The Republic of Cuba 46 



all large, prosperous towns and offering something 

 of interest each in its own way. The Cuban 

 Central Railway have both broad and narrow 

 gauge runs through some of the prettiest scenery 

 imaginable and is a trip which should certainly 

 not be missed. Sugar mills, cane fields and 

 banana groves, can be seen at frequent intervals, 

 and the view from the rear platform of the train 

 when one has proceeded a little way on the 

 journey, embracing as it does the wide blue ocean 

 and Caribarien Bay, is one that will always be 

 remembered. 



PINAR DEL RIO 



(Capital of Province of Same Name) 

 Population, 53,000 Inhabitants 



Famed as Havana is, as the home of the most 

 fragrant and delectable of all cigars, no less 

 famous to the more initiated is "Vuelta Abajo," 

 the name of the district in Western Pinar Del 

 Rio Province where grows the best and most 

 aromatic leaf, to which superior grade of tobacco 

 this name is given. 



The Western Railways of Havana extend 

 nearly the whole length of the Province of Pinar 

 Del Rio, and offer exceptionally interesting excur- 

 sions, notably among which are those to Rancho 

 Boyeros and Santiago de las Vegas, where much 

 American capital has been invested in the culti- 

 vation of citrus fruits. Santiago de las Vegas 

 is also interesting as the location of the National 

 Agronomical Agricultural Experimental Station 

 of Cuba. 



Pinar del Rio, the Capital of the Province, is 

 an excellent place to make one's headquarters, 

 from which to make delightful rides or automobile 

 excursions through the great tobacco country 



