PLEASE SEND ALL SUGGESTIONS AND OTHER UNWANTED COMMENTS TO robertoreg2003@yahoo.com

Dr. Doster:

Remember the first time we met?

I'm from Dothan.
My Daddy was born in Hartford. His Daddy, Will Young Register, was the conductor on the Judy, the east bound Atlantic Coast Line train from Enterprise to Chattahoochee, Florida via Bainbridge. (I rode with him)

My Mother was born in Baker Hill and was delivered by Dr. Wallace who had left Clio because his WWI veteran son had come home to roost, had fathered a boy named George in 1918 and the people of Baker Hill in Barbour County had told him, " Dr. Wallace, we know you are ready to retire and are sick of Clio. Come to Baker Hill and we will build you a house to live in." Which the people of Baker Hill did.

Anyway, Dr. Mazyck delivered me in Moody Hospital in 1950. I know you know Dr. Mazyck cause you had a crush on his wife, the daughter of Moody Hospital's founder, Dr. Earle Moody.(I used to work as a groundskeeper in the Dothan City Cemetery. Both of Dr. Moody's parents died in the same week in May of 1901. The oblisk that marks their grave is topped with an flaming urn draped with roses and poppies. The inscription on the tombstone says," Our Mother and Father are no more. They are wandering hand in hand over in the spirit land. Here they rest, side by side. Even Death itself could not divide.")

Dr. Doster, when I study history, I am simply studying myself.

Best,

Robert Young Register





>From:
>To: "Robert Register"
>Subject: Continued
>Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 18:06:29 -0500
>
>You seem to have all the information that I intended to convey by an earlier e-mail. More important, you have found the sources, which do not now come into my mind. --J.F.D.

Call spent about two months in Havana [after arriving from Key West on January 5, 1830] and there enjoyed the pleasures of Cuban society. The American merchant Vincent Gray seems to have been his chief host, and the two men spent long hours recounting event of the War of 1812. Gray claimed that it was his intelligence which informed Jackson on British plans to attack New Orleans. In March, 1830, Call returned to the United States arriving in Tallahassee about the twentieth. He was "mortified" at the delay which had attended his mission but expressed satisfaction that he had done everything possible to protect the public interests of Florida land cases. He reported that most of the grants " bear on their face conclusive evidence of their fraudulent character", and the "prejudices in behalf of the claimants" were clearly apparant among the Spanish officials.

The papers which Call produced relating to the grant to Don Fernando de la Maz Arredondo indicated that although the grant was a genuine one, it had been made on condition that two hundred families be settled on the tract within three years. The documents relating to the Forbes grant indicated a more complex situation. In the first place, the so-called "Forbes grant" was really a series of claims based upon several alleged grants to the commercial house of Panton, Leslie and Company and its successor John Forbes and Company, as well as to John Forbes individually. One large grant, estimated at about 1,500,000 acres, and located between the Apalachicola River and Choctawhatchee River[all of the Gulf Coast between Destin and Apalachicola], was granted by the Captain-General of Cuba to John Forbes and Company for services rendered to the Spanish government and losses sustained by the company. This was the only obviously fraudulent grant, bearing on its face a clumsy alteration of the date of execution. Under the treaty by which Florida was ceded to the United States all grants made after January 24, 1818, were "declared and agreed to be null and void." the alteration of dates was attempted in an effort to validate this grant.
The other grants to Panton, Leslie and Company, John Forbes and Company, and to John Forbes individually, took in most of the land between the Apalachicola and St. Marks Rivers and were estimated to have a total acreage of about 1,200,000 acres. These grants were made by Florida Indian tribes in payment of debts owed to the commercial houses, and were confirmed by the Spanish governor of West Florida. These grants were presented for adjudication by Colin Mitchel, a Havana merchant who claimed American, English, and Spanish citizenship, who had purchased the rights of the original grantees. One historian of the Supreme Court says that the real promoters of the Mitchel claim were George Griswold, a New York shipper, "combined with other capitalists and with some of the most noted politicians in the country." A conservative historian of the Court observes that " a large number of these Spanish claims had been assigned to and were being prosecuted by bankers, financiers, and speculators in New York and London" thus giving Andrew Jackson, in his fight upon the money power, a vivid interest in the outcome of the cases...

...Many have been critical of the course of the Court in the Florida land cases and the decision in the Mitchel case did raise questions worth pondering. The Court apparantly closed its eyes to the hindrances which the Spanish officials put in the path of those who sought to uncover original documents. It would be interesting to know why, in the face of contrary evidence, the aged Chief Justice stated that no difficulty had been put in the way of American agents and that every facility had been accorded them.....

One historian of the Supreme Court, Gustavus Myers, saw the decisions in the Florida cases as part of a pattern of decisions by which "judicial dictator" John Marshall designed to strengthen the governing and capitalist classes. The more conservative Charles Warren viewed the decisions as designed to protect private property rights and preserve the national honor of the United States by strict adherence to the article of the treaty of cession which recognized property rights existing before 1818. A third historian, Ernest Sutherland Bates, points out the the rights of Spain were not at issue in any of the claims because the actual claimants were American capitalists not Spanish citizens. It is his contention that the Court was governed less by respect for treaties that by the formalisitic procedure established in the Yazoo land fraud cases whereby it refused to consider the evidence of fraud behind a formal grant....

.....After the signing of the treaty of cession in 1819 a genuine boom in Florida lands set in, Niles Register reporting a price rise of from 500 to 1,000 per cent, with city lots selling from $500 to $7000. About the time of the transfer in 1821 Call managed to secure several tracts near Pensacola. In partnership with James Innerarity he purchased 800 arpents of land on Santa Rosa sound and a like amount on Escambia Bay in partnership with Henry M. Brackenridge. An arpent in Spanish Florida was slightly more than an acre. In the city of Pensacola Call secured one town lot.

Richard Keith Call (1792-1862) served as Florida's third and fifth territorial governor during the 1830s and 1840s. Born in Virginia and educated in Tennessee, Call served in the Creek War and became and aide and protegee of Andrew Jackson. He later served with Jackson in Florida, and returned to the territory in the early 1820s to assist in the establishment of a new American territorial government.

Call would sit in the state legislative council and as Florida's delegate to Congress. He also was a brigadier general in the state militia and in 1836 became territorial governor. While governor, Call commanded troops in the Second Seminole War. He was dismissed as governor as a result of conflicts with the Van Buren administration, but he was re-appointed governor in 1841. Defeated for governor in 1845, he would not again hold public office.

Call frequently changed his political affiliations, being in turn a Democrat, Whig, Know-Nothing, and Constitutional Unionist. As the country lurched toward Civil War in the late 1850s and early 1860s, he remained an ardent Unionist. Though no supporter of the Republican Party, Call opposed secession in the weeks after Lincoln's election and published a pamphlet entitled An Address to the People of Florida from General R.K. Call in which he labeled disunion "'high treason against our constitutional government.'" Call sent a copy of his pamphlet to Edward Everett, a noted northern orator who had unsuccessfully run as vice-president on the Constitutional Union ticket in the election of 1860. In Everett's reply, reproduced here, he thanked Call for the pamphlet and suggested that the U.S. Congress, in an effort to prevent Civil War, might provide Lieutenant General Winfield Scott with dictatorial powers for six months.

Following Florida's withdrawal from the Union in early January 1861, secessionists taunted Call: "'Well, Governor, . . . we have done it!'"

Call replied prophetically, "'And what have you done? . . . You have opened the gates of Hell, from which shall flow the curses of the damned which shall sink you to perdition!'"(1)

Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2003 13:52:22 -0700
To: "robert register"
From: "capn skyp"
Subject: Re: The Bonhomminy Richard




stick his spoon in the platter of glory
and where ever old glory is hung
there you will find dah patriots of dah day.

Thang we found back in '64 were these groovy shirts that were
horizontally striped so we adopted them as costumes for the movie.

capn of the skyhistory


skypilotclub
81774 Lost Creek Road
Dexter OR 97431

http://www.skypilotclub.com

Nedra:
The only reason I was able to publish my article about Ellicott in the Spring ' 97 issue of the Gulf Coast Historical Quarterly was due to the help of William S. Coker( My last history class was "American History" my Junior year, '66-67, at Dothan High School so I don't get along with "university academics" all that well). I got to spend two days with Bill on Pensacola Beach in ' 96 and it helped me immensely.
Of course, his work is the most important on the Innerarity brothers so I thought your family would appreciate his obituary. This is a post from my weblog "Cuba, Alabama"

IN PREPARATION FOR THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE SEIZURE OF WILLIAM AUGUSTUS BOWLES(MAY 28,1803), I KICK THINGS OFF BY DEDICATING THE COMMEMORATION OF THIS EVENT TO MY LATE FRIEND, BILL COKER.
DR. WILLIAM S. COKER
1924-2002
Dr. William S. Coker, 78, passed away on December 13, 2002 at his home.
Dr. Coker served a distinguished military career with the United States Air
Force. He retired a Senior Master Sergeant in September 1962. He was a
veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Dr. Coker graduated from Lockhart High School, Lockhart, Texas. He received
a BA with distinction and a Masters degree from the University of Southern
Mississippi, Hattiesburg and his PhD from the University of Oklahoma in
Norman. Dr. Coker retired from the University of West Florida History
department in 1992. He served as University Marshall 1978-1980, and was
Professor Emeritus until his death. Bill was very proud of his many years
of involvement with the Masonic Lodge and Hadji Shrine Temple. Dr. Coker
was active for many years in the Florida Historical Society, holding
several positions, including president. In May 2002, he was honored with
the Dorothy Dodd Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Coker has written over 70
introductions, articles and book reviews and published 17 books.
Hazel P. Coker, his wife of 45 years and the mother of his daughters, and
Frances Camferdam Coker precede Dr. Coker in death. Survivors include his
four daughters: Judith Blaa of Holt; Nancy Walther, Port St. Lucie;
Elizabeth King and Terri Cohan, both of Pensacola.
Saludos,
Roberto

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 10:59:09 -0700
To: "robert register"
From: "capn skyp"
Subject: Re: An Interesting Use of the Word "Intrepid"




hosts of intrepid warriors
armed with smiles and chocolate bars
descend upon the roiling plains
with accolades of wildly painted cars
and infectious bonhomminy


http://www.skypilotclub.com

skypilotclub
81774 Lost Creek Road
Dexter OR 97431

From "Platter of Glory" (this here is dedicated to my Louisiana buddies, Tony from Monroe and Captain Mike):

An American Colonel, a very handsome man, was found among the killed, and a letter was found in his pocket, addressed to him by General Jackson, desiring "that he would join them that night, and stick his spoon in the platter of glory."

" I am sorry to say a few deserters have gone over to the enemy, but I am still more concerned to add, neither Frenchman or Spaniards afforded the least assistance, but on the contrary are in conjunction with General Jackson, fighting under the distinct banners of their several nations [ Old Glory ]. This, however, is said to be by order of Jackson, as a finesse, to let it appear that unanimity prevails among all the inhabitants."

This from Eron Rowland:

The address of the Reverend Abbe Duborg and the reply of General Jackson delivered during the impressive thanksgiving ceremonies conducted in the old St. Louis Cathedral are given in full (January 23, 1815).....

[ an except from Reverend Duborg's address to General Jackson]
"To Him [the Supreme Ruler of the Universe], therefore, our most fervent thanks are due for our late unexpected rescue, and it is Him we chiefly intend to praise, when considering you, General, as the man of His right hand, whom He has taken pains to fit out for the important commission of our defense; we extol the fecudity of genius, by which, in an instant of the most discouraging distress, you created unforeseen resources raised as it were, from the ground, hosts of intrepid warriors and provided every vulnerable point with ample means of defense. To Him we trace that instinctive superiority of your mind, which at once rallied around you universal confidence; impressed one irresistable movement to all the jarring elements of which this political machine is composed, aroused the slumbering spirits, and diffused through every rank that noble ardor which glowed in your own bosum. To Him, in fine we address our acknowledgements for that consumate prudence which defeated all the combinations of a sagacious enemy, and tangled him in the very snares which he had spread before us, and succeeded in effecting his utter destruction, without once exposing the lives of our citizens. Immortal thanks be to His supreme majesty for sending us such an instrument of His bountiful designs!....."

From Eron Rowland's Andrew Jackson's Campaign Against the British...

From an August 7, 1812 letter from the Seminoles to Spanish Governor Manrique in Pensacola

....But Your Grace the Governor probably knows that we are very scantily supplied with arms and ammunition, and that at Fort San Marcos they were accustomed to give to the Indians rations, powder, balls and blankets. Now nothing of this is given them and they are consequently very poor. Will Your Grace inform us if you can order that these gifts again be given to them? When we were recently in Pensacola with Thomas Perryman, the Commandant promised us tha he would write to Havana about this. Will your grace please send word to us if anything has happened about it?......
The Chiefs
Thomas Perryman
Chisnaqui Chifola
Yolahatro Chefold Toron
James Perryman
Fireway Racoon Toron
Williams Perryman
Estro Emallachiz Tlollemala

More from Brown:

page 57

After the Battle of New Orleans, the British high command was criticized for not having brought into play some 5,000 Indians that it was then thought would be available. In July 1814 Admiral Cochrane had sent Nicholls to recruit and arm Indians[at the Negro Fort on the Apalachicola] for use by the British. In December, according to George Gleig, an embassy (including Nicholls) was sent by Cochrane from Lake Borgne to the Apalachicola to bring the Indians to the scene of the battle- but only two Indians came. On the basis of these facts it seems obvious that it would have been a grievous strategic mistake for Jackson not to have followed up his humbling of the Spaniards and British at Pensacola by sending Blue, Hawkins, and McIntosh in pursuit of the Indians. And before leaving Pensacola, Jackson also cautioned the by now much chastened Governor Manrique against having any further dealings with the British, and it would appear that his later relations with Manrique were good.

More from Brown:

page 36

Between 1804 and 1810 the population of New Orleans doubled. By the 1810 census, the total population, including suburbs, was 24,552, of which number only about 3,200 were Americans. Most of the newcomers were French settlers who had fled to Cuba to escape the Negro revolt in Haiti, and were later forced to move again because of renewed war between France and Spain in Europe in 1808....

From Brown's The Amphibious Campaign For West Florida and Louisiana, 1814-1815

page 29

American sympathizers had made Jackson well aware of the Irish "colonol's" [acting colonol, Major Edward Nicholls of the Royal Marines] activities ever since the latter had appeared in Havana , about a month before his descent on Pensacola. Nicholls loved to talk. His announced plan was to occupy Pensacola as a base, and then to seize Mobile, close the mouths of the Mississippi, and march on Baton Rouge. He counted on many slaves joining his Jamaican black regiments, on an Indian uprising, and on help from the Louisiana and West Florida Creoles, and he even affected to believe that the Kentuckians and Tennesseans would join the British.

ALINA FERNANDEZ- FIDEL'S DAUGHTER

Alina Fernandez, Fidel Castro's daughter, talks about her opposition to her father
April 30, 2003



Court TV Host: Alina Fernandez, Fidel Castro's daughter, fled her homeland in 1993 and has become one of her father's staunchest critics. Now, she's leading the call for renewed sanctions against Castro because of his recent crackdowns on dissidents. She was just on the Catherine Crier Live program, and she's going to be here any moment.

Court TV Host: Our guest, Alina Fernandez, is here with us now. Thank you for joining us today.

Alina Fernandez: You're very welcome, really.

Court TV Host: Anything you'd like to say that you didn't get a chance to say on air?

Alina Fernandez: Actually, while I was trying to say that some congressman wants to open up for American tourists to go down to Cuba, just at this moment it's time to bring forth the laws against trade with Cuba.

Question from Sally: Why the crackdown now? Any thoughts that it might be related to the fact we just liberated Iraq?

Alina Fernandez: Castro and Hussein have been cooperating since the late 70's, but the wave of oppression seems to be more according to the economic crisis they're expecting in the country. They already have huge political crisis.

Question from which: If the sanctions were implemented, why do you think any new sanctions would cause a response when no others have? As we saw with Iraq the sanctions just punished those poor people more.

Alina Fernandez: Because actually the sanctions in Cuba have never been applied like they were in Iraq. Three months ago, three hundred American companies held a trade fair in Havana. That never happened in Iraq. A lot of American companies are trading with Cuba through Canada, Mexico, etc.

Question from Chad: Why has the Castro regime lasted for as long as it has without Russia's backing? Thank you.

Alina Fernandez: Because of the economic sanctions have never been applied. Just because of that.

Question from BamaGirl: When you smiled while saying that Castro was getting old -- were you smiling because you're happy he's close to death? I was confused.

Alina Fernandez: No, no. I didn't smile because of that. I don't know about his health or condition, but of course I wasn't smiling because I don't know anything about his health.

Question from Myrna: Do you have a list of those companies??

Alina Fernandez: Right now, not on me. Some of them were penalized last week. They had to pay penalties - you can find them on the internet.

Question from Bridget: Alina, are you nervous that your father might send someone to harm you for speaking out against him?

Alina Fernandez: Actually, you learn how to live without fear. To go with the risk.

Question from which: In the 60's it was thought that your father had something to do with the assassination of then-president John F. Kennedy. First, do you believe there is any credence to that accusation, and, second, if he did, how would you suggest we prove it?

Alina Fernandez: I don't know anything about that.

Question from Chad: Does he fear United States takeover? Thank you.

Alina Fernandez: I don't think so. It hasn't happened in 45 years.

Question from treebabi: Are you hoping one day to return to your homeland? In what capacity?

Alina Fernandez: In any capacity I'll feel useful, to help the civil society to be rebuilt.

Question from Gail: Does she ever talk to her Dad?

Question from treebabi: Do you talk to your father at all?

Question from BamaGirl: Alina, do you communicate with your father at all these days?

Alina Fernandez: Not for the last 20 years.

Question from Sally: Why exactly is Cuba having an economic crisis now? I never thought of it as a rich country, but neither did I see it as poor.

Alina Fernandez: Because of the crisis in Venezuela the oil is not going there. Because after more than 10 years of the failing of the Soviet Union, all the resources are exhausted.

Question from Gail: What about your mother, where is she?

Alina Fernandez: She is in Cuba.

Question from ladyblu: alina Do you have brothers or sisters, do they feel the same as you do ?

Alina Fernandez: I'm not in touch with them, because if you think differently than Castro you cannot be in touch with people down in Cuba because it can endanger them.

Question from polka: Why do you feel that sanctions are the way to deal with Castro, when it has been repeatedly shown that if not for the vast sums of US currency that flow into Cuba every month, the average Cuban would be even worse off than under the fascist regime of Castro? Continuing the economic embargo makes no sense to me in light of the fact that they hurt the people of Cuba.

Alina Fernandez: No. The embargo has never been applied to Cuba. 300 American companies held a trade fair. The United States has been trading to Cuba through Canada, Mexico, etc.

Question from Bridget: Alina, If Fidel were ever to be assassinated or removed from power, do you think his brother would just assume power and keep the same standards of repression?

Question from cheryl: Who will lead if Castro dies...his brother?

Question from Chad: Who will succeed your father when he passes away?

Alina Fernandez: Thank you. Raoul will not keep the same system. He's not fit for that, and I don't think he's willing to do that. The succession will be the choice of the Cuban people inside the island.

Question from kapsy: Alina - how did you get to the US?

Alina Fernandez: I escaped in 1993 with a falsified Spanish passport.

Question from joeturner: Where do you live?

Alina Fernandez: I live all around, but I'm based in Miami now for the last year.

Question from dreamcatcher: Do you have an extended family here? Anyone you feel close to?

Alina Fernandez: My daughter.

Question from which: How can you be so sure your uncle will not keep the same hold on Cuba?

Alina Fernandez: Because he's absolutely different from his brother. He never had the same power, same brain, or same ambition.

Question from which: Alina If your father were to call you would you carry on a conversation with him of a family type or a political one?

Alina Fernandez: I don't think he would call me. I don't think about it.

Question from cheryl: What can we do locally?

Alina Fernandez: Locally, write to the lawmakers. To congress, the senate, to white house, to the president -- that you support Cuban freedom.

Question from Gail: Do you keep in touch with your mother?

Alina Fernandez: Yes.

Question from winter: Would you like for Cuba to have the same kind of democracy that we have here in the US?

Alina Fernandez: At least similar. We'll find our own way.

Question from Bridget: Is you mother safe in Cuba?

Alina Fernandez: Nobody's safe in Cuba.

Question from dreamcatcher: What have you told your daughter about all this ?

Alina Fernandez: She's 25 years old. She makes up her own mind. She lived there until she was 16.

Court TV Host: Any closing thoughts? The only thing I would like is for people to find out more about the real Cuban situation. They have been misled by the media.

Court TV Host: Thank you very much for being our guest today.

Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 11:17:15 -0500
From: delacova@indiana.edu | This is spam | Add to Address Book
To: "robert register"
Subject: Re: Maria Conchita Mendez




The difference between the U.S. trading with Cuba and with other
Communist
countries, such as China and Vietnam, is that Castro has repeatedly
refused to
acknowledge or negotiate the $1.4 billion of U.S. property on the
island that
he expropriated back in 1960. That's why the embargo was put in place.
That is
the largest seizure of U.S. property in history.

When Jimmy Carter went to Havana last year, he suggested that a
commission be
established between both nations to solve this pending problem of
outstanding
claims. Carter indicated that during his administration, he solved a
similar
situation with China. At the time, China agreed to pay back the U.S. 48
cents
on the dollar for expropriated property. Vietnam also achieved a
financial
settlement with the U.S. before trade relations were established.
Castro never
responded to Carter's request.

It's ironic that many people who oppose the embargo against Cuba, did
support
the U.S. embargo against South Africa, Irak, Lybia, the Haiti
dictatorship, the
arms embargo against Somoza in Nicaragua in 1978 and the arms embargo
against
Batista in 1958.

Tony de la Cova

Here I stand near Nickajack where Alabama,Georgia and Tennessee intersect. Please send all suggestions and other unwanted comments to robertoreg@hotmail.com.

Muchas gracias a mi buen amigo, babbs, para el t-shirt. Git yur skypilotclub t-shirt @ http://www.skypilotclub.com

Alabama products headed to Cuba soon

By PHILLIP RAWLS
Associated Press Writer
August 25, 2003


Alabama wood products worth $2.5 million will soon be shipped from Mobile to Cuba as the state takes advantage of a narrow opening in the trade embargo with the communist nation.

Alabama cattle, cotton and poultry will follow as part of a new trade agreement between Alabama and Cuba, State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks said Monday.

"The people of Cuba need Alabama agriculture," said Sparks, who led a trade delegation to Cuba last week.

The group returned Saturday and held a news conference Monday, with the Cuban and Alabama flags on the podium.

Sparks said Cuban officials agreed to buy $2.5 million worth of wood products from Swift Lumber Co. of Atmore. The first cargo containers of wood products should start loading at the Mobile port in a few weeks, he said.

In addition, Cuba agreed to buy 30 Gelbvich cattle embryoes from Milam Turner of Selma and 50 dairy cattle from Pat Ranken of Faunsdale. Ranken said Cuban officials will visit his farm to pick out the Jersey cattle, but a date has not been set.

Cuban officials also signed a letter of intent to buy other Alabama agricultural products, including 10,000 tons of Alabama chicken, 850 tons of cotton, 3,000 tons of powdered milk, 3,000 tons of newsprint, and a shipping container of cheese and butter, Sparks said.

The State Docks in Mobile once had a thriving trade with Cuba. The trading stopped in 1961 when Fidel Castro defeated a CIA-backed assault at the Bay of Pigs and the United States imposed a trade embargo.

Congress created a small opening in the embargo in 2000 when it legalized the cash sale of agricultural and forest products to the island. The first shipments, totaling $4.5 million, arrived in 2001, and trade grew to $155 million last year.

Alabama is the 35th state to sign an agricultural trade agreement with Cuba, Sprarks said.

Cuba wants the trade embargo lifted, but Castro never mentioned it when the Alabama delegation met with him from 9 p.m. Thursday until nearly 1 a.m. Friday, Sparks said.

"Not one time did President Fidel Castro put pressure on me about the president of the United States or ask that I do one thing about the embargo," Sparks said.
But Sparks said he will encourage Alabama's congressional delegation to support lifting the embargo because Alabama farmers would gain from exports to Cuba and because Cuba needs other Alabama.m.ade products, including socks from Sparks' hometown of Fort Payne.

"They are willing to buy more products from the this state," Sparks said.

Johnny Adams, executive director of the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, and Billy Powell, executive director of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, participated in the trade mission and want to see Alabama's relationship with Cuba grow.Adams said some Alabama-grown chicken has been sold to Cuba in the past by using a broker, but the new agreement allows direct sales.

Powell said Cuba has few cattle and, as a result, restaurants offer few beef dishes to tourists who are flocking to the island from Canada and Europe.

"They need some high-quality beef for the tourist trade," Powell said.

http://www.wingsofvalor.org/

http://www.brigada2506.com

Crowley Makes First Major Livestock Shipments to Cuba in 40 Years

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.; August 12, 2003) Over the past three weeks Crowley Liner Services has transported more than 400 head of cattle, plus sheep and bison, from the United States to Havana, Cuba – the first shipments of livestock direct from the U.S. in more than 40 years.

The three livestock shipments originated from Crowley’s port facilities in Gulfport, Miss., and Port Everglades and Jacksonville, Fla.

The voyage from Gulfport on July 25 included 140 head of cattle, three bulls, 12 bison, and one shorthorn sheep. The trip actually began with 139 head of cattle, but a calf born during transit pushed the total number to 140.

One hundred twenty-eight head of cattle were transported from Port Everglades on July 31, and most recently, 136 head of cattle departed Jacksonville on August 9 and arrived in Havana yesterday.

The livestock in all of these shipments was carried in specially designed, animal-friendly, “cowtainers.” These modified 40-foot shipping containers have open-air windows for ventilation, roof racks for storing hay to eat, and plenty of water to drink. To ensure the well-being of all the animals, a handler was present onboard the ships during each voyage.

The animals were purchased from various U.S. companies by Alimport, the Cuban government’s food import company, and shipped under the agricultural export exception to the Cuban embargo. The livestock shipment agreements were worked out during the U.S. Food and Agribusiness Exhibition Trade Fair held last year in Havana. Based on those agreements, Crowley expects to handle additional livestock shipments for the foreseeable future.

“Crowley’s livestock shipments to Cuba are significant for our company as well as for U.S.-Cuban trade,” said Crowley Vice President Jay Brickman. “The movement of live animals required a great amount of logistical planning. We’ve transported animals before, so we were pleased to be able to bring our expertise to the table here.”

In 2001 Crowley became the first U.S. carrier to obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to provide regularly scheduled common carrier services for licensed cargo from the United States to Cuba, and on December 16, 2001, became the first carrier to call directly on Cuba from the United States in 40 years.

Since then, the company has shipped to Cuba a myriad of cargoes such as frozen poultry, apples, grocery store products, dry food commodities, playground equipment, cotton, lumber, and other humanitarian goods.

Cuba is now part of Crowley’s regular sailing schedule and receives a port call every ten days from Jacksonville, Fla., and every other week from Gulfport, Miss.

Crowley Liner Services, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., is a subsidiary of Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corporation and is part of its liner segment. The corporation, founded in 1892, is primarily family- and employee-owned, and is engaged in worldwide logistics, liner services, contract towing and transportation, energy support services, ship assist and escort services, vessel management and petroleum and chemical marine transport. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

Cuba Vital Statistics TOTAL AREA: 110,860 sq km
IRRIGATED LAND: 9,100 sq km (1993)
POPULATION: 11,096,395 (1999)POPULATION GROWTH RATE: 0.4% (1999)
Land Surface: 42,804 square miles
GDP: purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (1998)
GDP-REAL GROWTH RATE: 1.2% (1998)
GDP-PER CAPITA: purchasing power parity - $1,560 (1998)
GDP-COMPOSITION BY SECTOR: agriculture: 7.4%, industry: 36.5%, services: 56.1% (1997)
LABOR FORCE: 4.5million economically active population state sector: 76%, non-state sector: 24% (1996)
LABOR FORCE BY OCCUPATION:
services and government: 30%, industry 22%, agriculture: 20%, commerce: 11%, construction: 10%, transportation and communication: 7%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 6.8% (1997)
REVENUE: $12.3 billion (1998)
EXPENDITURES: $13 billion
INDUSTRIES: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals, cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
EXPORTS: $1.4 billion (1998)
IMPORTS : $3 billion (1998)
TELEPHONES: 229,000
RAILWAYS: 4,807 km
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Ron:
My name is Robert Register and I live in Northport. In the last week of February, I was informed by Larry Clayton, head of the University of Alabama History Department, that Bama was sponsoring an Alabama-Cuba Week in November so I started a weblog dedicated to all the ways that Alabama is connected to Cuba.
It has really turned into a monster blog with extensive archives going back six months and it has really made a space for itself on the Web and I haven't spent a dime on it.
I tested google and yahoo search engines today. When you type "cuba alabama" into google, I come up # 1 and # 3 out of 1,290,000 hits. Type the same thing into yahoo and I come up # 1 out of 1,150,000 results. Type "cuba alabama mobile" into google and I come up # 3 out of over half a million results. Ditto for yahoo. Type "mobile cuba alabama" into google and I come up # 7. On yahoo the same thing gets me at # 2 out of 663,000 hits. Type " cuba mobile alabama" into google and I'm at # 7 out of 746,000. On yahoo # 6 out of 659,000. Or you can click on http://www.robertoreg.blogspot.com
Please feel free to forward this email to anyone but I would love for you to forward it to Maria Conchita Mendez and Pedro Alvarez Borrego.
Congratulations on your successful trip to Cuba.
Saludos,
Robert Register

PORT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PRESENCE IN LATIN AMERICAN MARKETS. MENDEZ TO LEAD SALES & MARKETING INITIATIVES

Maria C. Mendez has been named Manager of Latin American Trade & Development by Director/CEO James K. Lyons. Following an extensive search and review of qualifications, Mr. Lyons and the Alabama State Port Authority's (ASPA) Marketing Committee recommended Ms. Mendez's appointment. The Authority's Board of Directors, during today's Board meeting, approved the measure effective June 2, 2003.

Alabama State Port Authority Director & CEO, James K. Lyons said of Ms. Mendez, "Maria possesses extensive sales and business development experience, particularly in international markets critical to Alabama's trade expansion. We enthusiastically welcome Maria to our team."

The Authority's Manager of Latin America Trade & Development is responsible for strengthening existing and developing new international and domestic sales/marketing opportunities for Alabama and regional business in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. "I look forward to creating a partnership with the Port Authority's current and future customers to enhance cargo flow in containerization, bulk and break bulk in Latin America. The objective is to make ASPA a premier cargo handling facility within South and Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico utilizing its five (5) class one railroads, interstate infrastructure and new expansion terminals, including Choctaw Point," Mendez said.

Maria Mendez offers over 27 years of experience in sales and marketing experience to the Alabama's only deepwater seaport. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Mendez served as the Port of Jacksonville's Manager for Trade Development & Customer Relations where she facilitated legalized cargo movements to Cuba, expanded the port's cargo base under NAFTA, developed new customers in the Latin America break bulk markets and managed all international commodities, pricing and customer relations for Latin America. Additional to her trade and port experience, Ms. Mendez holds extensive experience in financial and market analysis, sales force and training programs development, and telemarketing initiatives for companies such as AeroPeru Airlines, General Electric Corporation and Unisource Worldwide Corporation.

A 51 year old native of Cuba, Maria Mendez currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. She has two daughters, Isabelle "Issy" Mendez and Melie Mendez.

STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTAMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, there exists during the conduct of the Alabama Agricultural Trade Mission to Cuba, August 17-22, 2003, a tremendous occasion for Alabama farmers and providers of food and forest products to trade with Cuba; and

WHEREAS, the goal ot the Alabama Agricultural Trade Mission is to establish an ongoing working relationship with Cuban agriculturan and trade; and

WHEREAS, one of the objectives of the Trade Mission participants is to negotiate for the commercial exchange of Alabama agricultural commodities, food, and forest products with Cuba; and

WHEREAS, there exists the realization that the potential for Cuban trade presents an exciting opportunity for the reopening of doors of exchange; and

WHERES, through the expanded product movement by way of the Alabama State Port Authority, enhanced agricultural, food, and forest product trade can mutually benefit Cuban and Alabama people; and

NOW THEREFORE, I, Ron Sparks, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries for the Stete of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial agricultural, food, and forest product trade relationship with Cuba and the Stete of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Seal of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in the City of Montgomery on the 15th day of August 2003.

Ron Sparks, Commissioner

Alabama farm delegation signs intent to sell to Cuba

The Associated Press




HAVANA - An Alabama farm delegation visiting Cuba announced that group members had signed a letter of intent to sell the communist island $10 million in agricultural goods from their state.

"The United States has trade with China and Vietnam," said Maria Conchita Mendez, a representative of the port in Mobile, Alabama. "Cuba is 90 miles away. The time has come to lift the barriers. The Cold War is over."

Delegation members did not specify what kind of farm goods would be sold under the arrangement, but they said the products would be shipped through the port at Mobile.

American producers can sell their farm goods to Cuba as long as U.S. financing is not used. The exception to the U.S. trade embargo of more than four decades was created by a 2000 U.S. law.

Mendez and Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks were among those in the group that arrived here this week from the southern American state located across from Cuba on the Gulf of Mexico. The agreement was reached Thursday.

Sparks said Friday the delegation met with Cuban President Fidel Castro for more than three hours, talking about relations between Alabama and Cuba and about establishing trade relations.

Sparks said he would continue to lobby officials in Washington to lift the trade sanctions against the island.

Statement of the Alabama state´s delegation that recently visit our country

This is a historic event for the Alabama State Port Authority but also the City of Mobile has historic links with Cuba. Its founder, Diberville, is buried in Havana. In October 1993, the city of Mobile signed a Sister City Agreement and this upcoming October we will be celebrating its tenth anniversary.

On the agreement between Alimport and Alabama State Port Authority, we have agreed to work jointly in the movement of bulk, breakbulk, refrigerated and containerized cargo via our terminal facilities. Also we have agreed to work with our legislature for the lifting of the travel ban and promote tourism via Air, Cruises, ferries, etc, between Mobile and Cuba.

The key of this Agreement is the economic impact for Alabama and the surrounding region in the future.

Currently, the only commodities that we can trade are those approved by OFAC. The current embargo is not only hurting Cuba but also the US Business Sector.

Realistically speaking, with an open trade policy, our port, due to its strategic location in respect of Cuba, could have, on a conservative opinion, over 16 sailings a week transporting cargo.

This represents;

Third-party logistics companies establishing operations in Mobile

New distribution center of one-million square foot or more

Triple growth in air, trucking and rail services

An economic impact of 4 billion USD or 80,000 jobs

High paying jobs in the maritime community, i.e. ILA & Teamstres who provide services to carriers.

Triple growth in our local economy

We would like to acknowledge Crowley Liner Services; they have been the pioneers in the Cuba trade. They paved the way for other US carriers to call Cuba. Several individuals in Crowley are directly responsible; Tom Crowley Jr., Rinus Schaefen, Michael Hopkins and most of all, Jay Brickman.

As a Cuban American, I implore from our Legislator to reexamine the current Cuba policy. With us on the mission headed by Commissioner Sparks is another Cuban American, Mr. Diego Jimenez, who negotiated the sale of 30 plus cattle embryos.

As a Nation, we currently trade with China, Vietnam, where we lost 57 thousand lives, and with other countries whose form of government is different from ours. Up until recently, Mexico had a one-party rule.

Cuba is 90 miles from our shores and it is time to bring down the barriers. The cold war is over; our Government should favor free travel and economic prosperity for both sides. Cuban Americans should have the freedom to visit their families not only once a year, but have the ability to visit their loved ones any time they desire to. At the same time, Americans should not have to travel via the back door.

Several years ago an individual that we all have a tremendous respect for, and who has been my spiritual guide, visited Cuba: The Pope. He then said: “It is time for world to open its doors to Cuba and for Cuba to embrace the world.”

To our legislators, as a Cuban American, I say it is time to reexamine those words and commence implementing them. To those Cuban American businesses that may have some apprehension or animosities in dealing with Cuba, you need to explore the Business opportunities available and start implanting the building blocks for our children’s children. You need to express your animosities from the past, but it is also time to move forward and come to terms and star the reconciliation process.

Pedro I want to thank you from the bottom on my heart and I can assure you that our port will be the premier port in the Cuba Trade.

The apostle Martí wrote a poem Cultivo una Rosa Blanca at this time I want to present to you white rose as a gesture of our friendship and the need to bring down barriers for generations to come.

Sparks, Ag Delegation Meet with Fidel Castro on Trade Mission


(

MONTGOMERY – Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks said today that last week’s agricultural trade mission to Cuba was “very successful” after he and the Alabama trade delegation met with more than three hours with Cuban President Fidel Castro.

After meeting with Castro and Pedro Alverez, chairman and CEO of Alimport, Sparks reported that Alabama has agreements to sell millions of dollars worth of goods to Cuba.

Sparks said that details are still being worked out, but among the items that Alabama soon could be selling to Cuba are:

· 285 shipping containers of wood valued at around $2.5 million.

· Up to 10,000 tons of chicken.

· Some 850 tons of cotton.

· Around 3,000 tons of powdered milk.

· Up to 3,000 tons of newsprint.

· A shipping container of cheese and butter to be used for test purposes.

Sparks said that the exact value of the goods agreed on during the agricultural trade mission to Cuba is still being negotiated working through Alimport, Cuba’s largest importer of food supplies, and other entities.

Sparks said that already he and members of his staff are planning another agricultural trade mission, perhaps as early as December. A native of Fort Payne, the sock capital of Alabama, Sparks said that selling up to a half million pairs of Alabama-made socks to Cuba is being discussed for future trade.

Sparks said there was also an agreement to provide information about the Alabama cattle breeds for consideration by Alimport for sale to Cuba.

The agreements reached on the Cuba mission included the extensive use of the Port of Mobile by Alimport for the movement of Alabama-based cargoes.

“This is good news for the Port of Mobile,” said Sparks. “Mobile is just an estimated 600 nautical miles from Cuba. Cargo can be shipped from Mobile to Havana in less than 40 hours which makes cargo from Mobile more attractive.”

Sparks said that the agricultural trade mission to Cuba was very successful. “I came back with good news,” said Sparks. “I want to feed the world. We produce the best and safest food in the world right here in Alabama.”

Sparks also said that he received a telephone call today from the head of the Cuban Interests Section, Ambassador Dagoberto Rodriquez, congratulating him on the successful Cuban trade mission.

The successful trade mission to Cuba did not happen overnight. During the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture meeting in Washington in March, Sparks helped pass a resolution urging Congress to authorize the sale of Alabama’s agriculture and forest products to the island nation. Sparks serves on the Marketing and Trade Committee that pushed for passage of the resolution seeking to restore trade with Cuba.

Working through the U. S. Treasury Department, Sparks obtained a license in June for officials of the Department of Agriculture and Industries and delegates to travel to Cuba to negotiate the sales and delivery of agricultural commodities from Alabama producers to potential customers in Cuba

Date: 26 Aug 2003 10:53:34 -0600




Robert:

Read this part of The section "James" in the history section taken from
Jacquline Sue's book, and judge for yourself.

Nedra

After he was elected Commissioner of Mobile, James Innerarity began to
act in allegiance
to the United Slates of America. An account of a story is given by
William S. Coker in
"How General Andrew Jackson Learned of the British Plans Before the
Battle of New Orleans,
" in the Gulf Coast Historical Review, Fall 1987. On January 15, 1855
General Richard
Keith Call gave a speech about the Battle of New Orleans which was
reported in the
Pensacola Gazette. According to Call's story a Boston born merchant in
the Havana office of a mercantile firm learned that the British were going to attack New
Orleans. This was
of interest to British textile merchants because a large quantity of
cotton would be
captured. The information circulated in some British merchant firms and
made its way to
Havana. Vincent Gray was the American
born informant. When the British military stopped in Havana on their
way to the Gulf
Coast there was open discussion about what they were going to do, and
Gray was able to
determine their plans. He wrote three letters detailing the plans. One
was sent to the
Governor Claiborne, one to United States Secretary of State James
Monroe, and one to
James Innerarity. The letter to Innerarity has not been located. On
August 27, 1814 at
5:00 p.m. copies of two letters were handed to Jackson. General Jackson
wrote,
"I was laid under the most solemn injunctions of secrecy that the names
of the individuals
should not be given on any account or the letters published for the
present. The gentleman
who gave them is of high respectability as well as the writer, and were
shewn to me to
prevent the country from conquest. He believes it will be conquered,
hence the necessity
of secrecy or his destruction is certain."

In Call's speech he spoke about the informant James Innerarity by
saying, "He sought a
confidential interview with General Jackson, and such was his emotion,
though possessed
of great personal firmness, that he wept as he made the disclosure."

James Innerarity continued the business of John Forbes & Company in
Mobile, was active in
local politics, and then by 1820 moved with his children to the family
estate in Cuba
where Heloise and Francisco probably died. In the 1830s he was spending
some time in
Mobile as can be seen from the baptisms of his and Laura Manuella
Centeno's children.
Also, he had addresses in.the Mobile City Directory in the 1830s. The
1837 Mobile City
Directory lists James Innerarity's address as St. Joachim between St.
Anthony and St.
Louis. In 1838 his address is 130 St. Louis. There are no buildings
from that date at
those addresses now. In the 1842 City Directory of Mobile James
Innerarity's residence
is "beyond 3 Mile Creek". In his letters to his brother he writes
"Bellona" as his address.
This must have been his suburban home in Mobile beyond 3 Mile Creek.
(35)
-----Original Message-----
From: robert register
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 2:44 PM
To: ninneraritycrea@myfamily.com
Cc:
Subject: I Wonder Who They're Talking About

Nedra:
From "Platter of Glory"


Cat Island, January 19, 1815


..It is confidently said that we have to thank the kind officers of
some person or persons in Kingston for the formidable position the enemy
took(allowed by the oldest Wellingtonians to surpass anything they had
ever beheld), as accounts were transmitted from Jamaica for Florida, on
the first whisper of transports being taken up for the Expedition,
which gave the Americans an opportunity of almost rendering their position
impregnable.



In the same article, it was said that in November 1814 the Brits had
80 warships at anchor in Negril Bay, Jamaica, before sailing for the
invasion of Louisiana.
best,
r

Hey "Cuba, Alabama" fans, check out mah ole pahdnuh's site, capn skyp (a.k.a. ken babbs) at http://skypilotclub.com

Kevin Pake has this photo autographed by Wavy G.

nedra:

From Frank Owsley, Jr. "British and Indian Activities in Spanish West Florida During the War of 1812, FHQ, '81

Page 118-119
"Nicolls' (British officer who superintended the building of the Negro Fort) decision to consider the John Forbes Company, a trading agency owned by British citizens, as enemies and traitors and his efforts to abduct numbers of their slaves proved to be a serious blow to cooperation between Britain and Spain in Florida. The company was very influential among the Creeks and Seminoles, and it was probably the largest producer of revenue for the Spanish in West Florida. Nicolls looked upon the company's partners, James and John Innerarity, as traitors since they had tried to prevent a Creek Indian war by refusing to sell the Indians guns and ammunition. Nicolls also correctly believed that they were spying for the Americans.
The British forces at Pensacola dealt harshly not only with the Forbes Company but also with Spanish citizens and even government officials. When Marique (Governor of West Florida) refused to make adequate preparations for the defense of the town, James Gordon, British naval commander, threatened to level the city with gunfire. He did not carry out his threat, but he did blow up the Barrancas and move the fort's 200-man Spanish garrison to Apalachicola as virtual prisoners. Some of these men, mostly Negro troops from Cuba, were held captive and used at Apalachicola as a work force until the end of the war. This was done in spite of numerous appeals by Spanish officials for their release.

page 122-123

"....Poor security was another serious mistake the British made in their Gulf coast campaign. The British collected their main force for the New Orleans attack at Jamaica, where they hired boats and gathered supplies from all over the Caribbean. Merchants, especially the supposedly neutral ones at Pensacola, supplied Jackson with numerous accurate accounts of British activities. From the mass of information available it was not difficult to determine the British plan. That the English intended to attack Mobile first was apparantly known to Jackson, who seemed to have been equally well informed of their change of plan. Jackson was waiting in New Orleans with all the force he could muster to halt the British attack. It is fair to suppose that had it not been for the excellence of Jackson's intelligence the British plan would have succeeded admirably at New Orleans, and then with the river open to their navy, the area could have been held for as long as the English wished.
There will be more tomorrow because tomorrow is yet another opportunity to EXCEL!!!!
SALUDOS,
ROBERTO