Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-05-31
A VISIT TO MAIANZAS.
PICTURESQUE CUBAN CITY ON
NORTH COAST OF
ISLAND.
Route Through Interesting Country
Rich Red Soil-Two Crops Of
Corn a Year.
NO FERTILIZER USED.

Nobody should go TO Havana and
fail 10 visit Matanzas a most beautiful
and picturesque Cuban city ON the
north coast of the Island of Cuba, and
between 5l and 6s miles east of Ha-
vana.
The route is ever the United Rail
ways and by railroad running
through an interesting country OF fine
agricultural development and beau
tifnl tropical scenery. There are
daily, personally conducted tours aud
the trip Of three and half hours is
not tiresome TO the tourist. The fare
for the average citizen who accom-
panies n party with a guide is $ll
United States currency, but if one
happens TO be so fortunate as to
have Army or Navy connections, he
may travel at reduced rates and
take in the round trip for 50. 10.
In Cuba one always travels first,
second or third class at proportionate
rates. The accommodations first class
are the same as our ordinary, every
uay coaches i'm summer. and we won
dered what the second and third class
cars might be like. The car seats are
not upholstered. but are of cane, and
cool and comfortable. There does not
seem TO be any smoking cars, or COM
partments for smokers, but they enjoy
a Havana cigar or cigarette ad libitum
in the same coach with women and
children. Nobody seems TO mind, and
IL they do, no objections are made.
4 rural guard of the Cuban type, usu-
ally accompanies the trip on every
journey, and patrols the car at inter.
walls. He appears TO be an ornament,
and is certainly a fixture. So far as
we know there is nothing for him TO
do but TO saunter through the coach
ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
The ride is a dusty one from Ia-
vana to Matanzas and there are many
stops. All trains are OF the accommo-
dation, jork-water type, and To our
know ledge there are no express, or
through trains, run over roads ON the
Island. The trip, however, is through
such beautiful country one soon
forgeis the numerous stops, the cinders
aud the coal dust, and gazes from
the car window with interest and adj
miration at the sugar plantations that
are passed. These are particularly
interesting at n time during the
"zafra,' or harvest, which extends
from December to May, and il was
az its height during our visit. Y is
sight worth seeing TO watch The
cane cut and carted To the ingenlus
mills. In some regions ON the ride
from Havana To Matanxas the whole
country seems to be ono Immense
eanefield, stretching beyond the sight,
and as one looks from the car win
dow he is reminded of the corufieldS
of kansas, Nebraska and other Western
states. At intervals one passes narrow.
guage roads on plantations whore
freight trains convey the sugar cane
which has been cut and carried here
hy bull teams. ON the Island Of Cuba
there are said Co ho nearly nino huu-
dred miles OF these private sugar
plantation railroads.
In the long trains carrying sugar
cane, the extensive ranges of the
buildings of the sugar mills, with
their smoking ohimncys, the sugar
laden Atmosphere aud the general air
Of activity one is given some idea Of
the vast magnitude of the sugar indus
try ON the Island, which last year is
said 10 have been valued at nearly
500, 600, 900.
The ilfty-four milos of railway
Journey from Havana To MatanEaS is
rcplctc with beautiful scenery both
novel, intores ting and fascinating to
the American tourist. Everywhere Is
evidenced the peculiar richness of the
red soil--tho most productive inkthe
world. IL is no longer n question OF
doubt to the average ohServant tour
ist that with such soil IL is possible
To gather two and three crops Of corn
a year, and practically perpetual
crop of sugar cane, withoutsreplanting
and also without using a single
ounce of fertilizer.
tContlnuod,l