| Every attempt has been made to replicate the original book as printed.Some typographical errors have been corrected. No attempt has beenmade to correct or normalize the printed accentuation or spelling of Spanish names orwords. (note of etext transcriber) |
ENTRANCE TO HAVANA HARBOUR.
INDUSTRIAL CUBA
BEING A STUDY OF PRESENT COMMERCIAL AND |
BY
ROBERT P. PORTER
SPECIAL COMMISSIONER FOR THE UNITED STATES TO CUBA
AND PORTO RICO
——
WITH MAPS AND 62 ILLUSTRATIONS
——
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press
1899
Copyright, 1899
by
ROBERT P. PORTER
Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London
The Knickerbocker Press, New York
TO
WILLIAM McKINLEY
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY
THE AUTHOR
INTRODUCTION
THIS volume deals with the living questions of Cuba—the questions whichconfront the United States in the reconstruction of the Island. It aimsto give a description of Cuba as it appeared to the author when, asSpecial Commissioner of the United States, he was sent by PresidentMcKinley to report on its industrial, commercial, and financialcondition, soon after the signing of the protocol of peace, August 12,1898. It is the result of nearly seven months’ inquiry and hard work, inwhich the Island has been visited three times, over five hundredwitnesses have been examined, and innumerable statements have beenstudied and analysed. In the course of this inquiry the author hasvisited all the provinces and nearly all the principal cities and towns.The merit of the book lies in the freshness and originality of thematerial brought together, and the demerit in the fact that it has beenwritten by one who was obliged to snatch a few hours at a time to mapout or write a chapter. The author realises the defects and asks theindulgence of the reader on the ground that it is the first attempt todiscuss the economic and political future of Cuba under its new form ofgovernment.
Whatever the future may have in store for this wonderful and unfortunateIsland, the author can truly say that the task allotted him by thePresident has