10 T H E C U B A R E V 1 E W 



opened up to connect with Carlos III Avenue in Havana, thus affording u circuit 

 of avenues comprising the I'rado, the Malecon, G Street, Carlos III and Reina Street 

 back to the I'rado again. We have previously mentioned that the combination of 

 G Street and Carlos III Avenue, when completed, will be called "Avenida de los 

 Presidentes" and along this avenue will be erected statues of former Presidents of 

 the Repul)lic. 



The statement is made that the sewering of Havana has not yet been completed, 

 and in Vcdadu there is lacking two-thirds part of this work, requiring altogether a 

 credit of !?.'],UUO,UOO. The President adds that this work is one of such importance 

 that it should be completed as promptly as possible. He also mentions that the paving 

 of Havana is not finished, there being considerable work yet to be done, not only 

 in the city proper, but in the suburbs of Vedado, Cerro and Jesus del Monte, which 

 requires a credit of $4,000,000. 



The President estimates that an appropriation of some $14,000,000 will be neces- 

 sary to cover the comprehensive plan outlined by him for a large amount of road 

 building and rei»!iiring, his idea being not only to put in good condition all the present 

 roads, but also to build a number of new ones, particularly a national highway to 

 traverse the Island from end to end. 



Recommendation is also made for the building of additional vessels for the 

 Cuban Navy, to prevent clandestine immigration and the smuggling of contraband 

 goods. 



In connection with the sugar industry, the President reconunends the establishing 

 of refineries in Cuba so that sugar may be refined here to sell directly to the trade. 

 At present there are only a few refineries in the entire Island, whose combined output 

 is very limited, and as a result Cuba is buying back from the United States prac- 

 tically all of the refined sugar consumed on the Island. 



Reference is made to an appropriation of $200,000 to erect an edifice in which 

 to house the National Library, which at present is located in very inadequate quar- 

 ters. Attention is also called to the present location of the city jail at the foot of 

 the I'rado, which the President states offers a very unsightly spectacle, both to resi- 

 dents of Havana and visitors. He recommends again, in view of this, and also as 

 the building is in very poor condition, that a special appropriation of $1,000,000 be 

 made to construct a model edifice on the outskirts of the city. 



The message also refers to the erection of a monument to the memory of the 

 American Battleship "Maine." This monument has not been erected due to lack of 

 fvmds, for which purpose the President reconnnends a credit of some $150,000. 



He further states, in connection with the erection of the national Capitol building, 

 that while Congress several years ago authorized an appropriaton of $1,000,000 for 

 this building, this amount is entirely inade(iuate, particularly at the present time, in 

 view of the high cost of building material and labor. An additional appropriation of 

 $l,.50(J,<ifK» is requested, and Congress is reminded that they should avoid a repetition 

 of what has occurred in the case of the national hospital, "General Calixto Garcia," 

 as on account of lack of funds to complete its construction, work has stopped with 

 consequent great prejudice to the undertaking. 



HAVANA QUADRICEXTEXNIAL CEIJi:BKATIOX: Havana was founded in 

 1519 and it was expected there would be important ceremonies here to celebrate the 

 completion of its four hundredth anniversary, but as this was not arranged for, 

 commemorative religious services were held in Colon Cathedral, the Templcte, and 

 elsewhere on November IGth, San Cristobal's (St. Cristopher's) Day, as on this date 

 the Templete, on which site the first mass was held in Havana, is always open for 

 visits from the public. 



HAVANA CUSTOM HOUSE RECEIPTS: Custom House receipts during the 

 month of October were the largest ever recorded, amounting to $3,511,442.91. It is 

 stated the previous largest receipts up to the present were $3,100,000. 



