Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-09
Special Correspondence of TIE EVENING STAR:
&c pyrixhted 1851

Special Correspondence of The EVENING STAR:
&c pyrizhted 1851
VALE DEL AGUACarE, CUBA, June 4, 1855
From an earnest study of the subject during
this visit TO- and in previous periods OF travel In
Cuba ! believe that one-half OF the entire south
ern slope of the island is cUltivable as the finest
coree-lSnds OF the world II but one-third should
he So that would equal an area OF nearly 5000
square miles. or over 1ve million acres Sup
posing the United States owned Cuba after one
billion dollars IN valuable commercial woods had
been cleared aud Sold note its value for coffee cul-
ture. one acre OF land will sustain an average
growth OF 400 coffee trees. \ low estimate OF the
annual yield would be one pound OF marketable
coffee per tree. or 400 pounds per acre. That
would equal possible annual yield Of 000 900
pounds, or 100000 tons-but 100 600 tons less than
the annual production of coffee in all countries,
and nearly three times the amount annually con-
sumed In the United Statesi This is no dream.
IL is far possible under United states owner
SHIP OF Cuba than that the 10000 odd square
miles OF Dakota, which In 1853 was regarded by
good authorities as yllueless desert-land, should
within TWO decades become the vast and exhaust
less granary OF a nation
SPAIN THE OMIT OBSTACLE.
All natural conditions fayoring precisely this
stupenGous development exist within the region
described Just such vast area, not a one-hun-
dredth part Of It under cultivation to-day lies at
the proper altitude, from LOCO 20 5000 feet above
The sea Soil, climate, protection from chilling
winds, are all properly provided An exhaustlesS
vegetable soil OF from ten 10 thtrty-six feet in
the GuineS valley. covers the entire area The ci-
mate Is more perfect for coffee culture than in the
famed Arabian wales OF Yemen. No chilling winds
cross the central Cuban mountain ranges to in
Jure bloom or bud or fruit berry upon these
gentle slopes which ever turn their radiant
reaches 10 the warm and glowing sun. But
one reason exists WHY, as ours competing with
no present or possible future development
OF our own, and adding incalculable wealth
ana resource 10 our nation, IL could not
become the coffee garden OF the GLOBE. Spain,
Cising the most bartdrOus and brutal govern
mental powers known THIS side OF the dark ages,
curse and insult TO nineteenth-century ciyiliZa-
tion, threateningly sits at our very DOORS rObbing
the properties, destroying the ambitions anu
efforts, and sucking the very nfe-olood, from a
brave and kindly people, hall century ago ours
by every valOrous EFFORT and holy aspiration that
can stir the souls OF men, And We nation OF
emaSculated pretensiOnists, higtle-haggling over
internal dead issues OF wraithnIl past, and poth
ertng over sentimental issues OF a century TO come,
cowartly beyond human expression, permit the
danger. loss, and shame.
THE ORIGINAL COFFEE TREE.
According TO De Tour the original stock Of all
West India was cOffee-tree presented by the
magistrates OF Amsterdam 10 Louis XIV, In I715.
and thence introduced into Hayti and san Do
Llingo by the French Haytiens. Its Introduction
here was from Haytt- It's chief stimulus came
through hundreds Of refugees from the constant
revolutions IN Hayu and san DOuingo; and prob
ably cOnee-culture reached It's greatest prosperity
In cuba during the nrst quarter or this century,
when Its annual production reached nearly an
hundred million pounds. Then IL was that the
planters or these noble valleys were richie. than
princes; frequently owned thousands OF slaves
each; lived In n lavish HxuTtance, the lingering
legends Of which are untellable from their appa-
rent aosurdity IN the practical thought U; to-day;
the sea, was the then paris chiquiIO" or little
Paris" OF the Antilles, whose wealth, spendor and
New World.
COFFEE NEGLECTED FOR SUGAR
But by 1875 the enormous pToits on sugar
were temptation 10 neglect coffee; and by 1850
the annual product OF Cuba barely reached fifteen
million pounds. Then came the Cuban revolution
Of rs, and Tor eight terrible years the struggle Tor
freedom from Spanish rule, whose greatest sacri-
nceS and most desperate ventures were made
among the yalorous Cubans OF tAis region was
further harm 10 coffee culture; and since the
patcheti-up peace OF ZdnJOn the magnificent coffee
lands OF cuba have laiI practically idle beneath
the rODOeT1es OF the spanish officials and the deS
peTate enervatiOn Of planters VINO see no hope but
ia the strong SuccOr OF the United States Govern
ment, and hope against hope in the face OF our
own Indifference and cOInpdssOulesS silence. With
In the past Few years, however, there has been an
appreciable renewal OF efforts IN this direction
The continued low prices OF sugar and losses and
harrassmenIs OF SUsar-plaEters have effected an
exchange OF Industries; many owners OF coffee
Janus looping Tor some sort OF relief from the
United states. or any foreign power that would
assure respectable government, and the invest
meat or many millions OF American capital In
coffee nncaS or properties with the same hope OF
American recognition OF American interests have
put this industry Of stupendOus practical posi-
biIities into what may be best described as tan-
tatively expec:alt state.
II SHOULD BUY OF TAKE CUBA
to-day, within I'VE years time this whole southern
Cuban slope would become bed OF snow-white
eoffee-bloom; and the $4,000 tons OF coffee an
Iually consumed by the citizens OF the United
states would be delivered 10 these consumers by
our own citizens, who would then furnish IL at
cost OF DuJ title more than One-half that is
now paid-or say, reduction or at least 10 cents
per pound This would effect an annual saving 10
The whole people OF between SO, 600 coo and sIO-
100000 thus only three years equal saving on
this one item, not taxing into account the vast in
crease OF national wealth IN the acquisition OF
many equally valuable cuban resources would
buy Cuba outright Hall the sum Of one years
savings COutd tsIke a. suppose portion OF That
mighty anu troublesome surplus at Washington
which, as estimated by secretary Fairchlld In De-
eenOer last, Will reacn $40 600 600 at the end OF
this nscal year" be applied To making Cuba one OF
our UniIed states?
COFFEE CULTURE Is NOT DIFFICULT.
II Is very profitable. And a coffee plantation in
bloom Is the most beautiful spot on earth II a
planter decides TO begin at the beginning and Gre
ate his own "1nca' or coffee plantation, there Is
rrst the selection OF ground. This Is not difcult
Tor coffee tnriyeS anywhere In a proper climate
and fairy well-drained soil level surface ls moi
necessary, though usually chosen. Hillside reaches
and even hillOcks answer admirably. The selec-
ZION OF seed Is simply matter or choice. seeding
Is carried ON after this fashion: An especially nch
bit OF ground i chosen where the semieroo or seed
bed Is made In this, In drills not over one inch
neep and about ten inches apart, the coffee
beans, stripped OF their outer husk, but RETAIN
Ing the second or inner shells, are gently laid
anu barely covered with loose soil some six
months are required for termination, sproutlng
anu sufficient progress OF the plant TO render
transpl4ntlnS successful Then the young shoots
are placed In the alInacga or nursery-grOund from
ten 10 Twelve months from seeding. Here they re-
main under sufficient amount OF cultivation TO
Keep the soil loose and mellow and prevent weeds
from collecting for about two years. They have
Deen set eighteen Inches apart and fully nifty per
cent more IN number than Will be required have
been allowed 10 grow, 50 that the most vigorous
plants may be selected for permanent use.
LAYING OFT THE PLANTATION
When the latter stage Is reached the entire
plantation, where Is sufficiently level 70 permit
Is laid out In rectangular plats OF about two hun
dred varas or six hundred feet long and half that
width, with cainiDos or roadways OF from twelve
10 nlteen Ieet between the plats. The plants or
cOnee-trees as they are now become, are set in
cr0Ssrows about twelve feet from center TO center
In each direction. This done, and the roots well
So - Tor the roots develop rapidly and pro-
tGsely, throwing out myriadS OF 1bres from
q great earrot-shaped tap which often reaches a
Iensth OF ten feet-and your plantation is provided
WIN cOree-orchard which with a fair amount CT
care and attention VIII need no removal OF trees
Tor from quarter 20 half century, and Will In
crease In Yield each year until about the fifteenth
year, when the trees may be said 10 have attained
thelr Jest bearing age; though many Will continue
increasing In Yield until two-scOre years old.
IN THEIR FoCRTH YEAR
each tree under average conditions Will yield a
pound Of marketable coffee. The average Increase
per year is about half pound so that an ordinary