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| Title | Introduction page |
| Publisher | E.C. Kropp Co. |
| Place of Creation (TGN) |
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| Date | 1921-1939 |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
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| Subject.Geographic (TGN) |
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| Language | English |
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| Original Item Extent | 21 cm |
| Original Item Location | F1799.H343 H38 1921z |
| Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b4841589~S11 |
| Digital Collection | Havana, Cuba, The Summer Land of the World |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/p15195coll36 |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | This image is in the public domain and may be used freely. If publishing in print, electronically, or on a website, please cite the item using the citation button. |
| File Name | cuban_201010_002.jpg |
| Transcript | HAVANA, CUBA "The Summerland of the World" When icy gales are pounding Boston and New York, while Chicago is blizzard-bound and Winter is king, then Havana, gayest of capitals in the Western Hemisphere, vrith the balmiest of climates, makes her strongest appeal. Her winter visitors are legion, from the Argentine and Brazil, England and the continent, as well as the United States. For every hour ashore in Cuba the traveler finds something varied and exciting to do. Races are conducted at beautiful Oriental. Park for the richest purses offered upon any winter track in the world. Out-of-door sports, golf at the picturesque Country Club, night tennis upon hard clay courts, polo tournaments, ocean-bathing, motor boating, sailing, deep-sea fishing, mountain hunting, all hold their lure to the guest. Motoring to, nearby interior points of interest adds zest, while dancing is everywhere in the ballrooms and patios and roof gardens of the principal hotels, and at the marvelous Casino. Beauty reigns, relaxation prevails, and by courtesy of. license your personal liberty is unrestricted. Havana is one of the best-ordered capitals in the world and surely the liveliest. Havana is 90 miles from Key West, Fla., a delightful sea-voyage of 5% hours; from Tampa 26 hours, from New Orleans 48 hours, and from New York 72 hours. The Harbor of Havana was first entered in 1508, and the city was founded in 1515. This Harbor, one of the safest in the world, capable of sheltering 1,000 vessels, is entered by a narrow channel almost a half- mile long between Morro Castle and Cabana Fortress on the East and the Punta on the West. Cabana Fortress cost $14,000,000 and was 11 years in huilding, 1763 to 1774. Morro Castle was reduced by the English in 1762. La Fuerza Fortress built-in 1538-39 as a protection against French pirates is said to be the oldest fort in Cuba. The Cuban Independence Day is May 20th. The Republic was established at 12 o'clock, May 20, 1902. The inner part of the city is old, and up to the time of the American occupation had narrow, crooked streets, unkempt and un- paved. The newer portion of the city is well designed, with broad streets, beautiful promenades and drives, and picturesque parks or plazas. About 50 fountains throughout the city are supplied by an aqueduct which also furnishes water to residences. The brilliant lights which sparkle along ♦he curving Malecon, (meucing embankment or seawall), Havana's magnificent sea drive, at night, have been christened "The Diamond Necklace." Havana is an attractive city with its buildings of Spanish architecture, its tiled roofs and its gaily painted houses of red, yellow and blue. Havana residents in their houses eat, drink and visit in the public view. So even to the "Window Courtship." The patio of a Cuban home is often profuse with shrubbery, where caged wild birds sing and fountains play. The new Presidential Palace, built of white granite, magnificently furnished, splendidly located overlooking entrance of Harbor of Havana and old Morro Castle, is opened to tourists for inspection by appointment. The Templete, opened to the public once a year, was built to commemorate the first Mass after the Landing of Columbus. Havana is the second largest port in the Western Hemisphere- being exceeded only by New York in tonnage. Cuba, breeze-drenched, palm-fringed, a fitting setting for gem-like Havana, alone can produce the wonderful aromatie herb, Havana tobacco, Cuba's tobacco crop is valued at approximately $40,- 000,000 annually, ranking second. This tobacco is unrivalled, and exported in bales and as finished cigars to all parts of the world. Cuba produces one-fifth of the world's sugar supply, which industry represents 85% of Cuba's exports. Cuba is approximately 760 miles long and a trifle larger than the state of Pennsylvania. The value of her products, sugar, tobacco, fruits, hardwoods and mineral ores has reached a vast annual sum and made Havana a great banking center. Cuba is perhaps the. world's most fertile land, and a trip to Santiago de Cuba, Camaguey, Santa Clara and Matanzas affords the traveler a view of great sugar and tobacco estates, large forests of hardwood, mahogany, etc., extensive cattle ranches and coffee plantations. The Cuban railroads are standard gauge, rock-ballasted and well built. The passenger trains are equiped with modern sleeping compartments and cafe cars as used on the higher grade American railroads. The hotel facilities in the interior are up to the standard in the cities above named, and in Santiago and Camaguey are exceptionally fine, being under the management of the railroad. Passports are not required of American citizens visiting Cuba. |
| Page Sequence Number | H002 |