of this district for SAL
ainong3t the tobacco planters along n"
line.
p ssing through the roadside stations
OF Las Mangas (the Mangoes) and Pun
ia Bravo, the line mounts the heavy
grade of Oseguera, the summit of which
is approximately the half way point he
tween Havana and Pinar del Rio. This
district affords excellent pasture for
cattle and also for the fattening OF
droves of half wild pigs which feed
upon pelmiche. the berries which fall
from the royal palms.
The next town reached is that of Can
delaria. near which point commences
the &C .ure que range Of ills "-a Sierra
de las Organos." This range of HIS
runs parallel with the line the whole
way to Pinar del Rio, and the ever
changing views offered by it's numerous
peaks and thickly wooded ravines pro-
sent some of the finest scenery within
reach of the tourist visiting Cuba. The
town of Candalaria was chosen hv
General WeyIer for the headquarters Of
his forces during his campaign in Vuei-
to Abajt. During his campaign the
losses among the Spanish troo S from
, ickness and disease were enormous.
Hundreds were sent daily to Havana
and on one day the large number Of
over two thousand sick and dying SOL
| diers were forwarded to the hospitals
of Havana, many Of whom died on the
journey. The principal indust; les of
this town are the cultivation of tobacco
and coffee. Though the coffee planta-
tons nave been much neglected during
the war. they are now being again ac-
lively cultivated. and as the lands at
the foot of the hills are pecu iar!y
adapted to this crop. some of the basc
coffee in the world is produced in tn )
neighborhood. The land of this DIS
trict also produces excellent sugar cane,
a large mill for the grinding of which
may be seen to the right of the town.
From Candelarid to San Cristobal the
line runs parallel with tie range Of RI IS
on the north. The famous Cuba ,
stronghold Cascarasicara. lies amongst
these hills to the northwest of this
town. 1t is stated that during the terri
BILE period of the Recommendation. ovei
5000 persons died in this one village, the
greater proportion being women and
children.
From a Cristobal to Taco-Taco, a
run of some IL Kilometres, the Ii1e
passes trough wide. uncultivated sa-
vannahS which before tie war afforGa
excellent pasture to large herds Of cat
tie. the raising OF which formed the
principal industry Of the district. Amer
lean TUCK growers are now sett ing in
this district and experiments are alsn
being made in the cultivation OF cot
ton.
At k.lometre lis a passenger train
was derailed by the explosion of a dy-
Mantle bomb during the late war. and
after a determined defence by the es-
cort Of 81 hours duration. the train had
to be abandoned and vas Afterwards
burnt by the Cuban forces and the en-
CINE blown up with dynamite.
Some tao kilometres further west the
line crosses the ~Bacunaguas river. over
a fine steel viaduct. erected to rep.ace
a timber trestle destroyed by the els
astrous cyclone Of 1895.
The next town reached is that of Los
PalaCios. which. together with all tho
railway company's buildings. was an
tirely destroyed by fire on the occasion
Of Maceo's invasion of the Vuelto
Abajo. This town has now been to a
considerable extent rebuilt. and owing
to the energy of several merchants Of