The New Student's Reference Work/Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos (sē′ĕn-fwā′gṓs), a city of Cuba, is in Santa Clara province on the southern side of the island. Its harbor was discovered by Columbus in 1492, and is one of the finest harbors in the West Indies. The port's commercial advance in recent years has been so rapid that Cienfuegos has become the second seaport in Cuba. To-day it is the center of the sugar-trade on the Caribbean coast. The city has well-shaded, attractive streets, its residences are substantially built, and it is lighted by gas and electricity. The climate in summer is oppressive, but the winter climate agreeable. Railroads connect Cienfuegos with Havana and Sagua la Grande on the northern coast and with Santa Clara, the western terminus of the Santiago railway. Steamers give communication with New York. The population is 70,416. During the Spanish-American war the port was long blockaded by the American fleet.