The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-21
Says CUBANs ARE !
NOLONGER HOSTILE
Feeling Against United States Rap
idly Dying Out, Declares c. F.
Bielman, Home From Trip. =

That feeling In Cuba against the
United States has largely decreased,
If IL ever had substance, Is the beliet
of Charles F. Bielman. traffic man
ager OF the White Star line. who has
recently returned from a trip TO
Havana and Matanzas. The annual
meeting of the American Association
of General Passenger and Ticket
Agents was held in the Cuban capital
this year, and Mr. Bielman was one
OF the lake steamboat men Who at
tended. The party numbered 2O5, and
they went from sChicago 10 Florida in
special train, and thence TO Cuba.
There was no trace OF anti-Ameri-
can feeling that we could observe,
says Mr.. Bielman. I'VE were received
by President Gomez and by the mayor
of Havana. and their addresses were
couched in the most friendly terms.
"One object of holding our conven-
ton in Havana was TO enable the
members OF the association TO &C
quaint themselves with Cuba for the
purpose of encouraging tourist bust
ness TO that point. | found the Cuban
capital a beautiful city of 800 600 peo-
pie, well-payed and clean. They told
me that many OF the improvements
date from the time of Gen. Leonard
Wood.
The streets are very narrow there
and the buildings low, with few ex-
ceptions. There are 1000 cabs in the
town and the fare Is only 20 cents for
two persons from any point In the
city TO any other point. The people
of Havana are more prosperous and
happy in manner than / had expected,
English is very generally spoken.
One great drawback in Havana is
the Tightening system. All freight
and passengers are taken from the
ocean vessels 10 the shore in small
boats. They could as we'll erect
docks. for the water is deep enough,
but the concern that runs the lighters
has a franchise. was told that II
costs as much to unload freight at
Havana as IL does to bring it across
the ocean from Barcelona.
During our stay. ball was given
in our honor at the independence
Clerks club, an organization OF 3d.
600 members The club has an i'm
mense building, constructed of stone
outside and marble inside. Its mem
bers pay $3.50 per month, which pro-
vides for sick benefits and hospital
care as vel as club dues. AT The Dali
we saw remarkably pretty women. in
handsome gowns and wearing costly
Jewels. Our little party was swallow
ed up in the crowd of 1000 at the ball.
Some Of the banks are finer than
anything we have here. One custom
that seems unique 10, us is that of the
Cubans Taradipg on their great drive
ways in the evening. There are two
OF these, and the people turn out in
thousands To ENJOY the evening and
the band music.
The trip along the Florida East
Coast railroad was an interesting ex-
perience. This read has been run
down from the mainland over the
KEYS along the Gulf, and ii seems as
though the train were going over the
water. A causeway has been made on
spiles, with cement piers, and &C.
casional bridges, where the water is
too deep to permit of making a firm
roadbed.
Perhaps the hardest thing for an
American TO become accustomed TO is
the uniform charge of 40 cents for
bread and butter"