Page:Senate Reports 1892–’93.djvu/786

{| Senator. Your total residence here has been how long?
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Mr. . I went to school here fifty-nine years ago. I had relatives here. My knowledge of the city of Havana rans back further than that of any American in Cuba to-day, probably.

Senator. What have you to say with reference to emigration from Cuba to the United States?

Mr. . I should say that there is no emigration from the island of Cuba, in the European sense of the word; that is, no emigrant class.

Senator. You mean they go as regular passengers?

Mr. . They go as regular passengers.

Senator. There is no steerage?

Mr. . There may be a steerage, but they go as regular passengers. Between Key West and Havana people go as between Albany and New York, or as between New York and Boston on the Sound.

Senator. By not being emigrants, you mean what?

Mr. . I mean they are workingmen, who work for their living, and can always earn their living.

Senator. They go back and forward?

Mr. . They go back and forward as those French laborers go from Canada into New England and work and then go back home. Sometimes the Cubans return, but a good many of them have remained there. In fact, Key West has been built up by Cubans.

Senator. Have you any knowledge about the number of emigrants annually?

Mr. . No; there are no statistics in this office and I do not believe there are in any office.

Senator. Have you any opinion, as a matter of judgment, as to the average number?

Mr. . I have no idea of the number.

Senator. How many steamship lines are there running from here to the United States, and to what points?

Mr. . There are several steamship lines. There is a Spanish line running to Florida twice a month, and the Ward line to New York. There is an American line occasionally from here to New Orleans.

Senator. Doesn't it run to Punta Gorda?

Mr. . Yes; there is one that runs to Punta Gorda.

Senator. Punta Gorda and New Orleans both?

Mr. . Yes, sir.

Senator. Then there are four regular lines?

Mr. . Yes; and these lines are all employed in carrying sugar and tobacco; not much in carrying passengers. The most of the passengers are tourists.

Senator. What would be the average number monthly of sailings from here to the United States?

Mr. . The whole commerce of Cuba is with the United States.

Senator. Of these regular steamers, I mean.

Mr. . We have now in the winter time three steamers a week between here and Florida; then we have two regular steamers between here and New York; that is, on the Ward Line two leave a week; the Spanish steamers to New York once in ten days, and the American line every week; and occasionally there is one thrown in besides. And there is another line of tramp steamers, called the Prince Line, I believe.