Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-09-21
CUBA AND IT'S RESOURCES,

CUBA AND IT'S RESOURCES,
This Island, one of the earliest discoveries
OF the great admiral, has been known TO Eu
rope since 1892, and borne successfully thu
names of Juana, Fernandna, Santiago, ant
Ave Maria, and has found refuge from thi.
confusion of titles in the aboriginal appelIa
ton. The most westerly of the Antilles, il
equals in area that of all the other West In
dies together, and is one of the large islands
which approaches nearest the North Amer
can continent, one hundred and thirty miles
from which, all eminent Cuban naturalist
maintains, by some great CONFUSION of nature
at no very remote day, it has been separated
The length of the island, which extends near
ly east and west, from the "a deg. to IS deg
west Of Greenwich, is about 600 miles, and
its average breadth is about one hundred
between the goth and 25th parallels of north
latitude. 1t is blessed with the prodigal fer.
Utility of tropical climates. while the elevation
OF its mountains permits the productions OF
colder climates TO thrive, This lofty range
OF mountains, extending from Cape San An
tonic to the Pnnta de Mays, divides the island
into two equal portions, and on its declivties
and IN its valleys are regions as fertile and as
healthful as any in the world. Rising to the
height of $500 feet, it contains the sources of
various streams which abound with peculiar
and delicious fish, and bring down no incon7
siderable portion of gold dust, once esteemed
of importance, but which now is neglected
because the labor necessary to collect it, If ex-
pended IN the cultivation of the soil, would
yield thrice the return. The mountains also
abound in other mineral wealth, among which
are copper, iron and the magnetic stone. Sill
yer is also found. The most valuable of these
mines, however, are those of copper, which,
since the completion of a portion of an elab-
crate system of railroads, one hundred and
ninety five miles of which are now in opera
ton, have proved most profitable investments.
Principally in the hands of foreign capitalists,
they employ many thousand miners, the wants
OF whom provide, for the small planters, that
greatest of all projections and announcements.
home market. . .= p
Marble and coal are also known to exist in
inexhaustble quantities, and the value or the
latter Is daily becoming more apparent, from
the rapid consumption of wood by the i'm
mense azUcGriaS or sugar estates 1.-THE Island.
This coal, exceedingly bituminous, is evident
ly an out-crop of the great asphaitum beds
which, in more than one of the Antilles, evince
themselves in the lakes of mineral tar. 1t is
now employed in the gas works of the city OF
and good quality. 9f
The Island abounds in magnificent harbors
one of which, that of Habana named, tradi
ton says, from an Indian goddess of tha
name, a statue of whom is placed over more
than one of the gates of the city, is probably thu
best in the world. With narrow entrance
expanding into magnificent bay, it is capa
bic of enclosing the navy of the world an
from the earliest day has been so carefully
fortified as to be considered impregnabe. Mel
Their history nor scrutiny sustain this idea, for
in the middle of the eighteenth century, al
expedition, under the orders of the British
Admiral Vernon, composed of small force
OF royal marines and few regiments of colo
NAL troops, landed few miles below the city
all the defences OF which, including the Moro
1t carried without unusual difficulty. Tht
new art of war, with its immense batteries
steam and rockets, would certainly reduce tn
place to necessity in very short time. Ma
tanZas, Trinidad, SAINT lago, Cienfuegos, AM
Puerto EscoEdldo, are also excellent harbors
with great natural facilities for improvement
and Notifications.
The climate is, when we consider the lat
tude, salubrious, the year being divided into
dry and wet season. The warmest portion {
the year is July and August. when the mea
temperature of each day is about 81 deg. Fal
renheit The coolest is in December, whe
the mercury ranges at about SO deg, exec
when the wind, known as Ell norte, blows, dl
ring which the instrument shows a rand d.
clension. ea
So fertile a soil is not known to exist in
ny other portion of the globe II has bee
known 10 produce three crops year, and
ordinary seasons two may be relied on. tt
profusion of its flora, the variety of lis forest
are unsurpassed; while the multitude OF
climbing shrubs give a luxurious richness
its scenery, which contributes TO make it o
of the most fascinating countries in he wor
Nowhere is life so easily supported, and
man so delcately nurtured. In addition
the plantation, the yucca, of two varieties /
potato, yam, Indian corn, rice, melons, che
nut, cocoanut, pineapple, amana OF cGsta
apple, medlar, banana, orange, lemon. shade
and lime abound. The growth of the for
comprise the mahogany tree, cedar. lignu
vita, various kinds of ebony, the noble pa
tree, and numerous woods for building.
r On this island, capable of supporting in c
ulence population equal 10 thai,of Spa
are strewn less than million and half
men, of which six or seven hundred thousa
ARE white, two hundred thousand free negro
thutdteOes ana ZdMboS.- "nue ethO teot
slaves. Ii is supposed that but two-fifths
the island is cultivated. the rest being wild
ness. unlnha bited and despoiled, by ruth
Spanish avarlce, of the glorious forest ire
which struck the early nayigators with
much amaZement. -sasrssa3 o :
s4=.s The chief riches of the island result fir
Its exports, which consist ofsugar. coffee,
bacco. wax, cocoa. molassel, honey ri
maize, sc. The first of these is fuhnit
the most important, and is probably the o
one hich is regularly increasing, IN spite