The Provisional Government and Cuban Stability 205government. Even when he attempted to provide for Cuba's
future economic growth, he worked with the political context
in mind.
The Army officers, on the other hand, though they were
only too aware of the political situation, evaluated the govern
ment's work in terms of professional efficiency and long-range,
humanitarian accomplishment. They became concerned when
policy obstructed administration, and, in some cases, they
recommended reforms which, in the name of efficiency and
professionalism, reinforced the colonial-centralist nature of
the Cuban government. In some areas the officers were in
perfect agreement with Magoon's programs because they
recognized the government's activities were essential to the
Army's pacification plan.
Magoon's public works projects included harbor improve
ments, waterworks, and sewerage systems, but his major
interest was in building roads. In 1906, the Provisional Gov
ernor discovered that Cuba had but five hundred miles of
macadamized roads, whereas Jamaica, a smaller island, had
a thousand. Because of this transportation lag, only six of
forty potential ports were in use. The cart roads were atro
cious, for the heavily-laden bull-carts with their canted
wheels slashed the unpaved roadbeds into gullies or mud-
holes. In economic terms, the lack of roads meant that sugar
colonos and other farmers had to depend on either public
or company railroads, both expensive, to transport their
produce.^49 To cut transportation costs and force railway rates
down, Magoon planned to build a central highway across
the island and to open feeder roads which would serve at
least two ports (one north, one south) in every province.^50
Magoon also believed that the road-building program was
essential to Cuban pacification because it provided employ
ment during the tiempo muerto. He specifically justified it
this way in his first public report, and he wrote General Bell
that without the new roads the United States could expect
another Philippines in terms of time, lives, and cost.^51 Irene
Wright seconded Magoon's views; she believed road-building
in Pinar del Rio averted Masso Parra's revolt in 1907.^52