Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-18
Proposed Hotels.


The proprietors of two of the existing
hotels have pooled their issues and
building what they promise to be first
class modern fireproof hotel. with 300 rooms
but they are Cubans. with none but Cuban
niSh what the American public will de-
mand. Sir William Van Horne, who is alb
sorbing the railway interests of Cuba, has
plans for a 500-room up-to-date hotel and
has been negotiating for the purchase of
site fronting the ocean. Three public build
ings occupy the most convenient and avail
able locations in the city. One of them is
the Jail, another hospital for lepers, and
third home for foundings and orphans.
They were built when the locality in which
they stand was considered the least desir
able in Havana. but the creation of the
Malecon-the oCean-front driyeway-has
made it the most desirable. and there does
not seem to be any good reason why the
leperS the convictS and the foundlingS
should have the benefit of the most de-
sirable outlook and the coolest breezes in
Havana. Sir William Van Horne has Of
fered half a million dollars for the Jail;
Mr.. c. W. Morse, the steamship king. has
offered a million for the foundings' home.
and half a million for the leper hospital.
but these institutions controlled jointly
by the municipal, the state and the federal
governments, and are tied up with a good
deal of red tape.
The best hotel in town is a gambling
house. Mr.. Garfield, well-known citizen
of New York, has moved his entire Sara
toga establishment down here for the win
tables china, silver linen and all the
etceteras. and serves the best meals in
town. for which he charges twice as much
as one has to pay at ordinary establish
ments. He also has few lodging rooms,
which he rents to travellers at very high
prices. The hotel part of the establishment,
however, Is only a shield for the gambling
ROOM The constitution of Cuba prohibits
lin he ic1u hi,f ito
the people to play games of chance In their
homes. 1t also prohibits the police and all
other officers of the law from entering the
premises of any citizen after sunset for
any purpose except to save human life.
Mr.. Burbridge, who represents Mr.. Can
field here, takes advantage of those pro-
visions to avoid police interference, and
runs a very large game as part of the
hotel. Every man who enters the gambling
department signs the register is assigned
to a bed room, and thus becomes guest
of the house. AS such he cannot be inter-
fered with by the police There has been a
great deal of talk about suppressng the
place. and the police authorities are watch
ing 1t closely, but as long as it is con-
Quoted quietly and there is complaint of
crookedness 1t will not be disturbed.
Project Frowned Upon.
Eddie" Burke. or Judge Burke, as he IS
sometimes called. a well-known sporting
man of New York. bought tract of $50
acres on the ocean, just outside the city
limits, year or so ago. and obtained from
the congress a concession for a race track,
a pool ROOM a gambling house. hotel and
restaurant. and other attractions of
similar character, but the law was vetoed
by President Palma just before the down
fall of his government. quiet inquiry
was made at the palace to ascertain the
disposition of Gov. Magoon toward such an
enterprise, but the result was not encour-
aging. and the scheme will be dropped I'M
til there is a change in the administra-
ton.
The application Of Mr.. Burke was OPP
posed by the Jockey Club. local organiza-
which has been In existence for several years,
and it's officers have decided to apply foIIa
concession for race track and pool room
without the other attachments. AS 1t Is
the policy of the provisional government
not to do anything that is not necessary
for the welfare of the people. Gov. Magoon
will not grant concessions to gambling
houses. race tracks. pool rooms. lotteries.
bull fights, cock fights or any other SINH
lar forms Of amusement"
1 am told that the larger number of the
patrons of Canfields gambling house are
Americans residing in Havana and tourists
who are down here for short visits. The
Cubans are fond of gambling, but usually
play in their own clubs with their own
friends. Few of them are accustomed to
public gambling like roulette or faro.
Prosperity Of the Island.
The island is very prosperous. Every form
of business is doing well. the crops are
good. prices are high. everybody is busy.
making good profits and earning large
wages. There has never been a time when
conditions were universally so favorable.
The army of pacifcation and the ships of
the United States fleet have brought q
great deal of Uncle Sans money into the
country. 1t takes large sum to support
5000 men, and a great deal of 1t Is ex-