The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-27
BUSINESS IS PARALYZED.
Most of the rIerchants Waiting
For Better Times.
No One Ventures to Predict When
the WAR Will End, But if it
Continues For Another Year the
Sugar Industry VIII BE PROSTATE
ed-Sugar Planters Between the
Devil and the Deep Sea.

NEW YORK. Aug. 26.-The Ward
line steamer Santiago, which has just
arrived here, brought several passen-
gers who could give authentic informa-
ton about the insurrection in Cuba.
Among those on board We're DR.. r. Won
Herff of this city and Mr.. John La
Bourdette, administrator of the Santa
Marie plantation at Guantanamo, which
was recently raided.
In conversation with the reporter, DIR.
Won Herff said:
Il found business of all kinds in San
tiago de Cuba at a standstill. Most of
the merchants were waiting for bet
ter times. Some of them had closed
their doors. Recently the government
issued an order forbidding the mer-
chants to sell any goods or materials
to women and children from the coun-
try. This was done to cut off the in
surrectionists from obtaining any sup
plies from the towns.
Risky Undertaking.
II made, a, short trip from Santiago
to the interior of the country, but it
was a risky undertaking. The railroad
was guarded at several points by Span
ish troops. The province of Santiago
de Cuba is sparcely. settled, the prin-
cipal places being The settlements of
the workingmen on the big sugar es-
tates. Inland the province-in fact
the eastern half of Cuba-is mountain
Gus and covered with dense forests.
When the revolutionists are closely
pressed they take to the woods and it
is. almost impossible for the Spanish
troops to penetrate. The revolutionists
are simply carrying on q guerilla war
fare. Every few days I hear of some
raid which usually consists in destroy
ing a plantation. There is little fight
ing going on.
The Bad Effects.
mo one ventures to predict when the
war will come to an end. If the insur-
rection goes on for another year the
sugar industry will be Frustrated. The
tons in tue Santiago district told me
that it will take the planters four or
five years to recover from the damage
already done. Many plantations not
laid waste by the insurrectionistS have
been practically abandoned. The la
borers have fed to the towns and the
cane is uncut. Next season, if the es-
tate goes uncultivated, the fields will
be overrun with weeds and soon be-
come worthless for producing a crop
of sugar.
In fact, the sugar planters really
bear the brunt of the war. They will
have to pay enormous taxes, even if
the insurrection is put down. AT pres
ent almost every planter is threatened
with ruin if he does not contribute
money 10 the Insurgents cause.
1.-THE sugar planters are between the
devil and the deep sea. If they do not
pay large sums of money for 'protec-
tion,' their fields are laid waste. If
they ask protection from the govern
ment they are marked as enemies of
the republic and their property will be
set on fire or ruined at the first oppor-
tunity."
On the steamer, as fellow passen-
ger with DR.. Won Herff, was John La
Bourdette. of Guantanamo His mis-
sion to this city is an unusual one.
Some time last May he. received notice
from the leader of the revolutionists'
army that the owner of the plantation
was expected to contribute to the aid
of the cause. Later on the plantation
was RACED. and recently matters be-
came so serious that La Bourdette de-
clded TO leave the island and to come
to New York for consultation.
In an interview Mr.. La Bourdette.
who speaks no English, said: 1.-THE
Santa Maria plantation is owned by
Senior Fernaldo Rons, who now lives in
Paris. 1t consists of about $500 acres
and the estate is valued at 81 ,000. 600.
did not pay much attention at
lrst TO the demands of the insurrec-
tionists, but on Aug. L received a lei
ter from General Maceo. who was very
much in earnest. So 1 have come to
this city to see whether we should raise
and ray the money or not"