New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-01
INFORMATION ABOUT CUBA.
HOW MANY TOURISTS GET RosEATE VIEWS
OF THE PROSPERITY OF THE ISLAND.

HOW MANY TOURISTS GET ROSEATE VIEWS
OF THE PROSPERITY OF THE ISLAND.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: 1 have before me a New-York paper con-
tanning a letter signed by r. s. Kelley, headed.
mo Distress In Cuba"
According TO his saying. the gentleman spent
fourteen days here, and came purposely TO satisfy
himself about condition OF the island. He
found distress-nobody dying in the streets as
in the time of the 'reconcentrados' on the con-
trary he talked with owners and managers OF
plantations and they told him that they were
satisfied, happy, and almost ignorant of what was
going on in Washington about affairs. De
spite the unprecedenteGly low prices for their
principal products, sugar and tobacco, they were
all making money, growing fat and needed no
help from the United States. What for? If any
agitation noted, it was only to please the
New-York Sugar Trust, who urge the Cubans to
support their schemes. Real estate is very high,
business very lively, and in short. If there is
prosperous country earth it is blessed Cuba.
am not surprised at such letters as this. Hun
dreds of Americans come here tourists. armed
with their kodaKs, to photograph every horse car
rying forage every cart loaded with cane sights
that they never before) filling their negatives
with the beautiful landscapes they see travelling
IN trains that no faster than fourteen miles
an hour as I have heard them
The first they meet on board the steamer
IS the hotel interpreter who. of course, is THOR
oughly posted about affairs. and, like the
with the most reliable information That inter
nreter provides them with a guide TO show them
the curiosities of the city not emitting the hor-
rthle dungeons of the Cabaias fortress in gen
eral excursion at 81 . head. After that. and to
obliterate the sad feeling of such hideous places
as the dungeons, they taken in crowd TO
Matanzas Ito the Belamar Caves. when are
wGnoer air Of tbe Yum nu VALLEY
After sundry photographs have been taken and
frequent Interviews held with the guide, who Is
as we'll posted the Interpreter on Cuban affairs
growing exports and imports, and TO make gen
eral comments on the convenience OF hayihs PEI
ter hotel accommodations terminating with their
impressions on the ''jai-aaf' ball game, which is
very exciting. Once back at home. people want
to know what their ideas are on Cuban affairs
and TO crafty them all the gathered is given
to the public in the shape OF letters BOOKS OF
pamphlets. . -,
such matters fall into hands. Havana enjoys
the advantages of ell large cities. and its cafes
theatres and paseos are naturally throngeo win
people at certain hours of the day III that OF
course the inexperienced eyes. is sure sign OF
prosperity and grandeur, and nobody saw better
In the world
The ruined planter. the merchant in trouble and
the suffering classes are not detected among so
much noise and amusement People interested IN
oorna ia the hotels meet foreigners to tell them
- our true situation and explain what their blind
49, rockets full letters OF intro duction to re-
snec,a able people which they had no time to pre-
sant. they much amused with the low
hnuses and the barred windows and the bazaar at
nIssno-st that they did not care to see any more
Up.oa;tr not AFFIRM that II Is absolutely 30. but
usran.ee that IL is so in ninety-hve cases out OF
a "a explain 10 the American people the source
Anu r peIiable information they generally receive
e. the motive have had In writing MS let.ep
,.ua Ia Grande. Cuba. March 20 1902