Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
ANlNTERESTINC TRIP
W. H, HEATING TELLS OF ENJOY
ABLE VISIT AT HAVANA AND
MATANzAs, CUBA.
Conditions on Island Improving Rapid
Iy Under Direction of Americans
Queer Burial Customs of the Ma.
tives-

w. II. Meaning OIL InlS CITY, VINO mas
just returned from an extended visit in
Cuba is enthusiastic in his praise of
the rapid advancement made by that
country since the war and states that
the mild climate, the cleanliness of the
larger cities and the many points of
interest make the island delightful
place to spend the winter. Mr. and
Mrs. Heating returned Saturday night
from five weeks visit in Cuba and
the southern part of the United States
Mr.. Heating took the steamer for Ha-
vana at Mobile. Ala, and states that
the passage over was somewhat rough,
only four of the party of sixteen escap-
ing seasickness. Havana he says is
one of the cleanest cities he ever saw
and has many points of interest for an
American. He says that the streets in
the business part of town are extreme
ly narrow and that only in parts of the
new residence district are they as wide
as in this country. He measured the
sidewalk in the principal street and
found it sixteen inches wide and one
of the party stepped off the width of
the street and estimated it at fifteen
feet. Regarding his trip Mr.. Heating
said:
Have Many Forts.
zone of the first things that impress
es an American is the large number of
forts in the vicinity of Havana. These
are mostly built of heavy masonry and
are very substantial. At present, ow-
ing to the size of the Cuban army, only
enough soldiers are kept at each fort
to do police duty and act as guides for
{1,o lot ,,%c
equipped with cannon of the most an
cient make, one of the guns we noticed
bearing the date Of 1870.
Burial Ceremonies.
"When a man of means dies he is
buried with the utmost pomp and cere-
mony. When poor man dies the
body is thrown into a large hole with
hundreds of others. To people of the
common class the ground in the Gene
terry is leased for period of five years.
If the rent is not paid promptly at the
up and thrown into the boneyard. The
| boneyard covers an area of several
acres and to the Americans is due the
posed to view but are kept covered
with thin layer of dirt.
Many Americans.
There are several American stores
in Havana and the new electric street
railway is owned by an American com
pany. English is spoken in many OF
the larger stores. Americans are also
i investing in farms on the island but
owing to the high price of land very
few are locating near Havana. We
visited the large ranch Of Adam Grey
fifteen miles from Havana, which is
said to be the finest on the island. Mr.
Grey formerly lived at Cincinnati, Ohio
but for the past five years has beer
conducting a ranch in Cuba and is re
puted to have cleared $4,000 year.
i Favor Annexation.
4 GIN conversation with several Cub
ans of the better class we found tina
they desired and believed that Cubs
would eventually become part of thu
United States, this being prevented a
present by number who are ambi
tious to hold public Office"
Regarding the cab service Mr.. Keat
ing said he had never seen better ser
vice OF at so low price. The railwa.
service Is hardly equal to that of thu
United States and first class fare Il
six cents per mile.
Pride of the Island.
At Matanzas the citizens take grea
pleasure in showing visitors the fir
department which is said to be tn
:, pride of the Island. The equipment i
.. the finest that can be purchased il
this country and consists of severa
! fire engines, chemicals, hook and lac
J. der wagons and hose reels.
Mr.. and Mrs. Heating spent ten day
D in Havana and Matanzas and fror
3 both, places took frequent excursion
: into the country to visit points of il
: terest. On their way home they stol
3 ped for visit at Hot Springs, Ark.
$ I'M NEECNNC VIIJ rny