The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-04-23

lime, nitrate Of lime, iron, magnesia. 81
lex and chloride of calcium. -Four glasses
of it day and two baths are the regu-
1ation cure for almost every disease
known to materia medica, but it is prob.
able that the warm, pure air, simple
diet and faith have much to do with it.
At any rate, great many surprising
cures have been effected, particularly
Of bronchial and scrofulous complaints.
People have been brought here from the
steamer on litters, apparently just ready
to die, who in a weeks time, have been
riding over the hills on horseback and
in month have gone home as "good as
new" and we'll as anybody. If these
springs were in the United States, with
the same air to accompany them, or if
managed where they are by some sensi-
BILE, wide awake Anglo-Saxon, they would
become the sanitarium Of the world, be-
side which Saratoga, Carlsbad, Las We
gas and White Sulphur would hide their
diminished heads.
All Kinds of Minerals.
Nearly all metals and minerals that
are useful in any sort of industry are
found in Cuba-gold, silver, iron, cop
per, quicksilver, lead, asphaltum in all
its forms, antimony, arsenic, manganese,
copperas, red lead, etc. In the Sarama-
guacan and several other rivers gold
has been found, though not in paying
quantities. Silver of a 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
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-
partment. It lies 600 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. It 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.
100000, three-fourths of which is in
sugar, the rest cocoa, rum, tobacco,
honey and mahogany.
OF the fertility Of Cuba's soil too
much cannot be said. In the western
part the celebrated Vuelta Abajo tobac-
CO is raised. It 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 Thrives.
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 we'll, and the quality Of the bean
is equal to the best Maracaibo or Cen
trail American. The banana and the
plantain also flourish. Large quanti-
ties of the latter are raised and consum-
ed in the country. It 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 to the United States.
The orange and the pineapple abound
in the island, and about 10 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 ex.
ported yearly. The cocoa tree also grows
very we'll, and the bean is of very su-
perior quality.
The cedar furnishes the material Of
the cigar boxes. The fruits of the island
comprise nearly all those found in the
tropics. The pineapple is indigenous to
the soil. There were, at the time of the
discovery Of the island, six varieties Of
the sweet potato cultivated by the ma
tive Indians, as we'll as the yucca or ca
vassa and Indian corn. Although the
forests are dense, very nearly impene-
trable, they are inhabited by no wild
animals larger than the wild dogs, which
are, in fact, small wolves. These are
pests to planters. as they destroy quanti-
ties Of poultry and young cattle. The
jutia, small animal milling musk
rat, living in trees and having the habits
Of the raccoon, is the only other animal Of
Importance that is found. Birds in great
number and variety here make their
homes, and many migratory fowls use
the island for breeding place.
The political situation Of Cuba is SO
complex as to be totally indescribable
The air is full Of prophecies and contra