or sufficient food or care, ill-fitted equipment, etc., the pay of the man who owns the horse is cut nearly in two. The policy pur sued in the discipline of the Rural Guard is a fair and just one; any abuse of authority is severely punished, and the proper performance of duty is always sustained, no matter what the results may be. No man can be an officer of the Rural Guard who has not risen through merit, and no appointments as officers are made except from non-commissioned officers of the Guard. There is no institution among the Cuban people which shows them up to better advantage than the Rural Guard. This force is entirely in the hands of the Government, and if it fails or falls from the high standard attained at the time of transfer of the Government, it will assuredly be because the fault lies in the policy being pursued by the Government in appointments, administration, etc., and not in the Guard itself.

Carefully prepared drill regulations, embodying a course of general instruction, has been issued to the men, and they are also supplied with a manual prescribing the duties of the members of the force. A manual has also been issued prescribing the form of procedure for courts martial for the men and officers of the Guard, which is a part of the law of the land, and which provides for the punishment of any infraction of discipline or order. Offenses against the law are punishable by the Courts.

The average monthly allotment for the Rural Guard for the period covered by this report, was $77,163.00.

CUBAN ARTILLERY.

This organization has continued to enlist men for the service during the period covered by this report. Three companies are completely organized and arrangements made for the formation of a fourth company. Two of these companies are white and one black. Only such men are accepted for enlistment as can fill the requirements of the United States Army regulations, with the single exception that certain reductions have been made in the requirements for chest measure, but, owing to the large number of applicants, this reduction has not often been necessary. The men are armed with Mauser rifles and given essentially the same instruction as is given recruits in the United States Artillery service. The force has been under the direct command of Capt. Dwight E. Altman of the United States Army, who has rendered excellent service in organizing and instructing it. As soon as the companies were in fairly good shape, arrangements were made for the appointment of Cuban officers, and for this purpose notices were published in official papers of the Island setting forth the requirements for these appointments; and, finally, a competitive examination was held, and officers were appointed solely on the results of this examination. The successful candidates were, in most instances, young men who had distinguished themselves in

some department of the Military Government, either as Captains of Police or as officers of the Rural Guard. Others came directly from civil life, with no military training or service except with the Cuban Army.

The purpose of the establishment of this force is to have a body of artillery sufficiently strong to man the defenses of Havana and other works and to maintain them in good condition.

NATIONAL LIBRARY.

The following briefly outlines the work done by the Military Government in establishing a National Library for Cuba:

The foundation of the library was the collection of books belonging to Mr. Figarola-Caneda which he brought with him upon his return from Europe last fall, he having been in Paris during the war publishing a newspaper and engaged in other literary work. Mr. Gonzalo de Quesada was instrumental in starting this enterprise and he was the first contributor of books after requests of this nature were sent out. The library was installed in a part of the old and historic Castillo de la Fuerza; the portion of the building assigned to the library was the top floor of the part situated next to and facing the bay, and the excellent breeze and general character of the spot was an ideal location for the same.

It was necessary to equip the library with books, stands, tables, chairs, and other appurtenances to the library, and appropriations of State funds were made for this purpose, the work having been entrusted to the Department of Engineers. The writing tables were constructed on the plan of those used in the National Library of Paris and the British Museum of London, with rubber-tipped chairs and other conveniences to be found in modern libraries. The book stands are double front, similar to those used in the best libraries of the United States, and there is an office for the Librarian and his assistants fitted with desks, typewriter, telephone, etc., etc.

The books contributed by the Librarian, Mr. Gonzalo de Quesada, Dr. Antonio Gonzales de Mendoza, Mr. Martin G. Soler, and others, were in position in the library in the month of February of this year, and shortly afterwards Mr. Figarola-Caned was requested to call upon the Military Governor for a conference with reference to additional works to be purchased from State funds, so as to give the institution a wider scope and a greater variety of subjects for its readers to draw from. It had been previously ascertained that some extensive private libraries could be purchased, and commissioners were appointed to investigate and report upon the merits of the respective libraries offered, and, as a result, there were purchased the extensive libraries owned by the Conde de Fernandina and Dr. Vidal Morales y Morales, which had been selected on account of their extensive and distinct bibliographical character. The first named collection contained quite a number

of classical works in different languages, among which are some of the very best that have been produced in Science, Letters and Art. Among the editions of old works, and illustrated books of high merit there are some of Venice, published in 1496, and other editions of 1582, 1632, 1634, 1647 and 1658, and as a great many of these books are richly bound in leather, the work of the best binders in Paris, they constitute an interesting collection of this kind of decorative art. This library of Conde de Fernandina contains more than 4000 volumes and was purchased at a cost of $1500. The books represented a cost $20,000 to the original owner.

The collection of Dr. Vidal Morales y Morales is of particular interest to the Cuban as it represented a labor of 25 years and contains books, pamphlets, reviews, etc., published in Cuba and in other countries, in regard to Cuban matters and subjects of special interest to Cuba from the earliest times. In this collection there are to be found the History of the Indies, written by Father de las Casas, published in Seville, in 1552; the History of the New World by Signor Benzoni, the famous Milanese traveller, who visited America in 1541; Works of José de la Luz Caballero; The Poems of Placido; Dramas of José Maria Heredia, Works of Antonio Pava, Anselmo Suarez and many other Spanish and Cuban writers. A very rare book in this collection is one by Francisco Aceolti, a famous jurist of his time, which is supposed to have been published in Rome or Naples in the year 1475. The collection contains 3600 volumes and was purchased at a cost of $6000; the owner, Mr. Vidal Morales y Morales, was offered a large sum ɔf money for his library a few years since, by a party in the United States, but, patriotically, he declined to sell, preferring that his collection should remain in his native Island. The purchase of the collection of Señor J. Todeo Llaso J. comprising works by Chilean authors was authorized just prior to the close of the intervention. This is a small collection, but a meritorious one, and formed a part of the exhibit at the Paris and Pan-American expositions. The cost of the same was $300.00, and contains much valuable statistical information in regard to the South American countries.

The close of the intervention found the National Library established with a Librarian and two assistants in a well equipped location, well supplied with current newspapers and periodicals, and more than 10,000 volumes.

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES.

The large building for the School of Arts and Trades has been completed, and the installation of furniture and fittings had been commenced prior to May 20, 1902. This building is of the best construction, absolutely fire proof, and cost over a quarter of a million dollars. It will fill a long felt want, and will render the present school building available for machine shops.

The new building for the Academy of Arts and Sciences was completed and turned over to the Academy.