The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18
point being specially suitable for hat

point being specially suitable for hat
purpose.
To the north Of the town Is the VII
liage Of San Diego de las Banos. "a
nous for It's Incompatible medical
Isprings. Various Americans who have
visited these springs state that there
ARE none to compare with them In the
United States. and that could an en-
lterprising syndicate obtain their coatrc;
a health resort squal to any IN the
world would be readily butt up. Sufi-
lcient water power Is o~bta.nable In thu
~neighborhood to run an electric tram
way connecting this railway with Sal
Diego.
alter leaving Paso Real, the line
runs trough vile. uncultivated savan-
mans suitable for the rearing OF cattle:
experiments are also being carried out
IN this district with the object CT utit-
lizing these plains for the cultivation Of
cotton, which gives excellent results in
this country owing to the absence II
frost. which renders the yearly renew
lal Of the plants unnecessary. On err
tering this district an abrupt change Is
Noticed in the flora, a peculiar species
lof palmetto palm taking the D ace of
the royal palm, up to this point such n
noticeable feature Of the landscape. The
peculiarly Of the palmettos Of this dis
trlct is the large swelling half way Up
tne trunk which Is most striking. TIL.
country people utilize the peculiar forr,
or these palms in many ways. the most
common Of which is for water barrels.
Both ends are cut off the palm, leaving
the barrel-shaped centre. which is then
readily followed out. Large rings are
then placed around the small ends OF
this barrel. and when attached to au
OK the barrel is readily trundled down t.
the nearest river or spring. These
palms are also utilized for many Other
domestic purposes, as when sawa
through the middle they are readily
convertible into wash tubs, mortars TOR
pounding maize, etc.
The next town reached is that OF Her
lradura, which was entire.y destroyed
during the late war. The principal tn
dustry of this district before the Wal
was the raising Of cattle. large h rls
Of which found pasture the year round
on it's wide. rolling plains. A notice
able feature of this district is the large
number of large pine trees which are
to be seen OIL all sides. The pine Is u:I-
common in the tropics, but this district
was some years 6 covered by an eN-
teasive forest Of these trees, from which
la local Saw-min supplied the PROVING
with excellent timber.
The next point Of interest is the fin.
steel viaduct of Santa Clara. built 20
replace a timber ~treStle, of over SEQ
metres in length, which was burt dur
ling the late war. After crossing the
Santa Clara viaduct. the line rises up 20
the prosperous town of C~onco,acion h.
ISud. 154 kilometres from Havana. In
1.-THE neighborhood Of this town the very
highest grades of tobacco are grown.
IOf late a small American colony has
settled lee this town, with the object
of raising vegetables n oranges 1oi
the northern markets. Various orange
Igrowers from California, who have
visited Consolation, have declared their
Intention of planting at a
learly date, as they consider the SOIL
the most suitable that they have seen
in the island after investigating manv
other districts.
The next town reached is that OF
IPuerta de Golpe, which is approached
by a large steel bridge of three spans
of 33 metres each, butt to replace an
lold iron bridge, carried away by the
floods during the disastrous cyclone Ol
1895. The whole of this district, as also
that of Las OvaS, the next town reach
ed. is famous for it's high class tobacco
some of the most celebrated planta-
tons of the province being III this
neighborhood.
After d run Of 10 kilometres from Las
Ovas. the city of Pinar del Rio, the
capital of the province and the present
terminus of the railway. is reached. Pr
mar del Rio is a prosperous town Of
ONE 10000 inhabita is, famous through
out the world for it's incompatible to-
lbacco plantations. A magnificent view
is obts ined from this city. of the wide
VALLEY surrounded by the picturesque
hills Of the Sierra de los Organos, where
the American camp YVES situated. Some
of the most famous Vegas" (Tobaoco
Plantations) of the province are St
Iuated within ten minutes drive of thu
principal hotels, and visitors to this
town should not neglect the opportu-
nifty to see tobacco grown under con-
ditions u~nequalled in the world.
Respectfully yours,
j. A. CREWS.