Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1849-09-22
THE RESOURCES OF CUBA.

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tans highly interesting article, upon this subject
The name of Cuba is aboriginal, and IN use at
the time OF its discovery. 1t Is the most westerly
of the group of islands known the Antilles, and by
far the largest in the Caribbean sea In fact, it Is
larger than all the other West Indian islands togeth-
err The greatest length following the curves, is
eight hundred miles; its breadth is very irregular,
varying from one hundred and thrt y-tive miles to
twenty-five miles; its entire circuit 81 coast is in
denied with fine bays and harbors, and is esimat-
ed that there the coast of ba, at least fifty
ports and anchorages, safe and easy OF access. OF
these the harbor of Havana, the Specification of
which Is the harbor, from the Spanish h0ban0S, Is
one OF the finest III the world. The entrance is
very narrow, but without any bar, other obstrnc-
ton, and defended either side by impregnable for
tresses-the Moro and Punta. 1t opens into mag
mhcent bay, capable of accommodating a thousand
ships of the largest class and there is al all times
such depth OF water, that ships of the largest tom
mage come up to the quay. The island is traNerscd
ats whole length by range of mountains, some OF
which attain the elevation of 800 feet the interior
IS well watered by fresh and rapid streams,
which take their rise in the mountains. These
streams abound in fine fish, and in time past brought
down In their beds no inconsderabe quantity OF gold
dust. The shores are low and flat and this peruli-
arty is presented that along the line of coast there
are lnnumerable lagoOns, which, during the 5 ,rm@
tides, are filled with water, from which col
lected large quantities OF salt, for the consumption
of the inhabitants
The scenery of the interior is very beautiful.-
Cuba is rich in mineral wealth, particularly in cop
per, iron and load stone. Gold and silver mines
have been opened and in former times were worked
extensively The copper mines have yielded profit
ably, since a system of internal communication has
been adopted. An English Company is now engaged
working one of these mines. and they have nine
hundred miners in their employ. Iron is very abmr-
dant and OF good quality, load stone is found in great
Quantities in the mountains and large and >aluah e
nf mai have ha,. rod. Of -
species are represented a. very fine \ rich mine if
copper was opened some wears ago. The coal. Gen
erallv, is exceedingly btuninous nearly degenerat-
Ing into asphaum
So productive is the soil that it Yields two, and
in some instances it has been known to Weld even
three crops of corn in the wear During the entire
year, the fields are covered with aromatic herbage
forests of shrubs, succulcnt and twning plants and
trees in blossom OF the alimentary pIants. the
plantan is the principal one, and a native esculent
of the island known as the sweet and bitter yuca:
the former species is used as a vegetable. and the
LATTER after extracting the bitter propctic i made
into bread. The sweet potato VAN and other far
naceous roots, are in great quantities Maze. I'm
dian CORN is Indigenous rice is also cultivated ex-
tensvelv and so are beans and peas. Wheat. at
one time. was grown extensively. bpt the climate
not being well adapted to it. the culture of it was
almost abandoned We learn however that the
cultivation of il is again revived Sarsaplrilla and
great variety of plants and herbs useful for med
ical purposes, are found growing wild
The variety of fruits is extensive. embracing the
chestnut cocoa nut pine apple, amana, or custard
apple. medlar, planain, banana, orange lemon lime.
and different species Of melons. The growth of the
forests comprise the mahogany tree cedar. li-num-
Vita, various kinds of ebony the noble palm tree.
and numerous woods for building
H ricultural. or ornamental gardening. is but
slightly attended to- and although the show plant :
of the tropics flourish in beautiful luxurianre tray
elers COMPLAIN great deal Of the u1u,ity pf the
shade trees, which might. with very little trouble.
be cultivated and trrinei into groups. empowering
the rural dwellings of the planters. and protecting
them from the fierce beams of the noon-dav sun
The riches of the Island consist IN its great ari-
cles of export-sugar, coffee, tobacco wax, cocoa.
molasses, rum, maize SC
OF these sugar is bv far the most valuable article
of culture and exportation The increased proGuc-
ton of this staple is most wonderful. and it will