Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-01-07
CT L B B | y G.
Cuba.

A the question oil obtaining the Island Of
Cuba has been frequently brought before the
public, and espe tally 50 IS the President in
his late nc-ease TO Congress, We give the fol-
lowing statistics of this much coveted Island,
taken from authentic sources
Cuba was discovered bv Columbus on the
18th Of Oct, 1892. He first named the
island Juana; it wa. afterwards called Fer
nand,na, and then Santiago It's Indian
name of Cuba, has outlived all the other
names. The aborigines were mild and in
Ilsnt, ard were therefore very easily con-
verted 70 Christianity By the Spainsrds.-
The latter made the first settlement, on the
Island in ISL, and have retained possession
OF it ever since. In 1862, Havana was ia
ken possession Of by the British, but was re-
.tered to the Srainaris again the next year
Ia 1889 and 1921, permission was given to
foreigner. to bring slaves into the Island;
and continued down to the year 1911.
Cuba i. situated abou, $50 miles South Of
Florida. 1t is about third larger than
Hayt, and nearly FIVE times she size of ia
n,aica. 1t 10 about $50 miles in length from
Est 10 West. with an average width o!
about 50 nils is estimated area IS 81 500
square mites Coas, line about 20o0 miles.
The interior is mountainous, the highe.
elevation reaching s.oe feet There are no
rives ofany magnitude and large portion
Of the Country is subjected TO severe droughts
N,ne Of its streams are navigable. oaN for
email boats, and but for Il few miles inland
The climate is hot and dry during a great
part of the year. The mean temperature is
TO-. In the interior &c. The hottest
months, July and August, do not give
greater average than s3S g.; and the coolest,
December and January, present the mean of
69s s.. Rain often descends in torrents
from July to September. No snow is ever
known to fall on the highest mountains
Frost occurs frequently. Vegetation is ex-
ccedingly luxuriant. Forest. Of mahogany.
ebony, cedar, flstic, and other useful woods
abound. The principal cereal cultivated is
the Indian corn. Two crops Of it are OBJ
tanned in the year. Rice is produced in
considerable quantities in some districts -
The principal crops are sugar. coffee and to-
hacco. 4 considerable extent OF country :,
appropriated TO withdrawing farms. The
ao,nsstic animals are the OK, horse and pig
There are some sh, er, goats and mules.
The quantity of sugar produced per acre
ia estimated a, little over 1000 pounds, be
ing better than Jamaica, bur i.lls short o,
what 10 produced in Barbados The COTE.
phRations AZ confined to the North side Of
the leland The bcst tobacco PRODUCE /,
little West Of Havana. and in . dis,rie,
about "a miles in lengsh and q il breadth
The embarrassing farms a,e aid to be IL 4
Furnishing condition.
10 1852 there were in Cuba 1850 sueal
plantations, l2ls coffee, SIPS cattle farms
u Chocolate plantations, pa cotton planta
tons. 34439 fruit and vegetable farms, 1914
tDhacco plantations. and 22S4 farms devoted
~ the production Of honey. The produc,
ior that year, (lsa2.l was .29l ,3O9 cwt. .
sugar. coffee. Isl. .22a swt.. tobacco IA ON
cwt., molasses 2t7 ,is5 hhds.. brandy 80 Al
pipes. honey l06,l75 bills. and heeswa,
ls725 cwt. Yhs export of sugar mere shau
doubled from lS3. ~ 1919. and exceeded ia
value all other articles Of commerce. Tn,
chief Imports are gram and h,ur, saltel
M ats, fish, cheese. brandy. VII egar, wines
spices. fruits. and cotton and linen manufac
tures. which to the value of S5,62N,Ott
w~se inp'ptea from l;rest Britain and Ire
land during the year ssdnx Dec. 1853
The total value of imp rt. into Cuba fsou
the I 5. 1851. was $6.52a. l2s. of which
sa.rs than AiS millions WAS in American
bottoms. Tia totl sapors into the &. s
Vas 81 .ci6,as., gisa.sr a1osns thar