THE ISLE OF PINES. 
[From booklet of the United Railways of Havana.] 
The fifty miles sail to the Isle of Pines from Batabano on the south 
coast of Cuba is through waters so shallow and clear that the coral sea 
floor with all its bright-colored marine vegetation, over which gorgeously- 
tinted fish and great sharks dart and glide, is in full view. The Caribbean 
Sea is deeply blue, almost a sapphire shade, blending imperceptibly into 
the coloring of the sky. 
Heretofore the Isle of Pines has been associated in .many people’s mind 
with land sales, citrus fruit growing, and other industries of the soil, and 
it has signified but little to them. The Isle of Pines had not then come 
to its own, and it suffered the neglect of obscurity. To-day, however, the 
little island is quietly taking its place as one of the coming winter resorts. 
And for this reason a splendid, absolutely modern, hotel has just been 
opened in .Nueva Gerona, where all the conveniences of a metropolitan 
hotel, except the surroundings, are available, and Santa Fe, an idyllic spot, 
is well to the fore, and will shortly count further additions to its hostelries. 
Progress has impressed its mark in every foot of ground around the 
several prosperous colonies in the northern half of the island, so that one 
sees on every hand extensive groves of oranges, grapefruit, limes, etc., in 
fine condition, and field after field of the luscious pineapple; but it is its 
wonderful climate, and the unquestioned salubrity of the island, that is 
really making a name for it. 
The Isle of Pines abounds in a great variety of means for outdoor life 
and sport, and its waters afford splendid fishing, which includes the 
tarpon, red snapper, cherna, blue fish, and numerous other gamy fish. 
Sea bathing is enjoyed safely all the year round at the beaches of 
Bibijagua and Nueva Gerona, and motor-launching and canoeing on the 
beautiful Casas River is a pastime popular with many residents and 
visitors, for which launches may be hired at reasonable rates in Nueva 
Gerona. 
, It is an ideal place for the automobilist. There are ioo miles of excel¬ 
lent highways, connecting all the important colonies, and there are nearly 
ioo more of good by-roads, many of which are simply broadened trails 
worn through the great fragrant pine forests, but which are ideal for 
automobiles, nevertheless, as the soil packs hard and no ruts are formed. 
It is estimated that there are over ioo automobiles on the island, and this 
number is being constantly augmented. 
There are 4,850 registered American property owners and over 2,000 
actual American residents and settlers in the Isle of Pines, the total popu¬ 
lation of which is a little short of 5,000, so that it is no wonder it has 
become overwhelmingly American in all its leading characteristics, and that 
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