Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-11-23
Correspondence.
For the Newsdealer.
CUBA--.NO. 3.
FACTS.

y
been key to the commerce of the Gulf
and the Caribbean. In the 18th century
fCuba was, a convenient rendezvous for the
marauding expeditions Of the Spanish
The commerce of ghe American Coast,
from the mouth Of the Orinoco to the
mort of Charleston, will naturally radiate
from Havana as a stopping place and rem
desvous. A glance at the map will show
the great Importance of the island to the
United States. and the advantages that
would accrue from its annexation. ltap-
pears likely that Cuba was once joined to
Florida and Y ucatan, but the abrasion of
the water, especial Of the Gulf Stream,
has made an island of it, ~.
2. E1nnt. According to the latest
good authority we can fnd-the American
Y ear Book for 1S69--Cuba is $50 miles
in length from East to West, and from Is
to 1870 in breadth, containing 48.489
square miles. 5.s ~ "
1t is then nearly equal to Holland,
Denmark and Switzerland taken together
"A little larger than the State of New
York, or little smaller than England.
which has about 1000 square miles.
3. Climate. According to DR.. FinlsN
resident physician on tho, island, its
hottest months are July and August, when
the mean temperature is from 80 to SO
Fabreneti. r
Ballou says in his history of Cuba -
Probably no place on earth has finer
or more desirable climate than the main
portion or Cuba with the clear atmos-
phere of the low attitudes, no mist, the
sun seldom obscured, and the appearance
of the stars and sky at night far brighter
and more beautiful than at the North
Miss Bremen says--"There could not
be more beautiful nights in Paradise
For many years, invalids, in search Of
health, have made Cuba a favorite re-
sort. Especially to persons in the early
stages of pulmonary complaints the West
Indies afford most promise Of relief In
the cities and near the swamps the Yel-
low Fever sometimes prevails from the
middle of June to the last of October,
but in the interior of the island it is no
more unhealthy than our own Southern
States. Indeed, even 10 the fever season,
Havana is better place than New Or
leans. But the Yellow Fever is not so
fatal as Pulmonary Consumption in New
Nngland, and when the soil is more gen.
orally cultivated and the sanitary regula-
tions of the cities are improved, there Is
no reason to doubt that contagious tcvers
will gradually disappear.
4. Soil. The Year Book says Of Cuba
-" 1t has soil of the Utmost fertility,
yielding many of the most precious arti-
cles Of commerce" Ballou says in His
tory of Cuba, $50 fertile soil is not
known TO exist in any other portion Of
i the globe 1t sometimes produces three
crops to the year, and in ordinary seasons
two may be relied upon" Nowhere are
the necessities of life SO easily supplied,
or man so delicately nurtured. The rich
est soil of the island is the black, which
is best adapted to the purpose of the
sugar planter, and for this purpose it is
usually chosen. So productive is this de-
cription of land, that the extensive sugar
plantations, once fairly started, win run
for years, without the soil being even
turned, new cane starting up from the
old roots, year after year, with abundant
crops.p The red soil is less rich, and is
generally preferred for coffee. The mu-
latto colord earth is considered inferior.
though still quite productive, and is gen
orally improved for tobacco, being first
prepared with mixture of the other two
descriptions of soil, which, together, 70 m
the richest compost, next to guano, known
to agriculture. ~
| 5. Cultivation and Productions Not
one.tourth of the arabic land is under
cultivation. Something like two million
acres are now devoted to agriculture
The products of the soil may be classcd as
Sugar, Coffee, Indian Corn, Rice, Tobac-
co, Fruits and vegetables, The principal
export is Sugar, of which the annual pro-
duct is 100000, 900 pounds and up
wards. The Coffee crop is 100000
pounds and upwards. The Tobacco raised
is in the ncighborhgod of 100000
pounds. Indian Corn and Rice are not
exported to any extent, but heavy crops
are required for home consumption. Cuba
is famous for Cigars, for Moiasses, and
for Rum. The Fruits and Vegetables she
exports are an important part of her COM
merce. She produces Grapes, exceeding
in money value. her Indian Corn. She
exports valuable woods, as Mahogany,
and she digs coal in such quantities as al
ready to save the forests. u Qo,.all .qg
L W., Go.nxn..- q Nuha liz