Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-01-18
A Letter From Cubs.
Matanzas, Cuba,
anuary II. l91

january X, iSi|'
Dear Register-According to promise,
will write you few lines while spend
ing short time in Matanzas, which is a
very pretty place. Mr.. Carter and have
been having very fine and interesting
trip. We stopped first at Savannah, Ga.,
where was surprised to see Shop
herdstown boy as hotel clerk. Edward
Spohn, at the Pulaski Hotel. After a day
in Savannah we came to Jacksonville,
Fla, where we spent two days, then to
St. Augustine, where we spent three
days. This is very old and Interesting
city OF 500 people, not counting tourists.
Our next stop was Palm Beach, which is
a beautiful place, with fine climate and
splendid hotels, the Royal Poiannciana,
having a capacity of $500 people and
"The Breakers" capacity OF lSOO peo-
pie. While at "The Breaker" an eleven
foot man-eating shark was thrown up on
the beach. We took some photos OF It
and also got piece of its jaw.
From Palm Beach we went to Miami,
which is quite resort. After two very
pleasant days we went to Knights Key,
near Key West, on the "Oversea Limit
ed" which runs for miles over the sea on
concrete abutments. From Knights Bay
we came to Havana, Cuba, one days
Journey across Florida Strait and the Cult
Stream, which is very warm, about ITO
degrees, and flows three miles per hour
northward.
Havana is a great place-everything
goes. 1t has population OF about AGO.
600 made up OF Spaniards, Cubans, Chi
nese and negroes, all speaking Spanish.
We visited the wreck OF the Maine and
secured some souvenirs, some OF which
will give you when ! return. The work
OF raising the wreck is being carried on
by the u. S. Government, and | would
like to have had the contract at much
less figure than it is costing by the meth
DDS in use.
We went through Cabanas and Moro
Castle, the forts, Colon Cemetery, and
other points of interest in Havana, which
are many. One from the States cannot
realize the vast difference in methods OF
doing business and living in Havana from
that at home.
Yesterday we left Havana for Matan-
zas, city of $1,000 people, arriving last
evening. After fine dinner we took
chair in the Plaza, where the band played
from to 10 p. m, while the pretty SEN
oritas walked around and arouAd, dressed
beautifully.
The land between Havana and Matan-
zas is fine. They can raise four crops a
year and fertilizer is not known. II lies
nice and drains well, and my opinion is
that Cuba will be one large garden in the
near future. Florida land is joke COM
pared to Cuba. | expect to buy some,
but will wait until 20 over it all before
deciding location. as the island is over
600 miles long and there is plenty OF it.
We have visited the electric plants in
the different cities named, also inquired
about rates. At this place rates are Is
cents per k. W. hour, minimum $500,
American money; Havana 20 and 80
cents per k. W. hour. They have nice
plants, we'll managed, but no system to
house wiring, as they have no inspection.
We leave tomorrow for Santa Clara, then
to Santiago, leaving there on the 18th for
Jamaica, then to Colon, lsthmus of PAN
anna. Climate is fine here, just like mid
summer. Regards 10 all friends.
JOHN L. LIvERS.