The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-09-25
Upba--A glance 1t the Islant-.;ts ponnla.
ton, Products and Resources.

= AAtSASet AtE some time TO come 4 y
lts position, population, products. and re- !
sources are therefore matters Of especial ate 6
tention h
The Island issitnated between soc IL north
Latitude, and o43' north latitude Itslength L
is az English miles its breadth varies from 4
% to so miles, The greatest distance one
can get from the sea, is about 43 miles. A.
bout two-thirds Of the Island are from go to
$50 miles in breadth, and it measures On its
surface about 1000 English square miles.
The Eastern part is very mountainous, and
lsome of the peaks are from Z, 1000 to 5000 +
feet above the level Of the sea. The yallies
picturesque and fruitful. Cuba was discov-
cred by Columbus, on the 9th of October,
/ 1902, Havma was founded. liberalization
of the sugarcane was introduced about 1880, I
and slaves began to be imported about four
yearsafter When first discovered the Island
had an Indian population of about 100000. |
The greater part soon persisted under the
har3ships imposed by the Europeans. Only
few half-breeds remain in the Eastern De
partment. In 1865, the expectations of SUI
gar frrln Havana year, was comparatively
ineonsiderable The English took Havana
IN 1862, and gave it up again in 1853, in ex-
change for other possessions and advanta-
Iges. During the siege, numbers of the
British fell victims to the vomito. Many
were also poisoned or assassinated by the Gu
bans
The position of the Island is admirable,
being within few days sail of the Atlantic
ports of the United States, and two and half
days by steam froR New Orleans. The soil
lis generally fertile, producing the sugar cane
lin the highest perfection; no part of the world
is more favorable for its growth, and indeed,
the climate and soil admit of the cultivation
of all kinds Of tropical fruits and productions,
which night be cultvatedinq quantity to reach
ten times the present amount, as, Of % mill
ions acres comprising the surface of the IS
Hand, only two millions are under cultivation,
. about three millions being in natural pastUr-
age, 100000 in artificial pasturage, IA mill
ions are barren lands. In the Western De
partment about one-fourth of the land is bar
rtn, one-fourth in woodlands, and theremain-
ing two-fourths are equally devoted to Guilt
walton and pasture. In the Central Depart
. mont about onc-third is barren land, and only
one-thirty seventh part is under cultivation,
about an eleventh part iii pasture, and more
, than threc-ffths are woodlands. In the cas-
tern department about 18th is under culti-
walton, about one-ffth in woodlands, and only
onc-sixth barren.
Surprising the Island to be divided into Il
e, parts, Is would represent the size Of the wcs-
d tern department., 81 the central department,
and 28 the eastern. OF the cultivated land,
ono-half is in the western department, one
sixth in the central, and twn-sixths in the
: eastern department The principal agricul-
+ turll productians are the sugar cane, coffee,
molasses, honey, rim, tobacco, wax, rice; co
Goa and cotton are produced, with many 9th
er minor articles.
: InlS41, when thenumbcrof sugar estates
on the Island amounted to / ,238, upon which
were employed, according to the census, bu
l3S,70l persons, giving an average Of II.
hands toeuch estate, the expectation of suga
from all parts of the Island amounted to abou
$685. 900 boxes, according to the custom hous
a. returns, which would allow, upon an average
IT, $50 boxes to each estate, or six boxes to eac
hand; however, making allowance for the 81
OF gar not entered at the custom-house, as til
a ur article then paid an export duty of 81 pc
ire box, and also taking into consideration tina
lily which was consumed in the Island, the pro
duce of each estate upon an average might b
ne about 900 boxes, or s to each hand; nor doc
or this amount appear too great to allow, whe
the best lands afford upwardsof 5000 pounC
of sugar to theacre In Louisiana, where til
= best lands produce about 5000 pounds to ii
- acre, the average produce of each hand is
bout 5000 pounds.
Besides the cultivation Of sugar cane, larG
Do quantities of coffee are produced; howeve
this article is not so extensively cultivated
it was some ten years since, when upwards
" fifty million pounds weigh was exported fro
ais the different parts of the Island. Last ye
ne the most favorable, during the last few year
ion showed but an export of 35 millions poun'
Of coffee. Brazil has been able to furnish th
product at a lower rate, and consequently tn
Us, Of Brazil has taken the place Of Cuba COTE
CHI in the market Of the United States; therefor
l ",s' sugar is now produced in many parts whe
coffee was once cultivated, or the han
have been turned over to new estates, in t
fertile regions in the neighborhood Of Gard
- mas, &c.
The climate and soil Of Cuba in generi
III are not so favorable for the cultivation Of c,
= fee, as for the sugar cane, tobacco and the OF
nn nm er articles however, the eastern district q
g" y pears to be well suited to the producti
and Of coffee, the crop there being more C
hoes, tain, and the quality of the beau infni
'en- ly superior. A hilly or rather mountaino
III III country seems to be the most favorable TO
lass tree.
iclss The celebrated Mocha Coffee, which is
digenous to Arabia and to that partof Afr
'ssu on the opposite side Of the Red Sea, gro
+ without cultivation on the rocky sides Of
mountains.
oyi. After coffee, tobacco is the next article
a. consequence produced. There are yariC
Eng kinds, which derive their different qualit
s : from the peculiarities Of the soil in VIII
5000 they are cultivated.
IS g The most esteemed is that whichis prod
JED inthe Fueita Abajo, abont 100lniles y
be 6 Havana, IN the jurisdiction of New Fill
obile ina; Of this thefnest ayana segars are ma
's. 1T costs from $40 to $40 per bale, accord
to the quality and the crop. Some years
crop is very inferior, 50 thai & Is iinpossi
SKs, for aInanntactuFer always "a ppIy tie 81
1osa aua itv 81 segara The next Is Tie toba
81 the Vuelta Abajo IS thatcalled partil
some 81 which IS very good and use,
? hlakine those segarsO t winch astonishing
VA pafnN ra vfrv offtn 0btalned 4hele ~