Litchfield enquirer., 1851-09-04
LITCHFIELD ENQUIRFR
MTCHFIELD. September {, 1851.
"A Glance at Cnba.

I
 island of Cuba, and as train of events are now in operation which may ulti> mately result in its annexation to our confederacy, 2 few facts respecting it may not bc uninteresting to our readers.
 Cuba was discov cred by Columbus on the 27Lh of October, l492, and Havana was founded 2s years afterwards. The island had at this time an Indian popula, ton of about OO,0OO-the greater parl of whom soon perished under the hard ships. and wars. and vices, brought upon them by the Europeans. Only few half.breeds remain in the Eastern De- partment. The cultivation of sugar cane was commenced as early as 1880, and slaves began to be imported four years afterwards. The English took possession of the island in l7e2. but surrendered it to Spain during the following year for other possessions and advantages. Du- ring the siege. great numbers of the Brit ish felf victims to the vomto, and many others were either poisoned or assassin ated by the cubans.
 The position of Cuba is admirable, be- ing within fes days sail of the Atlantic ports, two and half days from New 
 Orleans, and but few hours by steam from the southern termination uf Florida The soil is generally:.fertile, producing all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables in great abundance. The sugar cane grows luxuriantly, and indeed no part of the I world is better fitted for its successful cultivation. Tue present population of the island IS not far from one million two hundred thousand ; yet nature has made it capable of sustaining ten times that number. Of its twenty -four millions of acres, only two millions are under culti- vation. About four and half millions of acres are regarded as barren lands, though under the more industrious and .killful hand of the yankee agricultural ists, much of those barrens might be made to blossom as the rose.'
 [ Aside from the sugar cane, the prin- cipal products are coffee, molasses, hon. ey, wax, rum, tobacco, rice, cocoa, cot ton, &c. The other articles of produce and export are. tropical fruits, yams, ar> row root, Indian corn, castor oil, mahog ony, cedar, lance wood, and other kinds of hard woods. Cattle to the number of 100000 head are owned in the island /: besides about 200,UUu ho.see. and 50. .- 900 mules. The annual product of the vegetable and animal creation, is put down at 75,OrO,0OO. -., l In minerals Cuba is very rich-there being no less than three hundred and thirty seven copper mines. The mine at Cobre. worked by an English company, has shipped from 27,ooo to 43,ooo per annum, valued at two and half to four and a half millions of dollars. Coal, iron. silver and amianthus have also been dis covered. | About two thirds of the island is from sixty to eighty miles wide. and it's entire length is seven hundred and seventy miles-embracing an area of about 4O0O English square miles. The eastern part is very mountainous and broken, some 0, its peaks rising to the height of eight thousand feet above the level of the sea The valleys are exceedingly picturesque and fruitful, and some of the plains at the western end are extensive. There are about fourteen millions of acres of wood land.
 From all that we have said. it need not I be inferred that we are anxious that Gu, ba should form one of tho States of our union; nor yet might we oppose sueh scheme of annexation if it could be ac, complished on honest and honorable grounds. But the origin of the project of revolutioniaing that country is essen tially southern, and the great object ol instigators is, to promote the interests of the South. Finding the limits of sla- very prescribed on our continent, they are ready to grasp the islands of the ocean and under the plea of extending republication. they would fasten upon us new domain wherein they may per- I petuate and strengthen their beloved and most peculiar institution Against the snocoss of snch a causs wa nav Snfe1v