THE CUBA REVIEW 



11 



ALL AROUND CUBA 



INTERESTING NEWS NOTES REGARDING VARIOUS MATTERS PERTAINING 



TO THE ISLAND 



NEW WINTER RESORT PROJECTED 



According to the Boston Post, Mr. Gustave 

 Scholle is responsible for the statement that 

 New York capitahsts have plans on foot for 

 a big winter resort hotel and grounds outside 

 Havana. 



For some time the plans for this gigantic 

 winter resort have been under consideration, 

 but no details have been given the press until 

 the arrival of Secretary Scholle, in Boston, 

 on November 21st. 



The New Yorkers who are back of the 

 enterprise say that the grounds of the hotel 

 will be one of the great features. So exten- 

 sive will they be that the waterfront will 

 include a private harbor for the yacht fleet, 

 while the grounds in the immediate vicinity 

 of the hotel will be more elaborate than the 

 famed gardens of Babylon. 



"It is, perhaps, the larest hotel project in 

 the world," said Secretary Scholle. "I have 

 just finished a conference with the New York 

 capitalists who are at the back of the plan. 

 Cuba is really old Spain, and every effort will 

 be made to preserve the charm of that country 

 with all the romance that one associates with 

 the name." 



HAVANA Y. M. C. A. HOME 



The ceremony of laA'ing the cornerstone 

 of the Havana Young Men's Christian As- 

 sociation's new building, took place on 

 November 22d. 



Secretary Montoro represented President 

 Menocal who was engaged in the interior of 

 the island, and ex-president Zayas was the 

 orator of the day. 



The cost of the new building and grounds 

 will be $126,000 and, it is said, two-thirds 

 of this amount was contributed by New York 

 men. 



The new building will be of concrete. 

 Besides the usual reading rooms and offices, 

 there is a gymnasium and a swimming pool 

 20 yards by 6 yards, and varying in depth 

 to 9 feet. It is expected that the whole work 

 will be completed by next April. 



BETTER TEACHING METHODS WANTED 



Teachers and others who are interested 

 in improving the educational facilities of the 

 republic are demanding more and better 

 schools. 



They want the teaching system brought 

 abreast of the times and in line with tliat 

 practiced in the most enlightened nations. 

 For young children they favor the Montressor 

 method, and the abandonment of book studv. 



An association has been formed to arouse 

 pubhc opinion on the matter by a series of 

 meetings in Havana. 



A bill before congi-ess provides for a pension 

 for teachers, of 30 years' service, of 80 per 

 cent, of their highest salary. Seventy-five 

 per cent, goes to those who"^ have served 25 

 years, and the pension gi-ades down to the 

 teacher of ten years' service, who will receive 

 60 per cent. 



A competence for their old age thus assured, 

 it is believed, a higher class of teachers will 

 be attracted. 



SCHOOL WORK OF BAPTISTS 



The Baptist Church supports eleven pri- 

 mary schools in Cuba, seven of which are 

 under the direction of American young 

 women with Cuban assistants. As a rule the 

 American teachers have studied some Spanish 

 before going to the island, and thus have 

 been able to teach within a very short time 

 after then- arrival. Besides the daily classes, 

 the teacher's work consi-sts in visiting in the 

 home of the pupils, taking charge of the 

 finances of the school, making out reports 

 for the parents and for the government, 

 teaching in the Sunday school, and usually 

 holding some important office in the church. 



The work of the primary school includes 

 that of the fu'st three grades, although this 

 covers more than in the States. Besides the 

 regular studies, careful instruction is given in 

 Enghsh. — Detroit (Alich.\ Tribune. 



LOSS IN LOAN TAX 



Statistics of the loan tax collections in Cuba 

 show the enormous loss sustained in the past 

 year and also in the present (to August). 



The following table is of the tax paid by the 

 liquor manufacturers since 1907: 



1907 $1,414,732—1911 $1,127,539 



1908 1,310,075—1912 1,103,246 



1909 1,300,137—1913 968,350 



1910 1,105,911—1914 (Aug.) 576,267 



NEW COPPER MINES 



A series of copper and iron mines have 

 been recently surveyed by the mining de- 

 partment at Pinar de Rio. Ninety-one 

 hectares have been surveyed for Juho Hern- 

 andez and forty-one hectares in the same 

 section for Senora Candida Garcia Pino. 



The Isle of Pines Fair and Horticultural 

 Exposition will be held at Santa Fe, February 

 9, 10, 11 and 12. 



