220 CUBA 



unrepresentative of the local customs and sentiments of pro- 

 vincial Cuba. Its commerce is ordinarily enormous, while 

 large pleasure drives, parks, clubs, and public institutions give it 

 picturesque variety. Conspicuous among notable objects are the 

 wharves, fortifications, hospitals, the university, the "botanical 

 garden, government palaces, and several churches, including the 

 cathedral, which claims to possess, like Santo Domingo, the re- 

 mains of Columbus. This city was founded early in the 16th 

 century (about 1519) nearly 100 years before the first coloniza- 

 tion of our seaboard. Until recently it was badly supplied with 

 water, and its sewerage is still abominable. In. 1895 a modern 

 system of waterworks was installed by New York engineers, who 

 also prepared plans for the solution of the sewerage problem. 



The foreign trade of Habana amounts to $50,000,000 yearly, 

 and is chiefly carried on b}^ American steamers. From the city 

 radiate several lines of railway, which bring to it the products 

 of the interior. The only cable connection with the United 

 States is made here. 



West of Habana there are several small ports, such as Mariel, 

 Cabanas, and Bahia Honda, which are similar in their forma- 

 tion to that of Habana, but are places of secondary importance. 

 South and east of the city were flourishing places, the largest of 

 which is Guanabacoa, crowning a hill which commands a fine 

 panoramic view of the capital, its roadsteads and environments. 



Habana has easy access to the south coast by rail, terminating 

 at the miserable village of Batabano, 25 miles distant, which is 

 an entrepot for the city. Here the coastal cable from Santiago 

 touches and from this point radiate various lines of steamers 

 along the coast and to the Isle of Pines. 



The second city and seaport of central Cuba is Matanzas, about 

 75 miles east of Habana. This city was founded in 1693. It is 

 the chief outlet for that part of the sugar region which stretches 

 south and east toward Cardenas, and which includes the most 

 fertile lands in Cuba. The harbor, like many others, through the 

 laissez faire policy of the Spanish government, has been allowed 

 to fill with sediment, and hence the larger steamers are obliged 

 to load in the roadstead.* 



Cardenas, founded in 1828, is one of the few towns of Cuba 

 which can boast of having been born in this century. It lies on 



* In view of the strategic importance which Matanzas is assuming in the campaign 

 which has opened since this article was written, the several illustrations given of this 

 vicinity will prove of interest. 



