The southern press., 1851-08-29
cuba---A Glance at n. Island.

| Irs POPULATION, PRoDUcTs AND RESOURCES
The Island Of Cuba is likely to form subject
OF deep interest for some time TO come. Its po-
stion, population, products and resources are
therefore matters of especial attention.
The island is situated between 23 deg. IL
min. N. lat. and 10 deg 43 min n lat It's
length is ITO English miles--its breadth varies
from 25 to 90 miles. The greatest distance one
can get from the sea, is about 43 miles. About
two-thirds OF the island is from 80 to 80 miles
in breadth, and it measures on It's surface about
1000 English square miles. The eastern part
is very mountainous, and some of the peaks are
from 1000 to 5000 feet above the level of the
sea. The valleys in the eastern department are
exceedingly picturesque and fruitful Cuba
was discovered by Columbus, on the 9th Octo-
Der, 1892. In 1919, Havana was founded Toe
cultivation of the sugar cane was introduced
about 1880, and slaves began to be imported
about four years after When first discovered,
the island had an Indian population of about
100000. The greater part soon pershed under
the hardships imposed by the Europeans. Only
few half breeds remain in the eastern depart
ment In 1855, the expectation of sugar from
Havana in year, was comparatively inconsder-
able. 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
ponuo. Many were also poisoned or assassi-
mated by the Cubans
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 from New O,Ieans. The soil is general
ly fertile, producing the sugar cane in the highest
perfection; no part of the world is more favor
able for its growth, and indeed the climate and
soil admit of the cultivation of all kinds of tropic
al fruits and productions, which might be cul.
tvated in quantity, to reach ten times the pre-
sent amount as, of twenty -four millions acres
comprising the surface Of the island, only two
millions are under cultivation, about three mil
lions being in natural pasturage, 100000 10 arti
fetal pasturage, fourteen millions in woodlands,
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 wood
lands, and the remaining two-fourths are equal
ly devoted to cultivation and pasture. In the
central department. about one third is barren
and, and only one-37th part is under cultivation,
about / lth part in pasture, and more than three
ffths are woodlands. In the eastern depart
ment about a 18th is under cultivation, / 18th in
pasture, 3 3dsin woodland, and only 9th barren
Supposing the isllnd to be divided into ~
parts, l3 would represent the size of the west
ern department, 3 the central department, and
% the eastern. Of the cultivated land, one
half is in the western department, one-sixth in
the central, and two-sixteenths in the eastern
department. The principal agricultural produc-
tons are, the sugar cane coffee, molasses honey,
rum, tobacco, wax, rice; cocoa and cotton are
also produced, with many other minor articles.
In 1871, when the number of sugar estates on
the island amounted to 1928, upon which were
employed, according TO the census, but 13S,70l
persons, giving an average of ll2 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, $50 boxes
to each estate, or six boxes to each hand; how
ever, making allowance for the sugar not entered
at the custom-house, as the article then paid an
export duty of 81 per box, aud also taking into
consideration that which was consumed in the
island, the produce Of each estate, upon an aver
age, might be about 900 boxes, or 8 to each
hand; nor does this amount appear too great to |
allow, when the best land affords upwards of
5000 pounds of dry sugar to the acre. In Lou
isiana, where the best lands produce about 1900
pounds to the acre, the average produce of each
hand is about 5000 pounds
Besides the cultivation of the sugar cane, large
quantities of coffee are produced; however, this |
article is not so extensively cultivated as it was
some ten years SINCE when upwards of fifty |
millions pounds weight was exported from the |
different parts of the island Last year, the |
most favorable during the last few years, showed
but an export of thirty-fve millions pounds Of
coffee. Brazil has been able to furnish this pro
duet at a lower rate, and consequently that Of
Brazil has taken the place of Cuba coffee, in the
markets Of the United States; therefore, sugar
is now produces in many parts where coffee was
once cultivated, or the hands have been irned
over to new estates in the fertile regions in the
neghborhood of Cardenas, etc
The climate and soil of Cuba in general, are
not so favorable for the cultivation of coffee as
for the sugar cane, tobacco and other articles ;
however, the eastern district appears TO be well
suited TO the production ofcolfee, the crop there
being certain, and the quality of the bean in
fntely superior. A hily or rather mountainous
country seems to be the most favorable to tie
tree.
The celebrated Mocha coffee, which Is indi-
genous 10 Arabia and TO that part of Africa on
the opposite side Of the Red sea, grows without
on the rocky sides Of the mountains
After coffee, tobacco is the next article of
produced There are various kinds,
which derive their different qualities from the
peculiarities Of the soil in which they are cul-
tivated
The most esteemed is that which is produced
in the Vuelta Abao, about hundred miles west
Of Havana, in the jurisdiction of New Filipiana ;
Of this the finest Havana segars 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 II is impossible for
a manufactures, always to supply the same qua.
lity of segars.
The next to the tobacco Of the Vuelto A baio,
is that called apartido," some of which is very
good, and is used in making those segars Of
which astonishing bargains are very often OBJ
tanned. There is another kind Of tobacco grown
in the western department, IN which the two
classes mentioned are grown; it has a coarse
leaf, and is called. "De Veults Arriba !" also the
TOBACCO grown in the eastern department goes
by that name, Of which there are two kinds, the
Santiago de Cuba tobacco and the Yara The
Yara tobacco is sometimes very fine, and of this
.s..,e best Principe segars are made. Many per
sons have sown the Yuelta de Abnio seed ip the
States, but never have they been able 10 raise
tobacco from II in any respect similar In flavor
to the original kind The soil gives the flavor,
Io1