Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-07

to the first minister of this government
to Cuba. He is held in high regard by
all classes, and his friendly and we'll
chosen methods are doing much to
enhance the best type of business and
social relations between the two coun-
tries which are such close neighbors.
Minister Squiers is man of ample
means and owns a magnificent resi-
dence quite distance from the capl-
tai while maintaining an office and
home in the city of Havana.
Lacking in Religion.
"The people of Cuba" remarked Mr. |
lO'Connell, las a rule do not seem to
he religiously inclined. 1t is safe to
say that not to exceed five per cent or
the population take the slightest inter-
est in religious matters. was pres
ent at one Sunday service in Havana
and listened to sermon forty minutes
| long, of which | did not catch an idea
or even a word, as it was Spanish IN
Language and accent. The effort was
evidently of high order, judging from
the manner and style of the preacher
and the good attention accorded him.
He had quite a distinguished audience,
Including President Palma. the mayor
/, the governor of the province OF Ha-
: ,vana"
'What one buys in Cuba" said Mr..
sIOConnell. comes high. Hotels that
) are not I'D to the Washington stand
ard charge you from S. to 81 per day.
!, with no apparent remorse. The one
. thing that is cheap is the transporta
i ton. Two can ride all over the city
$ of Havana for fifteen cents, and you
a are all right so long as the motion is
s maintained. If you halt to do an er-
rand. the deal is off, SO far as that par
lticnlar driver is concerned, but one
!, soon finds out that there are others.
l. Poor Railroad Facilities.
SIN The matter of railroads was sur
~ prised to find that the Cubans are in
= the "A B c. of steam traffic as com
a pared with the United States. Fol
y exam pie. Santiago and Havana are
y about 500 miles apart, a twelve or III
= teen hour run on an American railway
,, yet the Journey between the cities con
y sumes three days The tracks are no
y in good condition for experiment.
- with speed, and most singular OF all
~ when night comes the engineer shut
s : off steam and the trip is deferred unit
~ morning. There will be an improve
u u ment along this line before long.
~ minor methods of travel are CON
q mon possession among the well-to-d
70 classes, and carriages are numerous
~ but the average American could no
guess where they are kept when not i
~ use One soon learns when calm
70 about the city, for on entering res
~ dence the first object seen in the hal
~ way is the family carriage, locate
a. y. near the stairway. just how the
;, 10 dispose of their horses is conul
H. : drum with me-in the cellar, perhap
However, all surprise on this point di
~ appears when the methods used
~ building cites are understood. Tn
y. streets are all very narrow-the wi
gu est do not exceed twenty feet, and tn
~ houses are built up close to the insit
~ line of the sidewalk, all the space b
nc ing reserved for the courts in the rea
81 which are made pleasant and attra
.ei tive as outdoor life is greatly enjo
~ ed in Cuba. Thus it will be seen tn;
~ there is no room to throw away IL
20, barns or sheds"
Encouraging Outlook.
When interrogated about the cha
al acter of the island OF Cuba and i
On prospects, in the light Of what he hs
es- seen, Mr.. O'Connell replied: "Thel
full is probably no more fertile spot in IL
er- world, of the same area. than tn
nd island There is no question about /
yet productive possibilities. The soil is
at rich loan, very like that of Iowa. G
re- ba, under best conditions, could pr
ION duce all the sugar that the people
me the United States would care to us
TO The real development of the island h
eed but just commenced. When it is
IN settled fact that the new governme
are is meeting the expectations of the pc
nat pie down there, and they settle doy
ess to make the most of the wonderful
the gricultural advantages in their kee
'lty ing, Americans and American capt.
aen will go down there, resulting in
an Transforming of that land into pal
zen disc of production, raising in quan
are ties to meet all demands sugar, tob'
, VI co, bananas, rice and other troplt
nat peculiar excellence, always find
. Is ready and profitable market. The
lli, ture of Cuba depends altogether
anu ii the success the inhabitants make
IN the great problem of self-gevernmen
fur. Southern Unprosresslveness
ling Referring to his homeward trip,