The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-22
WEALTH OF CUBA.
Future Possibilities of the Island Greater
Than Its Past achievements.

Future Possibilities or the Island Urcotcr
Than Its Past achievements.
From the New York Independent.
The soil of Cuba has no rival, espe-
cially for tobacco and sugar. One hum
dred pounds of selected cigar wrap
pers will sell for $500 or $500. Sugar
cane yields larger percentage of sac
charine matter than that grown else
where. Thousands Of dollars worth of
bananas are yearly imported into this
country, the plantations having been
greatly developed during the last few
years, still leaving millions of acres of
land adapted to the growth Of the fruit.
The plaintain grows in abundance re-
quires little cultivation, and, as an ar
ticle of food, Is alone sufficient to nour-
!sh the human system. 1t can be dried,
ground and used as flour, and should
be as popular in this country as oat-
meal, and will be some day when 1t be-
comes better known. The cocOanut, in
point of productiveness, Is next to the
banana. Cuban oranges will rank with
the Florida fruit. and the finest pineap-
pies are raised, though the demand in
this country seems to be for the cheaper
qualities. Among comparatively un-
known fruits which could be cultivated
as soon as a market was opened for
them are two varieties Of the sopo-
dilla, the brown and green calmito, the
red Nancy, the yellow Nancy, the for
mer having been described by some Eu-
ropeans as "a fruit fit for the gods"
Then there are the mamon two species
Of guavas, the mango, and several spe-
cies of fine berries to which no atten-
ton is paid on account Of the plentiful
supply of the larger fruit. The berries
are called fruitas de parjarors (birds'
fruit.)
The potatoes Of Cuba are as fine as
the Bermuda variety and considerable
quantities are imported into this coun-
try, selling at 81 and IS a barrel. There
are several varieties Of the sweet po-
tato, two varieties of the yam, which
Is second only to the plantain in Its
nourishing properties. The cassava, or
manioc plant, Is a wholesome and nour-
ishing food. The soil Of the country Is
particularly good for the growth OF
garden vegetables and the yield under
new political conditions, with capital.
enterprise and scientific methods OF
cultivation, will be enormous. The
sugar crop, which now represents over
$40, ,000, 900, could be increased tenfOld.
The island contains about 6,0O0,0 900 acres
of fine arabic land, about one-eighth
Of which is under cultivation, much Of
1t being worked in such q primitive way
that it yields only about one-half of
what it would under improved methods.
A vast amount of wealth Is represent
ed in the forests of Cuba. The COM
mon mahogany of the island sells in
Europe at from $1lO to $3.50 a thousand
feet, some of very fine quality is worth
from $40O to 5000 per thousand feet, and
one variety has been sold for the re-
markable price of $3.50 per thousand
feet. There are millions and millions
Of feet Of this wood on the island. Ce-
dar is abundant and finds a ready mar
ket. There Is a great need of better
facilities for preparing and transport
| ing these woods for shipment. The lig-
mum vitae has no superior in quality.
the ordinary selling from SIS to $50 q
| ton, the choice from S35 to $40 and the
| best at about $45 per ton. There are
| thirty-two varieties of the palm tree,
which is available in the manufacture
/ OF mats, baskets, the bark or the royal
palm being used for boards in the con-
| struction Of the homes Of the small
farmers, the leaves Of the same tree
being used for the roof. Among other
| hard woods may be mentioned the
ebony, the acana, used for rafters; the
sabina cimarona, something like CEDAR
the juqui and caguiran, for posts; the
noble blanco and roble amarilli for VIM
dow and door frames. carriages and
ship-bullding; the granadillo, a cabinet
wood, and many other varieties. includ-
ing the majagua, from the fibrous bark
Of which ropes are made almost as good
as those of manila hemp The area of
the Cuban forests Is about 5000, 900
acres, and they can furnish all the ma
terials for building q frame house with
out the use OF a. single nail, strong and
durable lianas being used to fasten the
heads Of beams. There Is also a Curl
GUS vine called the water vine, about
three inches in diameter, which when
cut in two will yield large quantity
of pure, fresh water.
| Within the past thirty years it has
been discovered that there are rich
deposits of iron in the eastern and to-
ward the central part of the island.
Some of this iron is now being used by
Pennsylvania smelters, and an expert
says that "the whole eastern part of the
island is an iron mine" Manganese
has also been discovered, and there are
millions of tons Of this ore available,
An English syndicate has extracted
millions Of dollars worth Of copper
from the mines near Santiago. When
intelligent experts make thorough ex.
ploration other mines and gold and sill
1 Il u