Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17
PROGRESS IN HAVANA
Cubans Trying to Keep Pace
Set by the Americans.
SOME GOOD IMPROVEMENTS
Street Car Service Vastly Better Than
Il Was.
BUILDING OF THE MALEC0N
Boulevard and Promenade Along the
Gulf-Large and Expensive
Edifces Erected.
SOME GOOD IMPROVEMENTS
BUILDING OF THE MALEC0N
RY WILLIAM f.. CURTIS.


Special correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
HAVANA March l.. 1907.
There have been great improvements in
the city of Havana since the independence
If Cuba, and am told that the same may
be said of all the cities of the republic. The
Americans made the plans and gave the
impetus during their occupation OF the
country after the evacuation by the Span
ish army and the government of Presi-
dent Palma carried out many of them
Others were left unfinished and the pro-
visional government has taken them up
again The Cubdns do not have the ten
aCity of purpose that was required to COM
pIetr all of the material reforms that were
planned for them by Gen. Wood; neverthe-
less. they did more during the five years
they have been in power than the Spanish
government did in fifty. Under Spain for
the last quarter of century everything in
cuba was going down. The people were
oppressed as they never had been before,
the treasury was robbed of the larger part
of the revenue, private enterprise was as
outraged by heavy taxation and tyrannical
treatment, and very little progress was
made Under the republic. however. there
was wholesome and permanent progress in
all directions. Havana, Santiago, Glen
fucSos. MatanZas and other cities We're
greatly improved and modernized.
Better Street Car Service.
The most notable Improvement in Havana
is the street car service. They now have
here a system of trolley lines that grid
irons about half of the city and makes the
more important suburbs accessible. The
track is good the cars are as comfortable
as any in the world. the conductors and
motormen are dressed in neat uniforms OF
brown linen and are very polite ana
courteous. The company is owned by New
York Chicago and Cleveland capitalists,
represented by Walter G.. Oakman. pres-
dent of the Guarantee Trust Company OF
New York; David T. Davis and II. l.. Ash
ley of that city. Robert Mather of the Rock
Island Railroad Company. Chicago. and
Warren Bickneli of Cleveland. There Is
considerable local Cuban interest also.
which has been trying to get control of
the property. but has failed. Another con-
cession has been granted to another synd;-
cate of local capitalists for similar sys-
tenn in other parts of the city, when Will
give new impetus to business and building
and make other suburbs accessible, but II
has not been approved. Because of a lack
OF transportation facilities during Spanish
times the people of Cuba were crowded
into narrow limits, but now they are
spreading out over the farms around the
city and particularly along the shore of
the Gulf of Mexico. which is followed by
line of trolley tracks for about twelve miles.
Along this line the city is extending very
rapidly and fine class of residences Is
being erected by business men, who, as a
rule formerly lived in apartments above
or adjoining their Offices or shops The
most desirable part Of Havana is now
suburb known as Nedado. which has en-
trely grown up since American occupation
in 1898
The trolley line now runs out to a bath
ing resort called la Playa and then on to
Camp Columbia. where the United States
troops are quarrered. and Marnao. town
Of five or six thousand inhabitants. where
the captain general had his summer res
idruce in Spanish times and was surround
I'd by the wealthy and fashionable mem
hrrS of the Spanish colony. This extension
of the city has not only increased the com
fort and happiness but the health of the
people