Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-23
COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF THE AN
NExATION OF CUBA.

6Rtbt41 OCOOl1C OOAA R11NASN0' 49,
strongly this feeling develops itself.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Ne,c York Times, the Grant organ IN
the Empire City, writing on the 18th
inst, statesthat ''prominent gentlemen,
who have heretofore been opposed to
the acquisition Of Cuba. now express
themselves in favor of such measure.
The argument they adduce in favor OF
this proposition.is that 'the Spanlards
receive from the United States many
million dollars annually for such arti-
cles as we import from Cuba, while the
United States are, owing to restrictions
and arbitrary trade regulations, almost
excluded from commercial advantages
in the matter Of exports" AS one IN
stance of this truth, the fact
is cited that the export of flour
amounts nearly to prohibition, it being
carried first to Spain, and thence to
Cuba at duty of So barrel, and SO of
other American products. The cores
pondent adds: ''These gentlemen
would prefer a new commercial treaty,
provided one could be obtained on just
and equitable terms, with reasonable
guarantees for it's faithful execution;
but as the Spanish Government has
shown itself powerless to enforce its
authority in Cuba, and from the fur
Their fact that our own commerce has
been frequently interfered with by the
Spanish authorities, the most certain
way of relieving ourselves from present
and future trouble would be to acquire
the island in the best way possible"
Viewed simply from a commercial
standpoint, the annexation Of Cuba to
the United States would perhaps be a
very desirable thing. The island is
rich in resources and productions which
would make its acquisition extremely
valuable. In the mountains Of Cuba
are found mines of platinum, gold, sill
yer, iron, lead, and especially
copper of the most superior quality.
There are likewise found amianth, load
stone, stone coal, asphaltum, marble,
alabaster, granite, jasper, cornelian,
agate, opal, rock-crystal, antimony,
bismuth, kaolin, gypsum, slate, serpen-
tine, syenite, and rock-salt. The waters
of the island contain more than seven
hundred kinds of fishes; the turtle, tur-
toise, the lobster, and a diversity of
oysters and shell-fsh also abound.
There exist in the woods more than two
hundred and fifty kinds of birds, be-
sides the domestic fowls. The deer and
the wild boar abound, but there are no
ferocious animals nor vipers. Thepro
ducts Of the forest are especially rich,
mahogany, ebony, cedar, rosewood,
fustic, the oak, pine, and a multiple
ity of other hard and beautifully
grained woods growing abundantly on
the mountains and plains. The apple,
the pear, the peach, the grape, the fig,
and other fruits of temperate climates,
are produced in the mountains; and the
variety of medicinal and aromatic
plants which grow there is innumera-
BILE In the valleys the cultivated grass
grows to the height of six or eight feet.
The great agricultural products
are tobacco and sugar, in addition
to which there are produced
excellent coffee, cocoa, cotton,
indigo, vanilla, ginger, blue, wheat,
corn, rye, barley, gum-elastic, and all
the grains, fruits, and vegetables COM
mon to the tropics.
The commerce of Cuba, as might be
supposed from the nature and variety
of its resources and productions is
large and profitable. The exports in
clude sugar, tobacco, brandy, coffee,
copper, wax, honey, molasses, cotton,
hides, cocoa-oil, beautiful woods, and
fruits; and imports flour, wines, liquors,
ierked beef, rice, Goldfish, glassware,
hardware, machinery, cOOperage mater
ials, pine and resinous wood, slaves,
etc, for sugar, fur-stuffs, and other
manufactures. The chronic disorder
which has reigned in the island during
the past five years has tended material
ly to interfere with its industries and
commerce. In 1866, or three years be-
fore the outbreak of the insurrection,
the total amount of the products and
annual income of Cuba was as follows,
the figures given being the latest that
are accessible as showing the actual
producing capacity Of the island:
Is $50 houses, annual rent. sic, 260 ,O60
1926 cattle estates, having N0,79S
cattle, 1920 horses, 3,342
mules $40 800 hogs, 34,813
sheep and goats. ....-......... 5,2o6, loO
.365 sugar estates, producing ,12l >
351, $50 pounds sugar, with mo-