The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-30
CUBA.
A Few Facts About Our Near Southeastern
Neighbors- The Products and People Of
the Queen Of the Antilles-0ur Trade
with the Interesting Island.

Neighbors- The Products and People Of
the Queen Of the Antilles-0ur Trade
with the Interesting Island.
Cuba, our near southeastern neigh
Dor, writes Washington correspond
ent of The Cleveland Herald, is at pres
ent of greater Importance to the Unitet
States than any other province, on
commercial relations with which ar
affected by the new Spanish treaty
Our business with Cuba is nearly twic'
as large-including exports and i'm
ports-as it is with Spain and all hel
other dependencies together. During
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1884, the
total of our imports from Spain and al
her possessions was $82, 1872, $40, an6
of our exports to those countries
$24, 908,4 1872, making an aggregate Of
$107, 641, 1853. Our trade with Cuba
was: Imports $57, ISL, 497, exports
$40, 1862, $50, a total of $67, 744, ST.,
leaving but 39,S96,781 for all other
Spanish countries.
Cuba is nearly 800 miles long,
and varies in width from % to
100 miles. 1t contains 1888
square miles, its area being one
eighth greater than that of Ohio,
and one-fifth less than that of Illinois.
The climate, tempered by the sea air
which surrounds it, is very salubriOus.
The temperature is rarely higher than
80 degrees or lower than 60. 1t has a
mixed population numbering, accord
ing to the last census 1921 1884. of
whom about 851, ZOO are males and
671, 900 females. Nearly 100000 of
the people are Spaniards. The re-
mainder comprise 100000 colored,
$4,000 Chinese, and but IL 200 white
foreigners, of whom not more than
4.500 are Americans-a surprisingly
small number considering the contigu-
ity of the island to the United States
and our large trade with it's people.
A movement was recently set on foot
to promote white immigration from
Europe, which has been partially sue
cessful, and the white foreign popula-
ton is said to be on the increase.
Cuba has 81 miles of railway and
1885 miles of telegraph.
Our imports from Cuba are large,
but our exports to it fall far short of
what they should be, and would under
favorable conditions. We buy five
sixths of all that the people of Cuba
produce, but they buy from other for
eign countries much more than from |
us. In recent report the United |
States commercial agent says in rela-
ton to our shipping that if during the
next four years american tonnage
continues to decrease and English
steam tonnage to increase at the pres
ent ratio, the American flag will be seen
only over the American consulate, and
the chief business of the consular Of
fee will be merely to give certificates
Of invoices and to draw bills of health
Tor British steamers" In regard to
he discrimination against American
7essels the agent gives the following
Is an illustration "An additional
under which American
Tessels labor when brought into com
petition with British vessels comes
rom our method of taking tonnage
Measurement. British vessels are
measured with deductions which are
lot allowed to American vessels.
will cite as examples two British !,
teamers which loaded at Sagua this .
ear, the Clanden, gross tons 1871, !.
let tons ,286, and the LENA, gross
ons 1,732. net tons, LA. Had they /;
'een American steamers dues would :
ave been collected on the gross ton 7
age. The difference in these charges,
t 81 per ton, is considerable, and the !,
British steamers thus secure over ours !.
n advantage of about so cents per
ogshead on their carg oes."
The United States consular agent at :
'ardinas says: 1.-The export tonnage =
4 English bottoms is increasing. for >
he reason that the English vessels are !,
enerally steamers carrying heavy =
eight and at less rates than Amerj- :
an vessels can afford to charter for. !.
may not beinappropriate to suggest !,
nat, if ever this island becomes an in =
sgral portion of the United States, the q
npetus which that fact would give to !,
merican ship-building would be very =
reat All the trade, in such an event, :.
ould be coastwise trade and in Amer
AN bottoms"
Our trade with Cuba for the year a
ided June 80, 1884, shows marked u
ecline from that of the previous :.
ear. Our imports were less by 49, :,
y, O37 and our exports by Sc, 1864 9,
he relative excess of imports over - =
Iports is, however, considerably y
eater. Last year they were nearly .
K times as large and the previous = =
'ar less than four times. The =
lance of trade against us is made "
ore apparent by the fact that during =,
% last five years we have imported ~ :,
e products of Cuba to the value of q Q.
'2S,O71, 264, while our exports to that "
land have been but $50, 1851. 81 81
1t is well known that the chief y
'oducts of Cuba are sugar and tobac- "
!. We buy 80 per cent. of the sugar - .,
ported, and more than so per cent. u
the tobacco. During the past five % .,
airs we have received from Cuba %
1877, 66S tons of sugar, more than s. O.
100000 pounds. Last year the %
Mount was 1,191, 233, 634 pounds or a. a,
5000 tons. This is about twenty ~ ~
nr pounds for each man. woman and ~ ~
lid in the United States. This al a,
lgle years supply of Cuban sugar r. f.
st us S43 ESQ, 429, or a little more Nc
an 81 cents per pound. Besides all i ie
IS sweetness, we bought of Cuba 10
38S,734 gallons of molasses for 3.
;.b mo "a 90 xaO 400 Sc