Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-21
MEN0CAL TAKES OATH FOR
new F0UR-YEAR TERM
Great Public Demonstration Marks
Inauguration OF REELECTED
President OF Cuba.
REVIEWS HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
Rcnews His Pledge to People to
Make OF Republic IA Strong Factor
in Latin-Amcrican Solidarity and
Cement Ties to United States.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

thls the cuban national holiday, be-
ing attended by great republic dem |
onstration. i'm which the army. navy. |
diplomatic corps and the citizens Of
Cuba generally Joined. Standing on the
balcony of the presidential Palace. "A
historic building which formerly was
the seat OF the Spanish captains gen
cral before the war OF liberation the
President renewed his pledge TO tho
Cuban people TO make of Cuba strong
factor in Latin-American solidarity TO
cement the ties that bind her to her
friend and ally, the United States: TO
afford full cooperation TO Cubas allies
In the war against Germany, and to
continue the constructive policies which
the President reviewed as the record
of his achievements OF the past four
years
While guns doomed their saIutes
from the historic fortrcsscs that crown
the heights overlooking IIavana's beau
tiful harbor. and while bands played
and soldiers and sailors paraded down
The Prado. past the statue of General
Maceo. 10 the park in front OF the
Palace. the Cuban people. stirred to
patriotic thrills by the issues which
link their country more closely TO other
helligerents in the world war cheered
the republic and for this holiday. the
'rcinte dc Mayo" which corresponds
in Cuban history TO the Fourth OF July
in the United States.
MENOCAI. REVIEWS RECORD
OF MS ADMINISTRATORS
president Mcnocai. in his inaugural
address. reviewed the record Of his
administration--a record that has
abounded In events Of transccndant i'm
Bortance III the development Of the
Islands resources. and OF the assur-
ance Of her governments stability. Min
lister William Il. Gonzales. of the INIT.
ed States. and his staff were conspicu-
Gus figures in the throng which heard
the Presidents address. -Four years
ago to-day, on taking office AK Prcsi-
dent for the first time President Mem
Deal pledged himself TO accomplish Ger
tam cuban reforms. and This pledge
was recalled to-day. with :. record Of
what had been accomplished
First among The promises was ;ha,
concerning the diffusion OF education
through the establishment Of primary
schools More than 900 new schools
nave been opened in the past four
years. and there are now some 500
IN IN. entire island. President Men /
ocai. as result OF his efforts and the
prosperity enjoyed by Cuba during his !
administration. the number Of immi-
grants 10 Cuba has greatly Increased
from an average OF 5000 for 1912
ana previous years immigration Ia
'uba has increased to 5000: for this
year ending December 81. 1916 more
IMAM $1,000 Immigrants arrived in Cuba. +
Notwithstanding war conditions. which
affected all the countries OF North aud
south America. particularly the United
states and Argentina.
The development of Cuba's resources
and the extension OF its foreign trade (
nave always been encouraged by presi- I
den Menoca, TO such an extent that
for the year ended December 81 last
cuba's foreign commerce totalcd $685.
100000. a figure almost Incredible for
country having a population of some I
2.I5o,ooo inhabitants. Havana now is
the second city of the new world so
far as the Importance of its foreign
trade is concerned The gross tonnage
Of ships engaged in the foreign trade [
entering and leaving the port OF iIa- [
rana during 1919, was in round mum
bcrs 100000 tons. and that of coast /
wise trade about 100000 tons. this Z
comparing with less than 1000. 900 |
ions for New orleans and not quite /
$4,000, 900 tons for Boston.
rlBLiC WORMS RECEIVE
SHARE uT' ATTENTION
Public works have also received their /
share of attention from President
Menocars governments: many new high !
ways have been built arc under
construction and great many more
are planned. especially the construc-
ton of the great central highway run |
ming across the island 10 Santiago de |
Cuba, the cost of which will be SlO,-
100000.
new hospital costing nearly $1,000 |
00o and comprising thirty-siX separate |
buildings is now nearly finished. The |
beautiful seaside driveway fthe far
famed Malecom Is being extended to
the Nedado district. "a distance of near
ly two miles, there having been au-
thOrized already the expenditure OF
100000 for this purpose.
The splendid structure commenced
under a former administration and
destined for "A residence of the Pres
idcnt. General Mcnocal has thought
too sumptuous for democratic ruler, |
and has ordered it's conversion into a
capitol to house the Congress of the
republic. The building, when COM
pleted. will have cost in the neighbor-
hood of 100000.
The port of Havana has been
dredgcd to &; minimum depth OF about
thirty-six feet by contracts let under
the direct supervision of the Secretary
Of Public Works, and other ports will
be dredgcd as soon as Congress and
the courts make final disposition OF the
Ports Company problem.
Cuba Is probably the only country
having a Secretary Of Public Health. |
that In to say, n regular member of
tho Cabinet Entrusted t. look after this |
important problem. That is possibly !
the reason why she can boast of the
lowest death rate in tho world. the
much bruited tropical disadvantages to
the contrary notwithstanding. All |,