Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-06
THE NEW HAVANA
CHANGES AND RETIREMENT IN
CUBA'S CAPITAL.
An Ancient Fortress Used for q Ma.
tional Observation-Disclosures
Establishments.

From the Boston Transcript
Since the American occupation and espe-
cially within the last year a new and con-
stantly expanding Havana has suddenly
sprung into existence. The old Malecon
or sea wall at the entrance to the harbor
has been Strengthened and thoroughly reno
waited; quaint. medieval little Spanish
forts no longer exist. and round about the
historic Punta Battery, where horses used
to be washed in the salt water. there ex-
tends beautiful marine park, with stately
approaches and avenues
Those who sigh for the good old Spanish
days are indeed having a hard time as the
city engineers in charge of municipal inn
provements show scant regard for senti-
mental considerations an instance of this
being the leveling of the picturesque relics
of the original city walls. overhung by
vines Everywhere in Havana these engi-
neers are supervising the work of tearing
up the principal thoroughfares LAYING new
mains and pipes, and insugurating a COM
pletely modern system of sewerage In
this upheaval there need be no fear of sick
ness from foul odors. the sanitary de-
partment has its army of intelligently di-
rected employees ready at a moments no
tice to pour disinfectants into any spot
likely to breed disease.
New Succeeds the Old.
Turn where one may in Havana. one
perceives the old rapidly giving way TO
the new. The statue of Ferdinand VII,
the imbecile George III of Spain. still
graces the center of the Plaza de Armas
Park in front of the beautiful palace but
his serene image, destined, according to the
Latin inscription, to remain there forever
Is contemptuousy tolerated in 1.-THE ever
faithful Isle of Cuba" The common people
1reeiy throng through the covered archway
OF the palace (now the presidential house,
over a new cement pavement-a marked
contrast to the days of the naughty cap
tain generals. when only the viceregal
Dodyguard OF cavalry might clatter over
the cobblestones of that same archway
The principal streets and avenues of
Havana are brilliantly lighted by electric
ity. The electric lines, already many.
promise, in the near future, to be extended
so as to include every important business
center. and will even run, miles out, to the
most favored of Havana's summer resorts.
Inc custom Louise, or aduana, with its
group of allied buildings, presents a strange
blending of the old and the new Once an
old franciscan convent, and hoary with the
traditions of centuries II was long ago di-
verified by the Spanish government to the
prCfane uses of commerce. The interior
has now been completely remodeled. From
lovely patio or inner court, open to the
sky. and rich with palms and Towering
tropical plants, one passes into the various
ofhces, fitted up with every modern con-
venience. At a height of 125 feet. from the
wooden ceiling of the appraisers depart
ment, an oil painting, representing the
browning of the Virgin. benignly gazes
upon the hundreds upon hundreds of cases
of merchandise, daily deposited from all
parts of the world in this warehouse OF
Havana.
Machina Wharf
few steps along the water front brings
one to the Machina wharf, where passen-
gers from the United States and foreign
countries are landed. They enter a pic
turesque frame and stone building. painted
a delicate yellow. with a red-tiled roof,
containing the offices of the quarantine and
kindred departments-a thoroughly modern
structure erected by order of Governor
General Wood To the right Of it Is an
enormous and massive vet graceful iron
derrick and hosting apparatus called the
machlna twhence the wharf gets its name),
used for loading and unloading heavy mer-
chandise into and from ships and lighters
From this point an excellent view of the
rust1ng remains of the Maine can be OBJ
tanned.
Havana. In common with the rest of the
island. is beginning to experience undoubt-
eo prosperity. AT the department Of state
constant stream of applications for char
tiers and concessions is flowing in Ameri-
can, British and other foreign corporations
and trusts vying with one another in the
race 10 develop the marvellous natural re-
of fine establishments already devoted IN
That industry an enormous tobacco factory
covering many acres, is under construction
It's iron girders and posts towering far
above the old Tacon market and riyaling In
height the spires of the beautiful Angles
Church. In another part of the city q rome
mandatory, under German management
employs a large number of operatives
over across the bay. I'm Regia there is a
most extensive fundicon or coal and iron
establishment, with a thousand employees
and laborers.
Ship Supplies.
Here are shops for the repair and con-
struction of vessels of all sorts, and so
abundant stock of coal is kept on hand
That visiting warships and merchant steam
ers secure from that source ample supplies
The modern industrial invasion is seen in
the initiation of minor Industries such as
the manufacture of trunks, in which the
Cubans are making notable progress. 1t is
even more noticeable In the tearing down
of whole blocks of wretched little weather.
beaten houses centuries old to make way
for banking, insurance and mercantile en-
terprfseS. That Havana is considered a
business and commercial center well worth
cultivating may be seen any fine evening
when Central Park is crowded with sight
seers who enjoy the electric sign advertise
ments of various household articles well
known to Americans which are flashed
from the roofs of great hotels and restau-
rants.
Havana is now extremely healthful
city, most delightful in winter and spring
and bearable even In midsummer sunstrolsa
being absolutely unknown there Tourists
who stop to admire the exquisite marble
statue of the great Cuban engineer Albear.
in front of the Southern Express office
are not aware that it is due to his genius
that the metropolis of Cuba enioys perhans
the finest drinking water in the world
brought through massive viaducts and
pipes, from the reservoirs OF Vento on the
limpid Almendares river. a few miles from
the capital
Kept cleaner than either New York or
Boston and with such favorable conditions
as those just mentioned, 1T is no wonder
that Havana Is becoming favorite winter
Mecca for wealthy Americans from the
south and southwest of the United States