Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-18
PUERTO PRINCIPE. Cuba,
-. ~ 1000


July 81, 1902.
To the Editor of The Journal:
- T has been some time since have had
the pleasure of writing you letter,
for the simple reason that have been
on the go-from Panama to Mexico
and back again. on various commissions
In september last year. after my ma
hoganv business had been washed away
bv the river floods in Guatemala, ue-
cided TO come TO Cuba and see how Things
looked under a republican form OF gov.
eminent. I had been all over the islano
some years ago when II was as YET uiiU0i
the Spanish rule.
7 came as civil engineer for the CUBA
company-the company which is now BUS,
ilv engaged in laying a network OF steer
rails over this island-I held my posltloh
with the company until January 1st' when
I saw a good opening to get into business
on the ground floor in this city.
AFTER studying. carefully. the entire is
land came to the conclusion that the
province or state of Puerto Principe was
the real future of the island, and TINS
citv. sPuerto Principe" capital OF this
province was the real future city
This being the second largest city IN
Cuba. and Furthermore the Central rail-
road eThe Cuba company are BUILDING
their shops-car shops, headquarters, Of
ices and general store houses here. which
gives this place great Importance from
the very start. ooo
The city of Puerto Principe has 5000
inhabitants; is the second largest city on
the island. It is easy TO see why this city
and this province will be the best and
richest OF the whole of Cuba The rea-
sons are:
THE wars have left the entire province
deva stated. Where there once existed
towns and villages are now to be found
only a heap of ruins. Where there were
once magnificent Haciendas and cattle
ranches are now only sc many pieces OF
land with a name" and a pile Of rock or
brick to show where once existed some
fine houses.
BEFORE the war this province exported
400 600 head Of cattle annually and now
there are hardly 100000 head in the entire
nrovince. although within the last six
months more than % large ranches have
been bought on leased by American cat
tlemen who are bringing in three to four
thousand head per month-mostly me
breeding stock and horses.
The famous. Wyler trocha dividing the
island from Jucaro to Moran was built
with its railroads and innumerable barb
ed wires across this province from ocean
20 ocean. Consequently most Of the guer-
rilio movements were executed In this
vicinity. In the city OF Ciego de AVllo were
stationed $500 Spanish troops for use in
the 'trocha, while here in the capital of
the province were H. 900 Spanish regulars.
Now today this entire country has to be
reorganized, resupplied, rebuilt. and re-
populated; now is the chance for the
American settler, the American manufac-
turer, the American merchant and the
American hustler to get in their work
The Cubans are all waiting for them.
They, the Cubans, are willing to divide
their lands and to help in every possible
way all and every one who viii put
dollar into business here. The only thing
they ask is that the Americans leave
their government alone and let them de-
eide in their own time and way If they
want to be annexed or no, which is only
fair after the many promises they have
had from the United States.
1.-THE Cuba company" which is now
building 500 miles of railroad through the
center OF the island, connecting Havana
with Santiago, have 800 miles of roadbed
already graded and the track laying will
be finished by September LIST on the main
line, while the branches from here to Sta
Cruz, a sea port on the south coast, from
Tunas to Guiana and Nipe, seaports on
the north coast, viii be completed by
April next year with through train and
mail service, Pullman and palace cars and