Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-08
c,,,,o. Glance at Isiand-Iss Population, Pro-
ducts and Resources.

The preatest distance one can get from the sea Is a.
hont AZ miles. About two-thirds OF the island are
60 eO IN 20 miles in breadth: and it measures on
-. surface about 1000 English square miles. The
eastern mart is very mountainous, and some OF the
noaks are from 1000 to 5000 feet above the level of
the sea- The valleys in the eastern department are
o~coed;nolv picturesque and fruitful Cuba was dis
covered 6v Columbus the 9th of October, 1892
In 1910 Havana was founded The cultivation of
the sugar cane introduced about 1850 and slaves
began to be imported about four years after. When
first discovered the island haa All lnalan population
of about 100000. The greater part soon persisted
under the hardships imposed by the Europeans
Onlv few half-breeds remain in the eastern de-
partment. In 1855 the expectation OF sugar from
Havana in year comparatively inconsiderable.
The ENGLISH took Havana in 1862, and gave it up
AGAIN in 1863 in exchange for other possessions and
advantages During the siege great numbers of the
British fell victims to the Uomlto. Many were also
poisoned or assassinated by the Cubans.
The position of the island is ad mrabe, being with
in few DAYS sail of the Atlantic ports of the Uni
ted States and two and half days by steam from
New Orleans The soil is generally fertile, produc-
ing the sugar cane in the highest perfection
part of the world is favorable for its growth
and indeed the climate and soil admit of the Guilt
walton of all kinds of tropical fruits and productions
which might be cultivated in quantity to reach ten
times the present amount, as, of twentyfour million
acres comprising the surface of the island, only two
millions under cultivation about three millions
being in natural pasturage, five hundred thousand
and the rest, four and half millions, are barren
lands. In the western department about one-fourth
of the land is barren, one-fourth in woodland and
the remaining tWo-fourths are equally devoted to
cultivation and pasture. In the central department
about third is barren land, and only onethrty
seventh part is under cultivation, about eleventh
part in pasture and more than threeffths are wood
land. In the eastern department about twelfth is
under cultivation, about one-ffth in pasture, two
thirds in woodland, and only one-sixth barren.
70
Is would represent the size of the western depart
ment, 81 the central department. and % the eastern
Of the cultivated land, one-half is in the western de-
partment. one-sxth in the central, and two-sixths
in the eastern department. The principal agrlcul-
tural productions the sugar cane, coffee molas-
ses, honey rum tobacco wax, rice cocoa and cot
ton also produced, with many other minor arti-
Giles.
In 1841, when the number of sugar estates on the
island amounted to 1888, upon which were employ
ed, according to the census but l38, 7Ol persons
giving an average of 1l2 hands to each estate the
expectation of sugar from all the ports of the island
amounted to about $4,000 boxes according to the
| custom-house returns, which would allow, upon an
average, 686 boxes to each estate, boxes to each
hand however, making allowance for the sugar
entered at the house, the article then
paid export duty of 81 per box, and also taking
into consideration that which was consumed in the
island the produce of each estate, upon average
might be about 900 boxes, or to each land nor
the best lands afford upwards of 1000 pounds of dry
sugar to the acre. In Louisiana, where the best
lands produce about 5000 pounds to the acre, the
average produce of each hand is about 900 pounds
Besides the cultivation of the sugar cane large
quantities of coffee produced However, this ar
ticIe is not so extensively cultivated it
ten years since, when upwards of fifty millions
pounds wei ht exported from different ports of
the island. Last year (the most favorable during
the last few years. showed but an export of thirty
,oFon bo, hoo
to furnish this product lower rate, and conse-
quently that of Brazil has taken the place of Cuba
coffee in the markets of the United States there
fore is not produced in many parts where cot
fee was once cultivated or the hands have been
turned over to estates, in the fertile regions in
the neighborhood of Cardenas, &c.
| The climate and soil of Cuba in general are not
favorable for the cultivation of coffee for the
sugar cane, tobacco and other articles; however,
the eastern district appears to be we'll suited to the
production of Coffee the crop there being more GER
tain, and the quality of the bean infinitely superior.
A billy or rather mountainous country to be
| the most favorable to the tree
| The celebrated Mocha coffee which is indigenous
to Arabia, and to that part of Africa the opposite
side of the Red grows without cultivation on the
rocky sides of the mountains.
After coffee, tobacco is the next article of conse-
quence produced. There are various kinds, which
derive their different qualities from the peculiarties
of the soil in which they are cultivated
The most esteemed is that which is produced in
the Vuelta Abajo, about hundred miles west of
Havana in the jurisdiction of New Filipina of this
the finest Havana cigars are made. 1t costs from
40 to 100 dollars per bale according to the quality
and the crop. Some years the crop is very inferior
so that it is impossible for manufactures always to
supply the quality of cigars. The next to the
tobacco of the Vuelta Abaois that called 'sPartido
some Of which is very good and is used in making
those cigars of which astonishing bargains are very
often obtained. There is another tobacco grown in
the western department, in which the two classes
mentioned are grown. 1t has a coarse leaf and is
called De Vuelta Arrba y also the tobacco grown
in the eastern department goes by that name Of
which there are two kinds to Santiago de Cuba to-
bacco and the fara The Yara tobacco is sometimes
very fne and of this the best Principe cigars are
made. Many persons have the Vuelta AbaiC
seed In the States but have they been able to
raise tobacco from it in any respect similar in flavor
to the original kind. The soil gives the flavor, and
its cultivation cannot be extended in Cuba.
The other articles of consequence produced are
wax, honey, and rice. The two first of these arti-
Giles exported in very large quantities; the last
mentioned article is produced to the amount of 49,
900 terces about "a million of pounds, but is in
sufficient for the consumption of the island so thai
large quantities of rice are imported from Charles
ton Savannah, Spain, South America, and latterly
from Manila however, that from Charleston ii
most esteemed, and from that place the largest
quantity is imported. Wax is produced to the
amount of two million gallons Cotton is little cul
The other vegetable articles are, all kinds of trop
lcal FRUITS sweet potatoes yams, arrow-root cocoa
Indian castor oil, and different kinds of woods
l~,,.,l