davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Qaick FtnnncIerinR.

AS soon as he decided. however, that It
would pay, he started for New York, and
there financed the road In less than two
days. He wanted big men. and rich men;
men who would not expect immediate re-
suits. and men who could afford to lose
their money II things went the wrong way.
He started out to get over s7,OOO0OO In
$50 900 shares. and picked out eighteen men
OF whom he expected to ask S40O,0 900 each to
begin with. These men were among the
leading capitalists Of the United States.
They were men accustomed to dealing in
large sums, and it took but few words to
get their subscriptions. Among them were
E. H. Hartman. James ]. Hill, Granville
NJ. Dodge, and others. Sir William had
only to point out that here was one OF the
richest OF all countries, lying in the front
dooryard Of the world, with millions OF
acres Of undcveloped lands, surprising all
others in their ability TO raise sugar, to-
bacco and other money crops. He showed
them that similar lands in Hawaii costing
as high as 900 per acre pay an interest on
the investment. and that these undeveloped
lands can be COTTON from 81 to S an acre,
and that by the thousands of acres The
map spoke for itself, and there was no
trouble in getting the subscriptions. This
was fve years ago. Since then almost
twice that amount has been spent, but
the trunk line of the road has been com
pleted, a great harbor opened up on the
biggest and best bay OF Cuba, sugar planta-
tons and other enterprises begun and a
system Of development originated which In
time will probably be OF great profit to the
investors.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

The older railroads OF Cupa are we'll es-
tablished, and they now have large earn
ings. Their stock is far above par and is
growing in value every day. There had
been about s65, 900, 900 invested in such roads
up to 1898, and they were then making
net earnings of more than 100000 per
annum. The roads have been improved
since then and nearly all have made ex-
tensions.
Cuba is one of the Oldest railroad coun-
tries on our hemisphere. 1t had railways
before any otL'er country of Spanish Amer
lea, and as far back as the days OF Jack
sons presidency a concession was granted
for a railroad from Nuevitas on the north
coast of Camaguey, distance of forty
five miles. This road is still in existence
and It has a large traffic.
The Western railway of Havana runs
from that city for a distance of 200 miles
down into the province of Pinar del Rio,
reaching the famous tobacco fields. 1t is
well built, we'll equipped and makes good
time. 1t has first and third-class cars and
does a good business in both passengers
and freight. The through rates are about
cents a mile first-class and half that for
third-class
Tho United Railway company extends
from Havana eastward through the prov
inces of Havana and Matanzas, with
branch lines covering the whole of Havana,
including Bataban, the sponge fishing cen
ter and fort on the south This road has
265 miles OF track. 1t is well built and one
OF the best managed on the island 1t is
connected with the Cuba road by the Cuban
Central railway. which runs from Jovel-
lanos TO Santa Clara, thus completing with
the United Railway the trunk line from
Santiago to Havana. The Cuban Central
railway is rough to an extreme and is in
bad condition, although It goes through one
OF the richest parts of the island and has
large traffic. In addition to these there
are branch lines, which are more or less
under the control OF the main lines, and
also the plantation railroads. about one
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Cubn's New Port.

One OF the most important parts Of the
Cuba road is that which was opened this
year 10 Antilla on Nipe bay. This bay is
large enough TO hold the harbors OF San
tiagO, Matanzas, Havana and every other
good harbor in Cuba and leave room to
spare. In a great part OF It the water is
over 200 feet deep, with a depth great
enough for big steamers close 70 the shore.
Wharves nave already been built at An
tilla and the Ward Steamship company has
contracted TO put on regular steamers from
II to New York. The ships will be Of from
5000 TO 5000 tons and will make the trip
in two and ohe-half days. Through rates
from New York to Havana, via Antilla and
the Cuba railroad, will be sold at the same
rate as TO Havana direct and II is probable
that a large part OF the tourist travel will
come or return home this way. Arrange
ments have been made with the ships
going from New York 10 Jamaica 10 call at
Santiago or Antilla and passengers will be
able TO go through this part Of Cuba on
their way 70 and from Jamaica.
The Nipe bay harbor will have an mod
ern conveniences for handling freight. At
Havana everything is loaded and unloaded
In lighters. The Cuba company will trans
fer its freight from the cars direct 70 the
steamers. and II will have such loading
and unloading facilities that. Il will pay
vessels 70 50 there rather than 70 Havana
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
New Birth of the Club.

The spirit OF regeneration infused itself
into the leading minds Of the club last sum-
mer. They started a movement for an in
creased membership. an Improvement Of
the club quarters, and secured as commits
sioner E. ]. Mcvann. q man experienced
in the railroad business and informed in
every phase Of the rate situation Mr.. Nc
Vann entered upon the administration of
his Office with vigor which since has been
largely responsible for the commercial VIC
tories of the organization. A campaign
for membership was started in which there
was great rivalry between members of the
club to see which could get the largest
number OF recruits. All through the winter
the list increased until at the beginning OF
the last week in January It contained 5S7
names. with this number of members It
was proposed TO suspend the free list. for
those who came in during the campaign
did so without initiation fees. and to charge
a s2 membership fee. with this incentive
to get into the fold at once, 100 names were
added TO the list in the last week Of jan
uary and the free list was suspended. The
present ms, nbership is about 800. All are
paid up ar very much alive. At the cleo
ton in January w. S. Wright was elected
president of the club and F, w. Judson
was later made chairman OF the executive
committee.
The restaurant is now paying for itself
and making money besides. Most OF the
old debts have been paid of, together with
the greater part Of the obligation incurred
by improvement Of the quarters. 1t is ex-
pected that the club will be entirely out OF
debt by January 1, 1906.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Girl Not to He Daunted.

Miss Ethel Stewart a prominent society
girl OF Beaver, Pa. who is just 20 years
old, has finally succeeded in clipping, and
she did II in the good old romantic way,
by descending from her bed room window,
In the middle OF the night. by a ladder
which had been provided by her lover
Miss Stewart is the daughter OF James W.
Stewart, the brick manufacturer. and one
OF the wealthiest men in the Beaver valley.
The man whom she has just married is
Charles Patterson, night telegraph operator
at the Cleveland & Pittsburg station at
Beaver,
About year ago Miss Stewart attempted
20 elope with another man, but her father
discovered her intentions and brought her
back before the pair were married. She Is
considered .one OF the pretuest Sirls in
town
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

seven-tenths of Cuba seemed to be unde-
veloped, and that its whole eastern half
had no great railroad and practically no
farms. He asked as to the character of the
land and was told it was fully as good as
that OF western Cuba, but that It was mac
cessible, although a number of railroads
had been planned in the past, and the Span
ish government had once offered to guaran-
tee per cent dividends on the cost OF con-
struction II a trunk line were built.
The more Sir William investigated the
subject the more he became convinced that
such road would be of vast good to Cuba
and that it would eventually be profitable
undertaking. He did not come to this con-
clusion until he had sent his engineers over
the line on. horseback and had Travelled over
the most Of it himself on horseback and in
wagons
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

public roads without a concession He
did this. and no one has objected.
He used Cuban workmen to construct the
line, and he says that they are as good
labor as can be found anywhere. 1t took
some time for the natives to learn to handle
the pick and shovel but after that they
worked rapidly and conscientously, clear
ing the forests and laying the tracks. Some
Spaniards also were imported from north
ern Spain, and the work was done quickly
and we'll.
This is. however, only the first stage in
the development Of the enterprise. The
Cuba company which is the name of the
syndicate owning the road, has several
hundred thousand acres OF land and it will
buy more. 1t is already clearing the forests
and laying out great sugar plantations.
There is at one Jatibonico. between Santa
Clara and Ciego de Avila, where in the
neighborhood Of three thousand acres have
already been cleared and mill. grinding a
thousand bags a day, Is building. This mill
alone will represent a population Of eight
or ten thousand people when 1t and the
plantation connected with 1t are in opera
ton. Similar mills will be built by the
Cuba company and other syndicates all the
way along the road to Santiago and Nipe
mills could be probably established. Each
such mill should be worth to the railroad
about $4,000 a year in gross traffc receipts
so that the possibilities are enormous. There
are already five sugar mills owned by pri-
vate companies along the road and the
Cuba company has, I understand, agreed TO
build a mill for an American corporation
which recently bought about 5000 acres Of
land not far from Ignacio.
As I have said, the road runs along the
backbone Of the island. The richest soil
lies in the valleys and IT is the intention Of
the company to build branch lines down the
valleys all along the way so that the trunk
will be fed by these lines, making the sys-
tenn look like the veins OF n leaf Other
extensions are planned 20 Santa Cruz and
Bayamo on the south, the latter reaching
the main line at San Luis not far from
SANTIAGO.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Building New railroads In Cuba.

The building OF the Cuba road was won
der. The American syndicate had no right
of-way. Cuba was then in charge OF the
United States, and the Foraker amendment
forbade that any concession be granted dur
ing the military occupation. Sir william
Van Horne had the Spanish railroad laws
translated, in the hope Of finding "A loop
hole In them that would enable MIN to go
ahead, but there was none. He then fell
back on the common right OF every man
TO build upon his own land. and decided TO
buy the lands on which the railroad was 70
go, from the center OF the island to Santi-
ago. He did this. and was then ony blocked
where the route crossed the public roads.
and he could have the right-of-way only
by consent OF the government He knew,
however, that the people wanted the road.
the ohicials wanted Il. and our government
wanted II, and also that no one was likely
70 object 10 what every one wanted. and
that he could therefore build GoroSs the
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
"Dridep Ring to ChicnEo Girl.

NHHF8 10 NHIVHHU WITI.
Calvin o. Sanders, who undertook 70 find
a wife by burying three caskets OF jewelry
In the sand on the beach at South Haven,
Mich has succeeded, I'm part. at least, In
the crowd which came over on the Chi
cago boat Sunday were about 800 employees
OF Chicago store, and upon learning of the
buried treasures the crowd hocked 10 the
beach and began the search Miss Lidla
Grove, who is manager of the linen depart
ment in the store, was the finder The box
contained the lucky ring. a beautiful dia-
mond. the finder OF which Sanders says he
will marry. The ring was enclosed in an
envelope, upon which were written the
words, ITO the future Mrs. Sanders"
With the ring was handsome gold watch
and gold nugget. Miss Grove returned
TO Chicago without seeing Sanders
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
ResuIt Of sIIght AccId.nt.

James Moss, a l6-year-old son Of DR..
Woodson Moss, a member OF the faculty
Of the Missouri university medical school,
Is at the point OF death from a wound
80 slight as to make the case remarkable.
While bathing in a creek near Columbia
with a party Of companions, young Moss
called TO one OF them to throw him
towel. The boy put a small pebble in II
and tossed II 10 Moss. The pebble struck
the young man in the head. He fell sense
less and was saved from drowning with
difficulty Brain fever Immediately de-
veloped and there is little hope OF his re-
covery.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

hullrOnu ITaNeI SuDds
All the railroads, with the exception Of
the Cuba road, are owned by British,
Cubans and Spaniards, the British having
by far the largest holdings. The cars are
on the American plan. with seats facing
the front and aisles running through the
middle. They are usually comfortable
and especially so on the trunk line from
Havana to Santiago. The United Railway
company has parlor cars, with wicker
swivel back chairs, which are especially
adapted to this climate and the sleepers
which carry you from the east to the west
in about twenty-four hours, are made in
the United States after a Pullman pat
tern. but higher and with lower seats than
our sleeping cars. Indeed one can now
travel comfortably all over Cuba. l came
from Havana to Jovellanos In chair car,
riding all day in 1t at an extra charge OF
40 cents over the ordinary rate. and l have
several times ridden over the Cuba road
with ladies in my party quite as comforta-
bly, as upon any railroad at home.
The porters and conductors of the Sleep
ing cars are yellow faced Cubans, who
speak broken English The conductors on
the main lines are Cubans, and there are
newsboys dressed in suits OF gray linen,
who work the train with papers and novels
in Spanish and English. Smoking goes on
in all the cars, and after our breakfast at
Matanzas noticed that the newsboy puffed
huge cigar as he showed his wares To
the passengers.
So far there are no dining cars. From
twenty to thirty minutes are allowed at the
stations for meals, which cost from so &c
70 cents. There are also lunch counters
and at nearly every stoppage peddler,
bring fruit and eatables to the car win,
dows.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
In the RncLwoods Of Cubn.

I wish I could show you the backwoods
OF Cuba which have been opened up by this
new railroad. Leaving Santa Clara the
train takes you for miles through a rich
farming country with sugar mills, tobacco
fields and pastures on each side Of the
track
Farther on the road enters the woods and
you ride for miles through a tangled jungle
of great trees loaded with orchids and
bound together with vines There are ma
hogany, cedar, lignum vitae, palms and
tropical trees. Here they are cutting the
forests and there is a sawmill where the
logs are being trimmed up for shipment.
The mahogany lies on the ground in great
piles with cords of ties stacked up be-
side 1t.
Your next sight is a clearing where the
forest has been cut and burned over. There
are stumps high your waist, half
burned logs lie on the ground, but through
out the whole clearing the rows of sugar
cane are sproutng, and nearby are patches
of bananas which have grown up and al
most hidden the stumps No blowing IL
needed in such land. The cane is put in
hole in the earth, the bananas set out. and
all grow without cultivation.
Every now and then you pass new town
site with real estate signs stating that Ave
lOtS VIII De given Tree 10 lHe uISI SeNtloiS
who will build houses satisfactory to the
company AS a rule half dozen matched
buildings and the depot constitute the set
tlement and so far the pioneers have not
yet arrived.
There are many places along the road
where the trees have been cut and the fire
started, so that you ride through blazing
flame and white smoke. Further on are
rough pastures fenced in with wire with
guinea grass growing around the stumps
and fat cattle feeding upon 1t. About
Camaguay vast extent of the country
has long been cleared for pasture, and
farther on I saw many new clearings on
both sides OF the road
Camaguey is the headquarters of the Cuba
railroad. 1t is a city of 900 people, which
has until now been accessible by railroad
only from Neuvitas. 1t is here that the
chief Offices of the Cuba company are,
and here also is the Camaguey hotel, about
the best on the island which was built by
Sir William Van Horn.
Going farther eastward the road runs for
many miles through the woods. with scat
tering settlements here and there, TO Alto
Cedro, about fifty miles from Santiago It
is there that the branch goes OF to Nipe
bay. which is, Judge, twenty-five or thirty
miles distant The Nipe road is also
through the wilds but the land has been
cleared close to the water, and It is now
growing sugar cane, cacao oranges and
bananas, and is already shipping fruit to
New York FRANK @. CARPENTER.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
FittIng the New Rooms.

An important Improvement of the winter
was the entire refurnishing OF the club
rooms on the fifth floor Of the Board of
Trade building. At the expense Of between
5000 and 5000 the rooms were thoroughly
renovated and furnished with new carpets
and furniture. The rooms are such that
any city might be proud Of them. The
north room. used for reception purposes
and smoking room. is finished with Flemish
furnishings. relieved by a green color
scheme. The next room south. the women's
dining room, is furnished with weathered
oak furniture, art glass and two fine
nantes. The other rooms are fitted up In
a splendid manner. Especially is the big
dining room a sight pleasing to the eye.
The completion OF the new home was 1T
tingly celebrated on the evening OF Jam
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
How the Cuba ROAD Was Built.


The Cuba railroad is by far the longest
on the island. and il will eventually be one
Of the best railroad properties OF this part
of the world. II runs right along the back
bone OF Cuba, extending from Santa Clara,
which is west Of the center Of Cuba, east
ward TO Santiago, opening up a country
which heretofore has been accessible only
from the coasts. This is the widest part
OF Cuba, and II has some OF the richest soil
and best material resources. The trunk line
is 1854 miles long, but, with the branches
there are altogether about 100 miles more
OF track, and the system will be extended
until II encloses eastern Cuba like a net
The Cuba road is one OF the wonders OF
modern railroad building. It's main line was
constructed within less than two years and
that without a government concession
without a right-of-way and without the
asking a dollar from the public. 1t was
planned, financed and built by Sir William
Van Horne who had completed the con-
struction OF the Canadian Pacific, and
Alexander like, was looking about for other
worlds to conquer He had come TO Cuba
Just after the war his way 70 British
Guiana. where he had interests in gold
mines, and the railroad people here had
taken him over their systems IN a special
car. Sir William never travels without a
map. He is shrewd observer. and as he
rode about over the central and western
provinces he saw the potential wealth Of
the island. He realized the profits that
could be made in sugar. tobacco and fruits,
and was impressed with the fertility OF the
son In looking At the map he saw that
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Electricity Ala In EIopement.

His knowledge OF electricity enabled
Joseph Hulburt Jr., aged 2. TO carry on
successfully his elopement with l5-year-old
Ethel Upperman OF Sharpsburg, Pa HUI
burt Is employed in the electric light plant
OF the borough OF Etna, which supplies
Aharpburg with light. When all was
pNady for the elopement Hulburt moved
a lever and cut on all the lights in the
vicinity OF his sweethearts home. This was
the signalfo the girl. who raised a window
and leaped into her sweetheart's arms as
soon as he appeared. The father was
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Kidnnped After Wedding.

S. ALEXANDER OF Eastport,
WI Me, is waiting impatiently for the
!" next one OF his bachelor friends
ISgYfN9I to be married that he may re-
49, taliate for the treatment he
received at his own wedding. At his
wedding reception he was kidnapped, hand
cutfed, ridden through town. imprisoned in
two watermelon crates and was literally
wet down and covered with paste en- route.
When he was finally released his dress
clothes were a mess OF -four paste.
Alexander has been a leader In a set OF
practical jokers, who made life unhappy
for any bridegroom OF their crowd. While
the reception was in progress at the home
of the brides parents the conspirators
hustled Alexander suddenly TO the kitchen,
gagged him, handcuffed him and tied his
feet. Then they boxed him up In the water
melon crates and put him In a dump cart.
The cart was driven all over town and
-four, rice and water were thrown on him,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

to go from one end of the island to the
other and branch lines are planned for
the east and west which will eventually
make every part of the country accessible
by train. There are already more than
800 miles OF trunk lines, and of these
more than one-third have been built since
the war. The Cuba railroad, owned by
American and Canadian capitalists, headed
by Sir William Van Horne. completed its
main line in 1902 ana the trains are now
running on the branch which Joins that
with the new port of Antilla, on the Bay
of Nipe. The Cuba road has now $50 miles
of track and It has thrown about 70 per
cent of the whole island open to settle
ment 1 shall write fully concerning It
later on.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

G@OT long ago Chairman F. w. Jud-
NJ son Of the executive committee CT
the Commercial club was in Min
Ifsg ueapolis, where he formerly lived
- He heard much complimentary
comment on Omaha and on the club
Omaha Is coming right ahead, l hear"
said one man. You are doing a big job
bling business down there now and your
city is rapidly growing. I understand more
building is going on than In twenty years
We hear about your Commercial club and
what it is doing quite frequently here now
and understand that you are an enthusi-
astic bunch"
Cooperation is the watchword of the
club and the secret of its success Get
the Omaha religion" is its motto When
ever proposition arises involving the in
terests of the city the membership OF 900
men stands together on It. Their work. too.
is pushed with the zeal which characterizes
devotees OF the Omaha religion"
In direct contrast to the brightness Of
present conditions history writes the fact
that year ago the club had only between
300 and 400 members The club was deeply
in debt and was going deeper ever day.
The restaurant was not paying for itself.
II is not to be denied that the organization
was n benefit to the city, but its history
OF the last year has been so much more
brilliant that other years are not to be
compared in any way.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13

Mac" Duluth water spaniel. saved the
lives Of Frank Bridgeman. aged years and
oliver Pugh. aged H. The children got
over their depth In Chester creek AIrs
Frank Spurbeck heard their screams and
ran 10 their assistance. She could not swim
and narrowly escaped death. Mrs. Spur
becks dog, Mac" leaped in and swan
near the struggling children and then
turned and swan toward shore. The boy
chung TO Macs tail and the Girl 70 enc OF
the dogs hind lsEA
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
Curious and Romantic Capsrs OF Cupid

awakened, but the darkness was so intense
he could see nothing. The two took train
to jamestown, ~ Y, and were married
They came back In the afternoon. and the
young Mrs. Hulburt is trying to fix up
peace terms with her angry father.