The Nevada journal., 1851-10-02
NO. 46.
CuBA-.-A GLANCE AT THE ISLAND.
ITS POPULATION, PRODUCTS AND
RESOURCES.


time to come. Its position, population,
products and resources, are therefore
matters of especial attention.
The island is situated between %
deg, IL m. N. lat, and l9 deg. 43 NJ
W. lon. Its length is no 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
sixty to eighty miles in breadth, and,
it measures on its surface about 49,
coo square miles. The eastern part
is very mountainous, and some Of the
peaks are from 1000 to 5000 fesk
above the level of the sea. The val
lies in the eastern department are en-
ceedingly picturesque and fruitful.
Cuba was discovered by ColuEnb,sa
on the 27th October 1902. Ia 1919
Havana was founded. The culiiya-
ton of the sugar cane was introduced
about 1880, and slaves began to bo
imported about four years after
When first discovered, il had an In
dian population of about 100000. The
greater part soon pershed from hard
ships imposed by the Europeans.
Only few half breeds remain in the
eastern department. In 1865 the ex
portion of sugar from Havana in u
year, was comparatively inconsider-
able. The English took Havana in
1862, but gave it up the next year,
in exchange for other possessions and
advantages. During the siege, great
numbers Of the British fell victims
to the vomito. Wany were also poi.
soned or assassinated by the Cubans.
The position of the island is admi-
rable, being within few days sail of
the Atlantic ports Of the United States,
and two and a half days by steam from
New Orleans The soil is geNeral]y
fertile, producing the sugar cane tn
the highest perfection. No part OF
the world is more favorable for its
groYth; and indeed, the climate and
soil admit Of the cultivation of all kinds
of tropical fruits and productions,
which might be cultivated in quantity
to reach ten times the present amount,
as of twenty four millions of acres,
comprising the surface of the island,
only two millions are under culliva>
ton, about three millions being in ma
tural pasturage, FIVE hundred thousand
in artificial pasturage, fourteen mil-
lions in woodlands, and the rest, four
and a half millions, are barren lands.
In the western department about one
fourth of the land is barren, one fourth
in woodlands, and the remaining two
lourths are equally devoted to cultiva.
ion and pasture. In the central
department, about one third is bar
rem land, and only one 37th part
is under cultivation, about an llth
part in pasture, and more than three
tifths are woodlands. In the eastern
department, about twelfth is under
cultivation, about one ffth in pasture,
two thirds in woodlands, and only one
sixth barren.
Supposing the island 10 be divided
into 72 parts, l3 would represent the
size Of the western department, 81 the
central department, and 23 the eastern
department. OF the cultivated land,
one half is in the western department.,
one sixth in the central, and two sixths
in the eastern department. The prin-
oipal agricultural productions are tho
sugar cane, coffee, molasses, honeys
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 1885,
upon whom were employed, according
to the census, but l38,70l person',
giving an average of ll2 hands to
each estate, the expectation Of sugar
from all parts Of the island amounted
to S5o,000 boxes, according to the Gus
tom house returns, which would allow
upon an average, CSC boxes 10 each
estate, or six boxes TO each hand
however, making allowance for the
sugar not entered at the custom house,
as the article then paid an export du.
ty Of one dollar per box, also taking
into consideration that which was con.
sumed in the island, the produce OF
each estate upon an average might be
about 500 boxes, or eight to each
hand nor does this amount appear
too great to allow, when the best lands
afford upwards Of 5000 pounds Of dry
sugar TO the acre. In Louisiana, where
the best lands produce about 5000
pounds to the acre, the average pros
duce of each hand is about 5000 lbs.
Besides the cultivation Of the sugar
cane, large quantities of coffee are pro.