Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-09-18
i Glance at the Island Of Cuba.


The island Of Cuba is likely to form e
subject Of deep interest for some time to
come. Its position. population products
and resources are therefore matters Of es-
pecial attention
The Island is situated between % dec.
~ \. lat and breadth varies from TWEEN
ty-5yc to ninety miles The greatest dis
tauce one can get from the sea. is about
forty three miles. About two thirds of
the Island IS from sixty to eighty miles
IN breadth, and it measures on its surface
about 4G00 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 val
ieys n tbe eastern department are exceed
lugiE picture que and fruitful Cuba was
discovered oy Columbus on the 9th Oct
1892. Iu 1885. Havana was founded
Iac cultivation of the sugar cane was in
troduoed about 1850, and tile slaves began
about four years after When first dis
covered. the island had an Indian popula-
tiou Of about 100000 The greater part
soon persisted under the hardships imposed
by the Europeans. Only few half breeds
remain In the eastern department Of the
island InI755, the expectation Of sugar
from Havana III o year, was comparatively
Ilcgusld ld-rable The English took Hav-
ana il 1862, and gave it up in 1903, In
exchange l9r other possessions and advan-
ta9es. During the siege, great numbers
Of the English fell victims to the vomito
Many were also assasIuated or poisoned
by the Cubans
The position Of the island is admirable
being within a few DAYS sail Of the Allan
tic ports Of the e. States. aud two and
half days by steam from New Orleans
The soil is generally fertile, producing the
sugar cane II the highest perfectiou no
part of the world is more favorable for its
growth aud indeed, the climate and soil
admit Of the cultivation of all kinds Of
tropical traits and productions. which
~ 81 ae cultivated in quantity, to reach
tea Tunes the present amount, Is, of TWEEN
tE-t9ur million acres comprising the sur
tacs of tie island. only two millions are
under cultivation. about three million be-
lag in natural rasturage, five hundred
thousand il artificial Fasturage. fourteen
millions ID woodlands, and the rest. four
teen millions. are barren lands Ii the
western department, about one fourth IF
----iA ia
and tie remaining are equally devoted to
re!tlratl9-- and pas tUraEe, Ia the central
department. about one third is barren land
and 0-ly one tairty-seveuth is under cuI-
t.Tatiou- about one eleventh part in pas
ture and more than three ffths are wood
lands. In the eastern department about
1-l twelfth Is under cultivation. one fifth
IN pasture, tw7-tajrds IN woodland. and
only one sixth barren
SupposinE the island to be divided In
seVentv-hve parts, thirteen would repre-
sent tLc size Of the western department.
tairty-oue the central department. and
tweatT eight the eastern Of the cultiva-
ted land, oue-ha,f Is il the western depart
mont. one sixth in the central. and two
slNtasutls In the eastern department.
The principal aErieu.-g products are
the sugar cane. coffee, m0iasses. honey, /
ram aE. r.ce tobace1- cocoa and cotton
are also produced, with many other minor
articles
Ia 1871. whom Tie number of sugar os-
Ja-e- 81 tile island amounted to I155, up
- which were employed according t. the
c.usG-. but I3-.70i persons, giving an
average If IIZ hands 10 each estate the
the island amounted toabout ~50.0o0 box
o>- according to the Custom House returns
which would allow. upon an average. $50
boxes to each estate. or SIX boxes to each
hand however. making an allowance for
thesuEar not entered ut the Custom House
as the article then paid an export duty of
~ per box. and also taking into consider
alton that which was consumed on the Is
.aHd the produce of each estate upon an
average might be about 900 b0xcs.or eight
-o laca hand nor does this amount ap-
pear too great CO allow. when the best land
affords upwards Of 5000 lbs of DRY sugar
81 the acre In Louisiana. where the best
lands produce about 5C0o lbs. to the acre +
tic average produce of each hand IS about
5000 pounds.
Besides tie cultivation Of the sugar /
cane, large quantities Of coffee arc produ-
ce3 however this article is not So extcn-
sir-Ly cultivated rs It was some ten years
sine when upwards Of fifty million pounds
weight was exported from different parts
If the island Last year. the most favor
able during the last few years showed an
export of but thirty-ive million pounds
of coffee Brazil has been able to furnish
this product ut a lower rate, and conse- /
quentIv that Of Brazil has taken the place
of Cuba coffee. in the markets Of the Uni-
ted States, therefore sugar Is now produ-
ccd in many parts where coffee was once
cultivated. CT the hands have been turned
over to new estates in the fertile regions
in the ucishb1rhood of Cardcnas SC.
The climate and soil Of Cuba in general
are not So favorable for the cultivation Of
coffee as FIR tie sugar cane, tobacco and
other articles, however the eastern dist
rict appears e be well suited t. the pro
Goctjal ( coffee The crop there being mcre
certain a-d the quality q tAc bean iaEa-