THE CUBA REVIEW. 



15 





A wind-blown Cuba ti 



rth coast of Cuba. 



Una ceiba derribada per el viento en Cuba. Este arbol es muy abundante en las Antillas. Su 

 madera no es aprovechable para casi nada, pero si se la sumerge en agua de cal bien concentrada, 

 dura por bastante tiempo convertida en tablas 6 tejaniani. 



Wood of Silk Cotton Tree. 



The wood of the silk-cotton or ceiba 

 tree, so well known in the West Indies, 

 is soft and subject to attack by insects, 

 which make it unsuitable for most in- 

 dustrial uses. In his paper "Timbers of 

 Jamaica," appearing in the West Indian 

 Bulletin, Vol. IX., No. 4, Mr. W. Harris, 

 F.L.S., states that if steeped in strong 

 lime water, the wood of this tree will 

 last for several years, when made into 

 boards and shingles. 



Improving Havana's Hotels. 



The hotel proprietors of Havana are very 

 much alive to the necessity of providing 

 modern conveniences which are looked for 

 and required by American travelers, and are 

 planning important changes which will entail 

 the expenditure of considerable money. 

 Tourists and business men will in a short 

 time find their stay at the Havana hotels 

 much more comfortable than heretofore. A 

 good winter season is anticipated, and reno- 

 vations of some of the leading hotels are 



being rapidly made. The Hotel Inglaterra 

 is boarded up, but workmen are busy build- 

 ing an additional story and changing the 

 interior to permit of more rooms and bath- 

 rooms. The Hotel Pasaje is likewise under- 

 going extensive changes. The management 

 expects to spend $60,000 in important im- 

 provements, adding a bathroom to every 

 room and rearranging the interior. The 

 ground floor will be transformed into nu- 

 merous handsome stores, and guests will 

 find everything they need on the premises. 

 The work at the Pasaje is being done with- 

 out disturbing the guests, and though some- 

 what hampered by these circimstances 

 everything promises to be ready when the 

 season opens. The Hotel Inglaterra is 

 closed, but it is anticipated that the changes 

 there will be completed by January 1. The 

 Hotel Plaza is in good shape, with private 

 rooms and bathrooms in plenty, a roof din- 

 ing room, telephones and other conveniences 

 familiar to northern visitors. The Hotel 

 Sevilla will also make some alterations 

 which the first season's experiences have 

 shown to be necessary. 



