The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-12-10
rIIBA's NEW RAILROAD
al Line That Runs From
conta Clara to Santiago.
oppOUgH TRIP MADE IN A DAY.

\ ,..ping Cars VIII Be Used For the
. FIRST Time on the r'innd-The Line
standard Gauge and Is Equip
- Like Our Best Railways-It"
n.,dres Are of steel and Masonry.
,.,o,s new line of railway, just
IVA od rms from Santa Clara through
Op'ne Wv center of the western portion
IIe .bo island via Santo Espirito juno
" Puerto Principe on to Santiago,
uOD, Havana dispatch to the New
M world. Che last rail connection
l ..ho pnerto Principe and Santa Clara
a.tsions was laid a few days ago at
~,.dros amid the general jubilation Of
~ rosidents of Santa Clara province.
'u Throngb sleepers wilE run between
ANA and Santiago, which will prove
- aovoIation to many of the natives in
a,a wav of transportation service, the
snods in Cuba being poorly equipped
ard q sleeper never having been i'm
norted into Cuba.
rho local fare will be 3 cents a
,.ilometer about two-thirds OF mile),
rnt cheaper rate will be made for the
through trip, which will be accom-
Wished in twenty-four hours. 1t now
ronnrps from three to four days to
make the trip by steamer.
The whole length of the trunk line
constructed by the Cuba Railway COM
many is a little more than $50 miles.
through rock, jungle and forest, over
nateaus. rivers and valleys, and
lunches the main towns and native vii
lagos between the two extreme points.
Later. branch lines, now in course of
construction, will be opened for public
traffic between Santiago and the bay
of Nipe Jucaro and San Fernando, as
well as from Santo Espirito Junction
on to Santo Esperito City.
Until now the western portion Of the
island only has enjoyed railway facih-
ties the larger territory, comprising
some 10000 square miles, remaining
comparatively unexplored. The COM
pany's object in constructing the new
lines of railroad is to extend the exist
ling system, (which only runs through
barely one-half of the western part of
the island, and to develop the enormous
tract of eastern territory where hither-
to no railway facilities have existed"
las announced.
The trunk line is of standard gauge,
its bridges are Of steel and masonry,
and its equipment will be similar to
that of the best American railways.
The country thus opened up is report
ed as containing much undeveloped
minerals, large areas of rich land and
an abundant supply of good water. AL
though the present population is only
about 100000, the resources Of the
island are sufficient to maintain 10000
1000 people.
Robert P. Porter, who was intrusted
by the late President Mckinley to re-
port on the industrial, financial and
commercial condition of the island, has
expressed his opinion concerning this
new venture as follows:
From whatever standpoint it may
be viewed, no one enterprise could do
so much to improve the situation of the
Island. No revolution could have ex-
listed in Cuba if such a railroad had
been completed by the former govern
ment, and nothing will so rapidly tend
to the revival Of commercial and gener-
al business as the facility for quick
passage from one end of the island to
the other and from the trunk line over
branches to the Seaboard cities.
All political turbulence will be quiet
ed thereby and prevented in the future.
Inc entire country will be open to COM
nerce, lands now practically Of no val
ue and unproductive will be worked,
Inc seaport towns will become active,
ana commerce between the island and
Inc United States will soon be restored
lat least its former condition"
Inc company is of an Americana
ISL character, headed by Sir William
van Horne as president and directo
'ale consisting of we'll known men.