Cuba by MRS. IDA FISCHER-CARNAHAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 11, 1909

Cuba

By MRS. IDA FISCHER-CARNAHAN

MRS. IDA FISCHER-CARNAHAN

CUBA has at last reached the place she has long desired, that is, her independence, with the Liberals, the working class of the people, as the leading party,—the one who will run the government for this term of office.

One of the most interesting features to me was the announcement which I saw in one of her leading daily papers, stating that the queen of the coming carnival was to be elected from the working girls, and that she would have to be a young lady who earned a livelihood and supported her family by working in some factory, either cigar or some other recognized manufacturing establishment.

When we landed here last July, and thought of the many stories which we had heard and read concerning the Cubans, and the many revolutions from which the island had suffered, we wondered if the next six months would drive us all back to the States. The months have rolled by, the new president has taken his seat, and we are still here, and likely to remain until God calls us elsewhere. We have seen no revolution, suffered no more losses of personal property than we would have done in the States. We feel that Cuba is as safe a place as anywhere on this earth.

Taking everything into consideration, we think it quite a nice place to live. If one places around him the same comforts which he can have in the States, I think it preferable to many places where I have lived in the home land.

We sometimes feel that our “little world” is quite large after all. Cuba is nearly as large as Pennsylvania or the State of New York. It is about seven hundred fifty miles from east to west, and about fifty miles from north to south. It is said that on her soil she is capable of sustaining fifteen million people. At the present time her population is about two million forty-nine thousand. Of this number two hundred thirty-six thousand are located in Havana, the capital of the island, situated in the northwestern part. Santiago, the next largest city, in the southeastern part, has about forty-three thousand, and Matanzas, more toward the north central part, has a population of about twenty-three thousand.

The climate is delightful. We came in the time of the year when it was the most trying, but for all that we did not find it as hot during the day as we found it in some of the Eastern States. As far as frost and snow are concerned, Cuba knows no distinct seasons, but we do have our dry and rainy seasons, the same as in other tropical countries. We are now passing through the dry season; the rainy season will begin about May.

I understand that for the past thirty years the average rainfall has been about fifty-two inches a year, while for the

past ten years the mean temperature has been 68.9° Fahrenheit. I have not seen the death-rate of Havana for this year, but understand that one of the late years it averaged only twenty-one in one thousand. Tropical plant life is luxuriant. Some northern plants do well here. We have been experimenting these past months, and have found out that Cuba possesses a variety of soils.

On some soils great quantities of coffee and tobacco are produced, while only a few miles away, citrus fruits do well; in still other places the raising of sugarcane and garden produce is carried on successfully. One would not have much trouble in finding just the soil which he would want.

There is some beautiful scenery in Cuba. Just a few miles to the north of us is a group of mountains, through which a railroad is being built, as shown in the picture.

Birds of beautiful plumage, parrots, parrakeets, mocking-birds, and wild pigeons are numerous. Some of our little bird friends come quite close to the house, drinking out of the tub that stands on the well floor.

The provisional government has been building government macadamized roads from one end of the island to the other. Some of these are nearing completion. These are wide roads, with culverts and drains. The road that runs through the western province, Pinar del Rio, is nearly finished. This is about two hundred miles long. The main highway between Havana and Cabañas on the northwestern coast runs into the sugar-producing section of this province, Pinar del Rio. This is one of the fairest regions in Cuba. Here is found excellent land for garden produce. It is in this part of the island that our school farm is located, not far from the historic Cabañas Bay. It was here that the heaviest engagements in all the naval history of colonial Cuba were fought.

The country around San Claudio is more rolling in some places. Here arrangements have been made with the land company for about fifty-six acres of excellent land for the school, and we are expecting to build as soon as we are able. We feel that the Lord has indeed gone out before us in giving us such a good location,—in the part of the island where most of the population is centered, and so near the coast that before long we shall be in touch with steamers that will carry our produce to the States. During the winter months we can obtain good prices. Soon the Havana Central Electrical Railroad Company will probably extended its line on past Cabañas to Bahía Honda, thus putting us in direct and close touch with Havana, which is a good market in itself.

Our needs for a good school here are just as great as in other fields. The children of our own people ought now to be in one of our schools, lest they turn before long to other schools which offer good advantages.

We all feel that we have not branched out too soon in accepting the good offer that has been made by the land company from which this property was bought. What we need now is financial backing to help us to get the work in good running shape.

Those of our people who are looking for a change of climate, where they can have summer the whole year, and where they can raise good garden produce, would do well to look the ground over, or communicate with those in charge of the work here. It might be that they could find a suitable location.

San Cristobal.