The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-08


States stands not far behind the more favored Spanish
shipping, and In advance Of English and other foreign
bottoms by several thousand tons The table laid out Ia
enclosure No will convince you of this fact BY 1t you
viii see that the number OF American vessels entered at
this port with full oagoes has been 90 with aggregate
tonnage of 1879 TONS while that Of Spanish vessels
also loaded has been $780, with an aggregate burden OF
20749 and that Of the English shipping which Is
next in Importance stands for the period only with
81 vessels aud IL IbI tons aggregate, att ftn
The articles Of importation into this port from Europe
are principally the following
Ep@taton.
The expectations from this port TO the United States
have of late years increased extent whereas
that of other countries has diminished in the pro-
portion. All the sugar which produced In this district
with the exception of clayed sugar which sent 10
Spain, is exported 10 the northern cities OF the United
States and the trade is active that vessels coming from
Halifax and Newfoundland often obliged TO load for
New York or Philadelphia not TO go back in ballast.
Coffee of first class In hogsbeads exported principally
to Bordeaux and Trieste and small quantity 10 Bremen
but good coffee is comparatively soarce and its expori
ton employs but few vessels The great bulk of coffee
here is used for the consumption of the island and has
so far met with successful competition from the coffee of
Porto Rico, whose importation into the island s not yet
forbidden but understand that the municipality Of this
city has pottoned the Queen of Spain to give the
privileges 10 Cuban coffee have been granted TO
by prohibiting the importation OF amy coffee whatsoever
whether from Spanish on foreign countries Rum prn
cpaly exported 10 SPAIN as that market offers the best
chance to that article. .a3 80
There is very little moasses manufactured in this part
OF the island and 1t is to encourage its extensive
production that vessels entirely laden with it and leaving
the port exempted from tonnage duties The expor
taton OF principally TO Spain and different parts
of the island this article being always thrown aside for
of other countries wherever the latter is not
barrassed by too high duties.
Tobacco exported TO the United ates and Germany
and to Havana TO be converted into segars
The shipping employed in expectation amounts to
nearly the same tonnage as for importation. refer to
the enclosure No. A. which represents the number and
tonnage of vessels sailing loaded for the United States
| and the value of their cargoes
agriculture.
The staple articles of agriculture in this district arc
sugar coffee and tobacco and their cultivation has of
late been much improved by the attention and intelli
gence of some planters. Sugar plantations have been
made in all parts of the country and their number is
still increasing very fast After the introduction into
Havana of the sulphate by Mr. DuVale of New Orleans
agency for its introduction here has been established
in this city it remains to be whether planters
will make of it, and whether if put TO the test il
| will answer
Another agency established here for the rtdciat
9uano but have not heard of its having been used
| yet
The largest and best sugar plantations to be found
| in the neighborhood of Cumberland Harbor Coffee
tates in this district still numerous but their number
has of late years decreased owing to the abandonment
of old lands and of the better opening offered by the
manufacture of sugar, which induces many to leave cot
| foe for sugar plantations.
The best coffee estates lay about twenty-five leagues to
the northeast and twelve leagues to the northwest Of this
city.
Tobacco is raised in large quantities in the ncighbor
| hood of Sagua dc Tanamo, small port on the north
coast between Gbara and Baracoa its quality is of the
BEST and bids fair to equal if not to snpnss that of the
famous Z" Vuela-abao. The preparation of cocoa has
also increased for years past but owing either to
its inferior quality to defect in its preparation IT
does not equal that Of other countries Cotton planta
tons which about twenty years ago represented much
capital hardly to be found anywhere it having
been proved that although the cotton raised is of the
very best quality yet insect which supposed to
from the tree destroys in night entire crop, and
| ruins the planter.
The last crop in the neghborhood of this city was
about 500 900 pounds Of sugar 500 900 pounds of
coffee, 100 pipes of rum 60 hogsheads of molasscs,
5000 gallons of honey, 600 hides, 100000 pounds of
cocoa, 200 pounds of wax and 900 900 pounds OF
tobacco, with 800 900 pounds of scgars. @