New-York tribune., 1869-04-10

Cuba.-... '-.'''.''''' |iO'
This table was made out by Mr.. Poey, one of the
aulUot and rioiet os tl~ rnhan nlanters. Comment
ing upon it he says that the 209 arrobas creued
the island ought to be reduced per cent of mie on
molasses. ESQ that the production, vigorously
estimated does not exceed 9O arrobas to the cabal
loria Don Carlos RevellO estimates that the average
product of Cuban ingenios or sugar-mils is 1857
boxes of sugar of II arrobas, and that each one OF
them has not less than 1874 eaballerias OF ground
the value of which is at least s69,5iO Considering
this small production for so great an
extent of farm, Mr.. Poey urges q more
intense cultivation of the soil believing that the de-
cadence of the Cuban crop is owing in great part to
the unproductiveness Of capital invested in lands OF
which the planter has no need. According to statis
tics of 1861 each ingenio had 116 aborers aud it is
a fact, notwithstanding says Mr.. Poey, that in
many of them "A hands from 12 TO 70 years Of age
would have suiced for their product Of lSS7 boxes
1t results them that there is excess OF labor OF Il
hands for each of these ingenios which If valued ct
$500 for each hand would represent barren capital
Of s5G,sOO. In adopting the cultivation tRteHsiro
Mr. Poey argues that less land Will be en-
ployed TO little purpose, and that as the
distances from various points OF labor on the plana
ton will be diminished there will be an economy of
negroes, oxen and carts which does not exist to-day
tinues increasing the prices Of all he consumes by the
way in which he squanders labor and means.
II tis calculated that the plantations Of the island
only yield four per cent for all the capital represented
in them Hero is fact that ought 10 astouish those
who. to this day, are inclined to believe that tho
planter IL he is not in war; is rolling In wealth.
"From 30 poor product" says our island publicst,
"must be deducted insurances for fire, which
are so frequent In plantations, for hurricanes,
which are TO be expected once III % years, and for
other risks to which slaves and animals are exposed"
he refers in part TO epidemics. When he con-
tinues, 1T is considered that from what remains OF
SO mean profit the proprietors must subsist, and
frequently pay very high interests which arc never
quite extinguished-how qualify as other than ruin
Gus in general respect, industry so poorly com
pensated 7" Other facts emphasize tins question:
The annual production OF each negro does not
eYceed 13 boxes OF sugar. and as his value
thu, 4, not more 500 63, or IS AZ per month"; IL
s not possible that IL can suffice TO cover the engage
ments and necessities of those who proportion their
calculations TO the absurd belief that the tRgeHo'
arc fountains OF inexhaustible wealth. Imagine
what the slave suffers in degradation, or, practically
speaking how labor is cheapened aud cheated, in this
ruinous delusion Of the planter The poor prolis
swallowed UP in debt indicates what kind Of fare Is
allowed tho negroes, and i suppose the 4 per cent
which must cover subsistence, interests nsurances,
engagements is in good part extracted out oil their
longevity. HH. u,i.. a... .u.t
The business dono by the plantations upon an
investment which Mr.. Poey valued at $500 900 no
doubt seems great and prosperous. Innumerable
debts have been born OF this error, ana immense
premiums for money The grander the scale upon
which the sugar interest maintains or fancies ITSELF
the greater the blunder and the ruin 1t is not TO DO
ignored that in 1856 the high prices trped the profits
of the plantations but how often can the planter
count upon such golden windfalls 10 illustrate
more thoroughly his diiultes, LET mo again revert
TO the statistics of Mr. Carlos Rebello The cost OF
an ingenio, with the average production OF l.SS9
boxes of sugar is estimated as follows; ''
Lands 655 cabs, at 81, $t,6OO.........!....,, tle2o
Neci,ines houseg animals. nlateriIL -. 70,ge2
d.
T0tal cOSt.. '--''''+V%'fbViv
The ordinary expenses Of plantation are slS25O 1;
those extraordinary 1891 The loss of slave life is
q per cent yearly even taking into account births
The bulk Of slave supplies in erked beef and Goldfish
- A.l.n |, .afrrna IA In