Evening star., 1907-08-29
der in the schools of the republic of Pan

der in the schools of the republic of Pan
anna.
During the season for harvesting cane
and tobacco there was a scarcity of labor,
but since that season closed there are
hundreds of thousands of unemployed men
on the island. To meet this situation l
directed the department of public works to
prepare system of wagon roads, reaching
the length Of the island and crossed by
two north and south roads in each prov
ince extending across the island. and TO
have things in readiness to commence work
in each province soon as the harvest
ing closed Probably nothing could have
been thought of that would have met with
more public favor. The work is In fuIl
swing on all the roads planned for Pinar
del Rio Havana and Matanzas provinces.
The bids received for the work in santa
Clara province were not satisfactory as to
price or length of time for completion, but
those matters are being adjusted and work
will shortly commence in earnest In that
province. Camaguey is sparsely settled
and there is a scarcity of rock. NO one
seems to have the necessary Information
concerning road building in that province,
and we have had practically no inquiries
from prospective bidders One of our engi-
neers is down there now investigating the
situation We have now employed about all
the road contractors in the island. and we
may have some difficulty in getting con-
tractors for the roads in Oriente- am IN
terestng some of the Americans who own
sugar estates there and think we can in
duce bids from that. source, which would
be a very good thing, for they are vitality
interested in good roads.
THE minister of public works estimates
that it will take three years to complete
the system of roads planned, but the work
already in progress advances SO rapidly
that we are about to reduce the estimate.
In any event we will build roads to the
value of 5000. coo within the next twelve
months.
Contracts nave been let for the dredg-
ing of the entrances to the harbors or
f,,n nrd "a n a ~
tinued Gov Magoon THE department Of
public works will soon increase Its plant
and the work of dredging Havana harbor
will begin. I have approved Of a plan for
the construction of ten lighthouses. Three
will be built this year, and all Of them will
be started before the provisional govern
ment withdraws.
The Isle of Pines has not been forgotten.
Two roads bsecting the island will be con-
structed; municipal improvements to the
value of over S22,O0o will be made in Nueva
Corona and the bar at the mouth of the
river will be dredged out
you will see that the broad plan l. am
trying to execute is to open up Cuba to
the markets of the world by providing road
communications with the coast and outfit
ting the coast and harbors with the neceS-
sary adjuncts to navigation. Most states
have access to the markets of the world by
land but an island state must rely on ma
rine transportation and act accordingly
"In Cuba concluded the governor gen.
eral there should be at least one good
harbor for ocean-going vessels on both the
north and south shores of each province,
and all portions of the province should be
connected with that harbor by good roads.
The value of these means of commercial in
tercourse will be lessened. if not destroyed,
however unless the island is well saDttated.
The republic of Cuba remitted this impor.
tant work to the municipalities, but the
municipalities were without financial means
for accomplishing the necessary service
and called upon the national government
for assistance: money was given them from
the national treasury for this purpose. but
il was improvidently expended. The local
health officers were appointed by the mu-
nicipal authorities and failed to enforce the
sanitary laws and regulations because, when
they attempted enforcement, they were
| called down or discharged by the munic-
| ipal authorities. l have nationalized the
sanitary service and hereafter local sani-
| tarians will be appointed and controlled by
| the national government. The expense Will
be divided as heretofore. between the mu-
inequalities and the national government"