Evening journal., 1903-02-26
TAKING UP LAND IN
CUBA FOR FARMING
Lawyer Tells Of
the New Conditions and
Americans Influx

Ernest Lee Cmant. Of ,law flrm in
Havana, when interviewed.b a. repre-
sentative Of the washington Star at
the New Willard hotel said: "There
was somewhat of n reaction after the
American military authorities left Gu
ba. and American influences were not
as prominent in business as under mill
tary rule. There is a healthier growth
now, and many Americans are coming
In to take lands and engage In farming
on their own responsibility. These peo-
pie do not come at the suggestion of
any land company and as a rule know
why they come and what line Of farm
Ing they intend to engage in. There
are between 1000 and 1000 Americans
In Havana engaged in business, and
there is an American paper there pub
lishcd entirely I'm English. An Amerl-
can brewery supplies the needs Of those
who use beer. and the Havana electric
street railway IS an American institu-
ton This railway now operates forty
hye miles Of road, with lines to Vidado,
Quemados, Cero, Jesus del Monte Ma
riano and other suburbs. The line is
being extended to Mariel, twenty-five
miles out.
"Nidado, the beautiful suburban city
by the sea. has almost doubled in size,
the new houses being largely Ameri-
can. This was always a favorite resort
with Americans, and the headquarters
Of the military government was at the
la Trocha hotel at Vidado. There is a
Colonial Loan and Deposit company
controlled by Americans in Havana,
and American companies are preparing
to raise cotton on a large scale for the
English market
"The American club in Havana Is
quite an organization. 1t is presided
over by Mr.. Merchant. A syndicate has
completed It's line OF railroad from
Havana TO Santiago, and a few weeks
ago trains began running. The dis
! tance is about GOO miles, and 1t takes
two days to make the trip one way.
The reason of this is that the trains tie
up over night and the passengers so
desirable, and as everybody is anxious
to see the country, and the railroad
company is anxious TO have the coun-
try along its line seen, all parties seem
satisfied with the arrangement l sup
pose later Mt least one through fast
train win be put ON.
Il think the Cuban government has
/ .Ir Il D.. 4fftr fIf
increase IN expenses by reason of a con-
gress and a state department with sew
oral costly foreign missions the Cuban
! government has materially reduced
\ operating expenses. Revenues have
not declined and there is surplus in
the treasury. The expenditures for
! schools have been reduced without Grip.
plng that branch Of the public service.
The recent strike on the street railway
was somewhat exaggerated in the
United States. The authorities sup
pressed the rioting in two or three
days. and too much credit cannot be
| given to President Palma and Chief
OF Police Cardenas for their hrmness,
steadiness and good judgment. The in
cident has been in reality Of great bene-
| fit. Ii Increased the confidence Of the
people IN their president, placed the
chief Of police firmly in authority over
his men, united the police, increased
their confidence and esprit de corps and
I'm every way strengthened the govern
ment ] think generally that there has
been less disorder, less cattle stealing
than under American military rule. The
people are more cOntcnted, and that
may account for IT,
"There Is of course business stagna-
tiou at present and will be until the
treaty with the United States becomes
law. There Is no question as to its
meeting the approval of the Cuban gov
ernment The people there have great
admiration for President Roosevelt and
look upon him as their friend. Gen
orally they are suspicious of the people
OF the United States as a whole and
think that this country intends to COB
ole them up at the first opportunity.
, There Is an entire lack of cordiality to
ward Americans as a people. If 1 had
any suggestion to make to the govern.
ment there. would perhaps advise
less attention TO the military depart
ment and more TO agriculture. Up to
this time a great deal Of energy has
been devoted to the organization OF the
army. Perhaps this was necessary in
a country recently engaged IN war, but
the future Of Cuba depends upon the
development OF its agricultural re
sources. and this feature should re
ceiVe early and earnest attention"
tn. v..f.htr,- n.a No,