The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-23
Cuba Is About to Undertake
Self Government Again.
If Failure Is Made This Time
1t Will Be Final.
NOMOREEXPERIMENTS
Uncle Sam Will Take Permanent
Possession of Island.
Much Confidence i'm the Future
Is Felt by Islanders.

Washington, Jan. 23.-On January
2S Uncle Sam turns over to the people
of Cuba the reins Of government With
them rests the destiny of the republic.
Those closest in touch with the con-
ditions of the island, including Gov
ernor Magoon and such a well known
authority as John Barrett OF the IN
ternational bureau Of American re-
publics, think that the Cubans realize
the importance Of a conservative and
substantial government and are deter
mined to succeed in this second trial
They know full well that a slip on
their part will mean the taking out OF
their hands entirely of the govern
ment OF this island republic Ihey
know that should the laws passed by
the next congress be contrary TO the
best Judgment of Uncle Sam or should
any revolutionary attitude appear
which is likely to injure property that
they will be the losers and that the
United States will step in and take ov-
er the government
The new regime with President Jose
Miguel Gomez as its leader is plan
ming TO carry out fundamental ideas
instilled into them by Governor Ma
goon. They anticipate carrying for
ward the municipal and national i'm
provements which Governor Magoon
has inaugurated. Whether or not they
The senate chamber in Havana has
been thoroughly remodeled- 1t is now
trimmed in cedar. handsomely carved
Electric lights are placed in the cen
ter panels and a lamp will also be
placed in each of the square Sunken
panels. The raised platform at the
upper end of the room is duplicated
at the lower end and altogether the
ref1nished capitol building will pre-
sent a very attractive appearance.
Jar- avr~a IN, ~n ha
depended entirely for fire protection
upon volunteer band of firemen, just
as do many small towns in the United
States. This is entirely inadequate to
the necessities of the city and under
Governor Maeoon's direction a fine
structure has been erected for the fire
department headquarters. This will be
fitted out with the best of apparatus
and the men will be paid $50 a month
and will devote all of their time to
the service. The new building is now
being erected on Zuelta street.
Another Improvement is a magnificent
hospital at Cienfuegos. This was erect
ed at cost of $50 900 and is thorough
ly up to date in every particular.
Cfenfuegos IS receiving considerable
attention and is prospering as perhaps
no other Cuban district is. Under
Governor Magoon an appropriation was
provided for $4,000 in order to continue
the work Of dredging the harbor of
Cienfuegos.
One of the first bills to come before
the new congress when 1t assemblies on
the 2Sth of January will be an apprO-
priation to provide for the opening of
the Rio Canto, Cuba's largest river. The
opening Of this stream to the naviga-
ton of small boats would be a most i'm
portant enterprise to the commercial
development of the island. A school for
the deaf and dumb will shortly be op-
ened at Santiago de Cuba under gov
ernment supervision. This is the first
like school to be opened outside of the
city of Havana. Altogether Cuba is
in a condition more prosperous than
she has ever known and it is up to the
Cubans themselves to continue this
prosperity
According to the bureau of statistics
of the department of finance. 81 ,227 i'm
migrants arrived in the republic during
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1908. OF
this the vast majority were Spanish,
but 1,52S people arrived from the Uni
ted States to take up permanent abode
in the islands; 1,400 came from England
and the Central and South American
countries furnished many more.
The influx Of g. .227 immigrants to the
island of Cuba can scarcely be appreciat-
ed. The United States thinks it is con-
siderably overburdened when it accepts
so -oe0 immigrants during the year, but
this IS only about one immigrant per
year to every three square miles in the