The sun., 1919-03-17
LATIN AMERICA COLONY
IN NEW YORK Is LARGER

l.. NJ. Boomer, managing director OF
the waldorf-Astoria, McAlpin and Ciar-
idge hotels, has made a close study OF
foreign business in so far as II relates
to travellers from Central and South
America, Europe and the Orient, and he
has installed many innovations in his
hotels which make for the comfort of
visitors from these countries.
On the Spanish floor. the ninth floor
OF the McAlpin Hotel. the service and
attendants from maids to telephone
operators. cooks. walters and clerks,
speak Spanish. A foreign department
and clubroom are maintained on the
third floor, where periodicals from all
parts OF the world are on file. Spanish
guides. members of the hotel stan. are
available TO aid In business. shopping or
sightseeing tours OF the city.
Chef Edouard Panchard of the Nc
Alpin and Oscar Tschirky OF the Wal
dorf-Astoria have made a study Of
Spanish cooking. .dusic and special
dance and entertainment features are
also provided and are found very en-
joyable. A series OF Spanish American
nights Is planned for the McAlpin grill
room. 70 begin after the Lenten season.
Among visitors now at the McAlpin
from Latin American countries are Mr..
and Mrs. Louis Prades. Miss Belle VII
| lier. Mrs. P. c. Schelling and p. ].
Griyalba OF Rio do Janeiro. B. Vasaues
OF Montevideo. w. Garcia Burr of San
tiago de Chile. Mr.. and Mrs. w. Stewart
Harres. w. A. Nickerson OF Buenos
Ayres, NJ Freile OF Ecuador. Pablo Fes-
tone OF Argentina, J. Dubeux OF Per-
nambuco. j. NJ. Shaw Of Guatemala. Mrs.
A. F. Thomas of Monte Cristo. Mexico.
| Mwe, ~ AelA AHA A
bridge OF Mexico city and F. o. Morgan
OF Havana. The guests include also
b. A. Cheney of San Juan. Porto Rico
and Mr.. and Mrs. G.. Castrovicjo OF
Barcelona. Spain.
| Domingo r. Martinez. who Is at the
| Waldorf-Astora, has just returned from
three months trip through the West
| Indies. including Cuba. Jamaica, British
Guiana. Porto Rico and Santo Domingo,
where he represented several American
concerns In such lines as pianos. music
| rolls, fashions. dresses and women 4
wear.
Making hts frst visit In twelve years
! TO Porto Rico. where he was born. al
! though he received his education in New
/ York schools and at Columbia, Mr. Mar
+ tinez declares that on landing at San
Juan ne was surprised.
at 10 astonishing to note the business
activity there" he said. Porto Rico
twelve years ago did an annual business
IN export trade OF twelve millions. but
to-day II runs to more than seventy-five
millions. Almost every one there speaks
good English. and all are well dressed
! and in the best and most up 10 date
styles. They have all the comforts that
any traveller from the United States
could ask.
= Antonio r. Barcelo. president of the
Senate OF Porto Rico. is keen and wide
awake to the possibilities Of developing
export trade with the United States and
all parts OF the world. and the officials
are doing everything possible to make
accommodations for larger steamers and
encourage traffic. They are framing a
bill and will ask for an appropriation
for advertising Porto Rican goods In the
United States and in other countries OF
the world.
Havana is full of money and in fact
so Is the whole Island OF Cuba. Ford
cars, for instance, are sold at 5000, and
a gallon of gasolene costs 72 cents. yet
one can ride TO any part of the city OF
Havana for 20 cents. Cuba has never
enjoyed there during the four years OF
war. They are very appreciative OF
| American business and travellera
| Like all the countries l visited on
this trip Cuba seems undecided as To
placing orders at present, awaiting a
reduction In cost OF materials and freigh,
rates. which they expect in May or June
There Is business TO be had there In
almost every line and plenty OF Il, and
I strongly recommend that American
manufacturers go after it," Mr.. Mar
tinez expects to make a tour OF the
world. starting early in April