The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1873-12-10
CUBA -THECEM oF rHE ANTILLES

The Island Of Cuba IL the larres st of TIE
! West Indian group in the Caribbean Sea
and the Dpst important Of the Slaaish CO.
| !oniai possessions The coast lius Is one
hundred and thirty miles from Florida,
from which II i separated by The Bahama
Channel; is ninety miles frcm Jamaica,
and one hundred aud thirty from Yuctan.
! The island il about FIVE hundred and fifty
miles ~ length and one hundred and ten
miles in width Ut Cape de Cruz. with nm
averagc breadth Of from fifty to sixty miles.
The estimated area is about thirty-four
thousand eight hundred square miles The
island is interceted lungitudinally by a
range Of mountains which appear 10 have
submarine connection with the heights Of
llayti and Jamaica. From the base Of the
highlands the country opens into extensive
meadows or beautiful plains and savannas.
with occasionally some low swampy lands.
Rivers are few, and consequently large
portion of the territory ii subject TO severe
droughts, yet the undulaiing surface Of the
country. and the distribution of vegetable
forms. give rise to the most beautiful and
varied landscape. The coasts are exceed
ingly foul, presenting reefs and shadows
extending far into the sea. There are.
however; quite number Of excellent har-
bors on all the coasts. incluiing the Ha-
vana. The mineral riches of Cuba have
not yet been fally explored, but ii is
known not be deficient in this respect.
The climate is bot and dry during the
greater part Of tile year. The thermom-
eter rarely gets above eigety-two or below
hfty-three. Snow is never known 10 fall
on the highest mountains, though frost is
found occasionally.
The vegetation Of Cuba is exceedingly
luxuriant. Forests of mahogany, ebony,
cedar and other useful woods abound.
while tue fields are covered with flowers
aud otorferous plants. Sugar, coffee. TO-
bacco and the indigenous maize. or Indian
corn. form the principal objects Of cultiva-
tioh but of these the first is by far the
most important. The land yields two
thousand pounds Of sugar to the acre. The
cofee plantations are confined almost SOLE
y 10 the northern part of the island, and
the tobacco to the Vuelta de Abaio dis
trict. little west Of Havana, where ON
the banks ofthe San Sebastian, the cele-
bTated Havana cigar is made. The roads.
formerly in a most wretchcd condition,
have. OF late years. been much irnproy-
ed and the internal traffic greatly faciIita-
ted BY lines Of railway from Havana 10
Guines, connecting with Batabano. Unia,..
satanzas, Cienfuagos, Csrdenas, Sansa
Clara, Nenvitas. Puerto Principe and osi
er important points on the island. Te.e-
graphic wires follow nearly all railroads.
The population is put down at 1,OOa..
600 which includes l25. 600 for Havana.
The military division is in three depari.
ments-eastern. central and western---o,.r
each OF which is commandant- general.
Havana. the capital. is the greatest CON-
mercial port Of the West Indies. and has
one Of tho best harbors in tbe world. H..
ing deep enough for vessels Of the lnrp,ss
class, sufficiently capacions to recsiye on.
thousand ships Of war and so safe that ves
sells ride securely without cable or anchor.
The entrance is 50 narrow that only sin.
gle ship can pass al time. and is fortified
throughout the whole distance with militia
ry works and artillery. The mouth Is de.
Tended by two strong castles--the Punta on
the west. connected with castle in tie
town. and Moro castl: on The east with
its fixed light one hundaed aud forty-four
feet high. There are four other forts
mounted with heavy cannon and well gar
risouedi and La Cabano. southeast Of Moro
Castle-the strongest fortress OBJ the island.
When viewed from the sea. Havana has
a very picturesque aud beautiful appear
ance. yet on nearer approach il Is found 10
possess but little auiractions Such isa
brief outline of the ripe apple Of the An
tilles-the pride and plague Of Spain; the
key 70 the Gulf Of Mexico. which looms ap
before the world just nov.
bidding fairto embroil the government OF
the United Siatssin war with the totter-
ing Republic at Madrid.
.-s~--s-~~.------
COLONEL MosBY TENDERS ms SER
VICES. Colonel John s. Mosbv called nm