The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Productive Forces of Cuba-Her Rich Soil,
Her Valuable Forests and Her
Great Mineral Wealth.
[srecial Corrcsrondcncc.l

TO miles and Il width VARYING from
80 to 160 miles, Cuba stands i'll "A geo
graphical position which, together with
her productive soil, mineral wealth and
climatic conditions, should entitlc her
10 rank among the foremost communi-
tics of the world, distinction to which
believe she will soon attain whenever
stable government and cheerful obcdi-
cnce to the powers that be present to
the home seeker and investor conditions
that Will make homo pleasant and CAPT
tai secure. Although founded and set
tied more than 80 years before the Unit
ed States, Cuba has still 5000, 900
acres of primeval forests where the
Woodlands ax has never been heard.
These forests arc timbcrcd, besides other
woods, with mahogany, cedar, logwood,
redwood, ebony, lignum vitae and caigu-
aran, the latter being more durable in
the ground than iron or steel.
Soil Marvel of Richness.
III report to the state department
Consul Pulaski T. Hyatt SAYS that the
soil is a marvel of richness, and fcr,i-
lizers of any kind are seldom used unless
Ill the case of tobacco, even though the
same crops be grown Oh the same field
for 100 years, as has already happened
i'll some of the old sugar care fields. If
all the land suitable to the growth of
sugar cane We're devoted to that indus
try, it is estimated Cuba might supply
the entire western hemisphere with
sugar The island has already produced
i'll single year for export 1000. 600
tons, while its capabilities have only
been i'll the experimental stage. The
adaptability of the soil for tobacco Gull
turc has long been the envy of the
world. until II cigar that has not some
prctension Of having ut least Il little Gu
ban tobacco stands condemned without
u hearing.
Cuba takes great pride in the quality
of her coffee and until the rebellion of
1865 she raised n large quantity for ex-
ports.
no Frosts to Destroy.
Tropical fruits, such asS oranges,
lemons, pineapplcs, mangoes, guavas,
tamarintls and many fruits with IL local
value, but too short lived for export.
are here entirely ut home and never
catch the unlocked for frosts so FREQUENT
i'll Florida. The cereal crops never have
and probably never will have prolita-
bic cultivation on the island Corn is
raised Oh Il small scale, while wheat
and oats are never grown at all No
flour mill exists on the island. The
lover of fresh vegetables, 1 think, is
doomed TO disappointment on coming
to Cuba. Garden truck is always in sea-
son, but that crisp freshness which we
so much relish i'll our northern vcgcta-
bios seems to be wanting
In mineral wealth Cuba is capable of
taking high rank. Gold and silver have
not been found i'll paying quantities.
Copper was mined at Cobrc by the ma
tives before Columbus discovered the
island, and there is strong proof that
native copper was carried across TO
Florida and used by tho Florida Indians
hundreds of years ago The mound
builders Of that state buried with their
dead copper ornaments and utensils
hammered from native copper.
As no copper ore is found in Florida or
i'll the United States for long distance
from there, and as that found iii the
United States or III Mexico does not cor
respond chemically with that buried
with the mound builders, i; occurred To
Professor r. II. Sanders Of the Acadc-
my of Natural Sciences III Philadelphia
that it was possible that these mound
builders had water communication with
Cuba and got their copper from there.
A Very Interesting Discovery.
lie therefore communicated with the
writer and procured Il sample Of native
Cuban copper. which proved upon anal
ysis 10 be the identical kind used in
the copper ornaments mentioned. III the
early part of the present century some
English capitalists purchased these
mines, which are nine miles from Sail
tiago. The books of the Santiago dc
Cuba consulate show that from 1928 to
1910 an average of from So, 600, 900 to
SO, 900, 600 worth of copper ore was
shipped annually to the United States.
These mines continued i'll successful
operation until 1867, when 1t combina-
ton of circumstances and not the pov.
crty of the mines closed them, and the
various shafts, from 900 to 200 feet
deep, filled with water all save 300
feet being below the level of the sea. In
later years considerable copper was
taken from these mines by pumping the
water from the shafts to tanks, into
which IRON scraps were thrown. The
copper held i'll solution by the water
deposited Oh the scrap iron, which i'll
time was broken off and the iron used
again.
The Iron Ore Output.
The iron mines Of Cuba, all of which
are located near Santiago ovcrshadow
III importance all other industries Oh
the eastern end of the island, constitut-
ing the only industry that has mado
any pretcnsc of standing up against the