Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15
Old and Quaint.

AcdieiilcSt Al Tic WoTiu
Old and Quaint.
Havana is one of the quaintest cities on the
American hemisphere. 1t is more so than
any South American capital. There Is not a
town in Europe north of the Alps which Is
more picturesque or more interesting. 1t
is combination of the Spanish and Moor
ish, with slices of North and South Amer
lea mixed in. AS you look at it from the
sea 1T forms a mass of bright color. it's
buildings rising almost straight up from
the water, interspersed with green trees.
On one side is the Malecon, with a sea
wall in front Of it, against which the
spray dashes high into the air. On the
other side of the harbor entrance stands
MORO Castle, more picturesque than any
castle of the Rhine, and on the hills be-
yond 1t are barracks and Notifications.
Coming into the harbor the entrance is
not more than thousand feet wide. The
sea, which is of a deep blue outside,
turns to light green near the shore, and
you now see that the houses are painted
all colors of the rainbow, which seem
brighter than usual under the dazzling
light.
In the Havana Harbor.
The Havana harbor has altogether an
area Of about twenty quarter-section
farms. 1t is three miles long and two
miles wide and it winds in and out among
the hills. 1t has considerable shipping
DOdtS from dll parts VI TIC WOTiQ DtiHS
anchored here and there in 1t, with the
rusty wreck of the Maine in the center.
Cuba has a commerce Of about $780,
100000 year, and three-fourth of 1t passes
through Havana. 1t Is very extensively
handled one may see by the great
lighters which are used for loading and
unloading the ships. The lighterage COM
panies are opposed to the building of
wharves and for this reason no such
concessions have yet been granted. The
cost Of the lighterage is about 100000
per annum. or, in round numbers, at least
2 per cent on all the goods taken in and
out of Havana.
The Maine Will Be Raised.
In going to and from the steamers during
| the past few weeks have had occasion to
pass by the Maine Only a small portion of
| the vessel is still above water and this is
| red from the accumulated rust. About a
I year ago a contract was made with the
| government by an American named De
| Wyckon to remove the wreck from the har-
Dor. The work was to be done at the ex-
| pense of the contractor, who was to pay
5000 to Cuba, and in exchange to be given
| pany with a capital of 100000 was incor-
| porated at Washington, d. c., last fall to
| do this work, and connected with 1t was
| DR.. e. l.. Corthell, the wel-known engineer
| and others. So far nothing has been done,
| but 1 understand that the contractors ex-
| pect to build water-tigflt cofferdam about
| the vessel and to raise 1t to the surface
According to their arrangement with the
| government, the Maine is to be entirely
removed by next December.
American Steamships for Cuba.
There are five American steamship COM
| panies which now have connection with Ha-
vana running regular steamers here from
our several ports. They were crowded all
last winter and they are making prepare
of trov urjp q
the coming season. I came to Cuba from
Mobile on the steamship Saratoga which
| is operated by the Munson Company. That
service was put for the first time last
season and the vessel has not been able
| to carry all the passengers. 1t has been so
| crowded and has paid so well that Mr..
Munson expects to have additional steam
ers next year. The trip from Mobile to
Cuba is only forty hours. Leaving Tues
| day evening you are landed In Havana
Thursday morning after sail more de-