Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-04-24


portation, says Albert G. Robinson |
have not at hand the date of the open
ing of the first Cuban railway, a AZ
mile line from Habana to Guines, but
it came within few years of the
opening of the first American line
Following a concession granted by
Governor General Tacon in 1897, the
Puerto Principe and Nuevitas line
was opened in 1851 The Matanzas-
SaDanilla road was opened in 1854.
Others followed until, at the time of
the American occupation. on Janu-
airy /, 1899. Cuba could boast of 124
railroads, with total length of 2.100
miles, representing a valuation of
10000 900.
The Puerto Principe-Nuevitas sys-
tenn deserves a passing note for its
popularity. Its capital is 81 900 900,
represented by eight shares, though no
printed stock certificates have ever
been issued. 1t is practically a private
issued. 1t is practically a private
corporation Three stockholders are
elected annually to serve as a director
treasurer, and secretary. They
serve without pay and are not eligible
for reelection. The road has neither
mortgage nor outstanding indebted
ness. It's expenses are paid from its
receipts. For the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1900, it's earnings were $780,
442.42. It's operating expenses were
S19i, 120.33, leaving 1924 ,312S8. which
was paid as dividends to its eight
stockholders.
The number of Cuban railways (124)
seems out of proportion to the mileage
until it is understood that only II are
public lines. The remaining LOT are
private roads for the transportation of
sugar-cane in the vicinity of the large
centrales, or grinding mills. The II
public lines cover LBS miles OF this
all except 1872 miles are in the western
half of the island. The sys-
TEN of the eastern half is represented
by four short lines running to interior
points from the ports of Santiago,
Guantanamo, Gibara, and Neuyitas.
and by a Spanish military road across
the island, along the line of the
Jucaro-Moron trocha. This was con-
structed with the expectation that it
would enable the Spanish army to
limit insurgent activities to the re-
gion of their inception-the provinces
of Santiago and Puerto Principe
Much the larger part of the Cuban
railway system is now in the hands of
NJ lich TA- NnrJ fch NIL aI
was represented prior to the insurrec-
ton, and its holdings have been large
ly increased during recent years,
notably about the time of the Ameri-
can occupation. Purchases were
made at prices which American in
vestors did not care to touch in view
of the condition of the properties and
the uncertainty of those prompt re-
turns which are much more import
ant item in the mind of the Ameri-
can investor than they are in the mind
of his English competitor in the world
of finance. The principal systems,
five in number, represent about nine
elevenths of all the public lines. These
are under English control, though
some American money is represented
among the stockholders.
The private roads are practically
feeders to the public lines. though
some run to coast ports. Thus the
United Fruit company operates 80
miles of railway with locomotives
and 800 cars. This runs from the com
pany's plantations to the shipping
port of Banes. The Terry estate
operates some 65 miles of road. with
16 locomotives and 700 cars. OF the
private lines which connect with the
public lines. some use their own equip
ment and some use the equipment of
the lines with which they connect.
with the public lines. some use their
own equipment and some use the
equipment of the lines with which
they connect The 107 roads represent
an investment of nearly $4,000, 900.
At the close OF tho war many of
these lines. both public and private.
were in exceedingly bad condition as
a result of the destructive methods
employed by the contending parties
burned. bridges and culverts blown
up, and road-bed neglected Travel
over them meant so many hours of
misery at eXorbitant rates of fare
There has been a notable Improvement
in physical conditions. but the rates
are still excessive. These average
about cents per mile for first-class
passengers and about cents per mile
for second-class, On some runs II
have paid as high as IL cents per
mile. Freight rates are also ex-
orbitant, and serious detriment to-
the welfare and the development of
the country. Some effort is now being
made to effect a modification of rates
by military order, though the legality
of the step is somewhat doubtful.
But the railway feature of the great
est importance in the island is the
line which is now in process OF con-
struction by Sir William Van Horne
and his associates of the Cuba Cen
trail Railway This will connect at
Santa Clara with the lines now run
ming from Havana to Cienfuegos. It
will extend eastward for distance of