Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-08
The Value ofCnhn.

No doubt there are serious objections to the ac-
QUESTION of Cuba by the United States of America
In the first place there is the important want of a
causa belli to Justify anything like forcibe seizure
in not making with Spain such treaties as England
has done, the covenanting with her for the suppress
sion of the slave trade and paying her money as the
price of her consent America has deprived herself
Of justifying for warke proceedings against
Cuba, which she might now have turned to a very
good account. In the second place. successful ar
rangement for the sale of Cuba from Spain to Amer
ica not only labors under the little less than GER
taInty of the powerful veto of England and France
hut presumes that the cautious Yankee would paw
Spain q much larger price for the possessions than
the island would be worth to himself Spanish wri.
tiers Cuba call it the brightest jewel in the Span
iSh crown. Whether it be jewel or not land il
may be So were the fable true which makes each
toad tho possessor ofa Jewell Cuba is at least Spans
richest colo NAL possession, and source of great
part of her revenue The value of Cuba to Spain il
but little known to those who deem the acquisition
of it by the United States by transaction of sale
and purchase matter of probability. Cuba con-
t,ins superfces of 1000 square miles; and bet
ter idea of the extent of it will be formed by the
Englishman, when he is reminded of the fact that
England, exclusive of Scotland, does not contain
above So, 1876 square nils.
The present population of Cuba is estimated at
1400 900, consisting of 900 whites 100000 free
people of color, and 100000 slaves Each of these
slaves is worth from 800 to $50 dollars making the
gross value of the whole between 10000, 900 and
2lO000000 of dollars or, estimating the dollar at
is. between 936. 900 and e42 600 900 sterling,
Again, the value of exports from Cuba during l843,
was within trife of %, 100000 of dollars, 95,-
100000 sterling, its imports during the same year
being 30, $780, 1l9 dollars. In the same year the
number of arrivals of ships at Cuban ports 374O
and the departures 1910. Already there nearly
200 miles of railroad finished in the island, and
above so miles more in course of being made. In
deed, the first railway laid down in the West Indies
laid down in Cuba. This railroad was original
~ formed to connect the capital, Havana, with the
town of Guines, which is distant about 25 miles,
through smooth and fertile country. This railway
is now connected with San Carlos de Matanzas, one
of the principal sea ports of the Island, and pros
porous, though as yet but small town. Other bran
ches connected the railway with other parts of
the coast and thus the whole length of railway
already open is about l96 miles
The engineer of the original line from Havana to
Gunes was Mr.. Alfred Cruger, of America, but
the capital English, being negotiated for in Lon
don by Mr.. Alexander Robertson. The nominal cap
ital was about halfa million, but being negotiated
for at high per centage, it did not produce more
than about G340,000. There also several steam
plying between the different ports of the island,
and, in particular. steamers from Havana to Matan-
zas, sail of about fifty miles; and also steamers to
Cardenas and ST. Juan de Bemedos, calling at inter-
mediate places; besides ferry steamer between
Havana and Regal, on the opposite side of the har-
Dor of Havana. TO this add, that while the island
is fertile, and yields largely at present, and
der deficient culture there is not above twofths of
it cultivated and not only is there very large tract
of country uncultivated, but even many of those
parts which are incapable of culture arc covered
with forests Of mahogany cedars and great varie-
of tropical and other woods of the most valuable
kind. Cuba also contains valuable copper mines,
which worked and which are capable of
being worked to much greater advantage and ex-
tcnt-BQirds Vest Indies.