The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-17

OF such motives OF such . system OF govern.
ment, the fruits are such ss we should naturally
expect. The vital, living principle--the soul Of
the nation ID dead; patriotism 10 virtue un
unknown; public spirit. and national enter.
prise, are ideas which the Cuban vocabulary
furnishes no terms to express freedom Of the
press Is unknown, but Of opinion may be exer.
eised, provided your thoughts are new or ex.
pressed; while security for person and property
Is limited TO the range OF the cannon Of the
the Captain General, the supreme dictator, who
is far more absolute In his way than the auto.
crat Of Russia, or the Sultan OF Turkey.
The lecturer here referred to the parental
care" exercised by the Cuban government
over the stranger visiting the "ever faithful
isle" In every movement, at home or
abroad, in the city or country, alone or with
friends, be is the object Of police surveillance
worthy Of the palmy days Of FoUcuE.
rHE DEVELOPMENT AND CAPABILITIES OF
rHK ISLAND.
The lecturer gave q very interesting de-
scription Of the present developement and the
illimitable capacities Of the Island. The area
Of Cuba is about one half that OF Minnesota.
and embraces every variety Of surface, prai-
rie, forest, bill, mountain and valley, includ.
ing oil descriptions Of soil. Thereare six dis
tinct ranges Of mountains on the island, which
contain vast. but undeveloped sources Of min
eral wealth, and are covered with q dense
growth Of valuable timber. Geographers en-
umerate 80 rivers and 30 lakes on the island,
and there are more than 100 bays and bar
bors on the coast The lecturer stated that
II Cuba had no other resources than her
immense, but undeveIopsd mines Of gold,
copper, iron, lead, re-, &c, she would rank
Us the richest island on the globe.
But it is in her agricultural resources and
vegetable productions, that the great wealth
Of Cuba exists. In comparison with the
fertility Of the soil Of the sugar growing
provinces, the speaker said, the richest bot.
toms Of the Mississippi and its tributaries,
are barren a. the plains Of Sahara.
SUGAR PLANTATIONS.
These vast cane plantations, Offer covering
an area Of three and four square miles, and re-
quiring an army Of from five hundred to .
thousand slaves to cultivate. are q source OF
increasing wonder to one acquainted only With
the comparatively meagre productions Of this
less favored cline. Why think Of il! This es
culent so exhausting to ordinary soils here only
requires planting once In from q TO = years. be.
ing reproduced each season by shoots from the
old stock, and growing with such luxurisncs
that when mature, IL Is well nigh impossible
10 force your way through cane field without
hewing path before you; the plants especial.
ly in the district Of Cienfuegos and Csrdenss,
attaining the monstrous size Of upwards Of Is
feet in height and inches In diameter, about
the dimens OF An ordinary stove. pipe. which
il from five TO six inches In diameter. And
this wonderful production 10 continued, not for
five or ten years In succession, but for centuries
without the application Of any species Of man.
ure, or diminishing the quantity or quality Of
the crop. No other country on the globe pro.
baby can produce its parallel aud it will
readily be Inferred that these estates must
yield prIbcely revenues. which i indeed the
case, netting ordinarily from $40, 900 10 t75 600
per annum. according to size and season, but
sometimes reaching from fl0o, 900 to 1850, 900.
Nor IL this marvellous luxuriance, confined to
the cane alone, but 10 Characteristic of every
other vegetable production Of the Island, espe.
cially the other two great staples OF tobacco
and coffee.
In reference 10 Tobacco, the lecturer sta
trd it, quality dspendei entirely upon the
soil upon which ;, is grown. That raissd
in the Vuolta Ahago, or western part Of the
lslaGj, is the fBest produced il the world.
None oi 1t hud- ia way 10 this country, it
being entirely consumed by the wealthy no
btlity OF Cuba sud Spain. A singular TACT
MAS stated large quantities Of Connecticut
tobacco are exported 10 Cuba, and used by
manufacturer there for wrapper Of cigar,
the fngr or Cuban tobacco being 1sed for
filing.
The lecturer referred 10 the Inxurian, and
immense growth Of forest trees, and the va
riety Of the delicious fruits prodnc.d without
cultivation, a. further evidence of the capa-
biii,y 81 III. -Jil
NV c.Issry
Tn lecturers s,aternen, a. 20 the climate
of the Island, surprised and enlightened
more than one listener.
Cabs posse--ss del. ghual climate. of Almo.,
gn.4ga.4ed salgDfty. Ths b. proved not lsss
Is The concurrent testimony of r.sifeb.s, and
-ir4lzsr. sho have visitsd the Island than by
tie s,4t-ic, whc. have been collected b.
medical ag'i 0r'tss ia reference thereto
Amosz the ini "a, and negroes, several ~sil
s4,Ee.t.c aisI cl-c, are cited, within th. last
ntartsr of A century where the aye ~ ia and
II one lB.tauc~ 4 10 year. has teen reached.
ACd anon. ths -g4s.ar5s and CrsOle., the 10.
.iarce- are ru.nsthu. o. persona living 90 IL.
s.s ~ ifsm lJs - ii5 ysaTs, tksr. hAuhs been
Ayrg vthin il3-~ ages 20 less than - n
the year -; bE toe imperfect retaFns then
obtained, An1 -h,c q 1pi not pretend " embrace
tie -k1's poprlat"a Tbs remarkable ssl1
briiy nshi be- rsaspaably expected from the
sqs.lliy 4 lie temperature, and "a freedom