The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-07

NEW YORK, Feb. General wey7
Ier's arrival on the island of Cuba and
the official announcement Of his pro-
posed methods OF dealing with the reyo-
lutlonlsts are being impatiently await
ed by the local sugar and tobacco spec
ulators.
II is estimated that II Weyler pursueg
the cruel methods that characterized
his conduct OF the last rebellion the
Cuban sugar crop will fall to the pro-
portion of few ship loads. while the
tobacco output will probably be about
100 bales.
on the other hand, II the new captain
general Dursues q humane warfare. the
output OF both articles will be perhaps
at least 200 per cent better.
The annual output OF Cuba during
peace time Is estimated: Sugar, l.GQo,-
900 tons; tobacco. 100000 bales. Under
campos the output was a little 20 oyer ner
100000 tons OF sugar and about l0O,OVO
bales OF tobacco. These figures show q
large falling of, but are considered
good in view of the fact that re-
beIlion OF great proportions has been
raging on the Island.
The sugar output OF Cuba Is about
one-tenth OF the whole world, and ex-
elusive Of the European beet sugar out
put II represents fully three-eighths OF
the worlds product. Since the revolu-
ton has broken out the worl6s visible
supply Of sugar has shrunk over t,eVV.-
900 tons, according to the best authors
ties.
It is now thought by those who have
made careful study of the whole sit
uRtion that II General Weyler insti-
tutes inhumare methods and the Gu
bans are either too severely dealt with
or are forced TO be constantly retreat-
Ing every sugar plantation and sugar
works on the island will be destroyed.
Destruction Is the logical result OF
all retreats. and would naturally be
even more devastating In a case where
foreign enemy was In pursuit
In case Weyler were to conduct war
on the same humane basis as did Gen
eral CRmpos It Is believed that Gomez
and Maceo would permit and encourage
the raising of cane, even IL they con-
tinued to forbid its grinding. The to-
bacco spectators look upon the situa.
tIon In the same light. II Is figured
out TINT Cuban leaders are now IN the
richest tobacco belts, and II they are
forced back by relentless foe they
will desroy all tobacco in sight.
What makes this prospect even more
discournging is the fact that the to-
bacco will be ready In few weeks for
cutting. Consequently the specnlators
are anxious to learn what methods wall
be instituted by the new commander
Since October. 1894. the price on sugar
has advanced one cont, which is re-
graded as very large increase. while
the advance on Cuban tobacco amounts
to about Is per cent. The Cuban to-
bacco output is but very small per-
centage OF the worlds, yet, owing to Its
peculiar grade, II Is the most expensive
and most necessary to many lines OF
Last Years Crop.
Last year 15soOO,oOo cigars were i'm
ported from Havana, and something
like 100000 bales Of raw material.
This Is a decline Of about 100000 bales
in the annual output. and It is eeti-
mated that under the most favorable
circumstances the coming year VIII see
even q smaller import, while, IL Wey-
ler's reputation as a tyrant holds good,
there is q strong probability OF no ship
ments at all.
A vast quantity OF Cuban tobacco for
filler purposes is on hand, but one year
would exhaust this stock, while the vis-
ible supply OF wrapper stock Is very
low. Prices are advancing, and q lively
jump is In prospect II weyler pursues
his old tactics.
Much, has been said in the news
papers OF late about the tobacco and
sugar trusts being In sympathy with
the revolutionists," said a well known
sDcculator in both articles. Such
statements are bosh. The trusts hold
nearly all the Cuban tobacco and sugar
in sight, and the more the Spanish
madden the CubRns into burning and
destroying plantations and factories.
the higher will go the prices on tobacco
and sugar, and the larger the returns
OF the trusts.
81 am confident that II the trusts
could devise some scheme to force the
rebels TO wipe every plantation Off the
face OF Cuba they would do so. It
would be to their interests. The sugar
and tobacco trusts are poor patriots at
best"