Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-21

be, wide awake Afiglo-Safon, they VOID
become the sanitarium Of the world, BE-
side which Saratoga. Carlsbad. Las We
gas and White Sulphur would hide their
diminished beads.
All Einds Ct Minerals.
Neally all metals and minerals that
are ussful in any sort of industry are
found in Cuba-gold, silver. iron. cop
per. quicksilver, lead. aspbalrum in all
its forms, antimony. arsenic, manganese,
copperas, red lead, etc. In the Sarama-
Ruacan and several other rivers gold
has been found, though not in paying
quantities. Silver of q certain grade
abounds in Pinar del Rio, San Fernando
and Yumuri. Almost all the metamor-
phic rocks contain copper, and these are
scattered all over the island. 1t is usu-
ally found in the form Of pyrites and
sulphurets.
In the eastern part Of Cuba, about 10
miles from Santiago, the rich copper
mines Of Ell Cobre were worked for a
good many years by an English COM
pany They were abandoned during the
last revolution. There are other mines
not yet open and some not yet exhausted.
The city of Santiago. by the way, is
worth more than mere passing mention,
it being the chief city Of the eastern de-
partmeut. 1t lies GOO miles southeast
Of the present capital and ranks third
in commercial mportance-Havana
archbishop's residence, and to it people
flock from all parts Of the island during
certain yearly religious festivals, which
are celebrated with remarkable pomp
and ceremony. 1t is also the terminus
Of two railway lines, one Of which is
the outlet Of Tomas de Cobre, the ia
nous copper mines, and the other, pass
ing through the richest sugar district,
affords transportation for that great
staple. The exports of the port reach
the handsome annual aggregate Of S.
600. 900, three fourths of which is in
sugar, the rest cocoa, rum, tobacco,
honey and mahogany.
OF the fertility of Cnba's soil too
much cannot be said. In the western
part the celebrated Vuelta Abajo tobac-
co is raised. 1t has no equal in the
world. In the eastern part, near Santi-
ago, there are some tracts of land which
yield excellent tobacco. almost as fine as
that of Vuelta Abajo.
Even Coffee Thriyes.
The sugar cane grows all through the
island and yields the largest percentage
known of saccharine matter. In some
parts Of the island the coffee tree thrives
very well, and the quality of the bean
is equal to the best Maracaibo or Cen
trail American. The banana and the
plantain also flourish. Large quaint
ties of the latter are raised and consum-
ed in the country. 1t is an exceedingly
nourishing food. OF the former, in the
eastern part, there are great plantations,
and several million dollars worth are
exported every year o tho United States
The orange and the pineapple abound
in the island, and about, - other species
of most delicious fruits, as the guava,
the mango. the Nancy, the anona, etc.
As has been said, the forests of the is
land contain great number of valuable
hard and cabinet woods, among them
the mahogany and the cedar, of which
there are very large quantities
There are plantations OF the cocoanut
tree, and millions Of the nuts are OK.
ported yearly. The cocoa tree also grows
very we'll, and the bean is of a very su-
perior quality.
The cedar furnishes the material Of