The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
NO BANANAS FROM CUBA.
Yet 2O,OOO,OOO Bunches Arrive This
Year from Other Places.
Boston Globe.

Boston Globe
One curious result of the Cuban war is
the complete revolution of the banana in
Three years ago one could feel reason
ably certain that banana seen in the
United States was grown in Cuba. Now
We do not get a single bunch from the
island Cuba formerly sent US over two
million punches of the rich tropical fruit
every season. The principal firms engaged
in the importation of bananas had great
plantations of thousands of acres in extent
and eastern cuba was rapidly becoming one
huge banapa farm. In TACT, the raising of
bananas had grown to be one of CUBA s
most important industries. Twenty vessels
were continually occupied in carrying the
fruit to the United States.
During 1895 the crop was not seriously
affected, but last year banana traders found
it impossible to load their vessels in Cuba.
During the season a large part OF the
plantations was destroyed, and now nothing
grows where once was the most fertile and
highly productive spot in Cuba.
The destruction of the banana planta-
tons has incidentally involved the loss of
considerable American capital, but the
trade itself has not been allowed to lam
guish, although 1t is almost true that not
banana comes out of Cuba to-day. The
amount of this fruit used in America this
season will be more than double what it
was in the year before the Cuban war.
Cuba, the great banana raiser has dis
appeared from this line of work, but her
place has been taken by Jamaica, Porto
Rico and tho surrounding islands, Mexico
and Central America Natives. blacks and
American planters have gone into the
business in all these places, and the result
is that bananas are now cheaper than ever
and the supply is large enough 10 meet the
rapid increase in demand.
This increase has been very remarkable
during the past few seasons. 1t is proba-
BILE that this year between Is 900 600 and
%, 000, coo punches will be brought into this
country OF this amount, nearly one-half
comes by way of Now Orleans, one third
by New York and the tnder through
other ports.
1t is only within the pas years that
the handling OF bananas oeen worthy
the name of a distinct tr4 Z. Previously
II was only part of the fruit trade. and
like most kinds Of fruit, the banana was
counted on as good for its season. The
ricS and other native fruits were off " As
time went on, however, and greater famil-
iarity with the banana taught people that
1t was the most excellent and adaptable Of
fruits, steady demand grew up which
persists the year around. Physicians took
up the banana and recommended it for its
healthful and nourishing qualities, and al
together the banana has come into high
favor. That is, briefly, why the people of
the United States will eat this year some
D,OO00OO punches of bananas, or roughly
one bunch averaging 200 bananas TO every
family in the cOpatry.
Aside from its commercial Importance.
the banana trade is interesting for its pic
turesque feature From the dark-hued ia
maican or Mexican who cuts the stalk
where they grow through the colOred rOust-
abouts and white handlers who load and
unload the vessels, the wholesale and re-
tail dealers. 10 the Greek and Italian push
cart merchants who sell the fruit upon our
city streets, there is range of thrift and
shiftlessness and Il variety Of humankind
that 1t would be hard to match in any other
Industry.
The boats engaged in the banana trade
are properly cOasting vessels, light OF draft,
10 accommodate the swallow h9rbors or the
tropics, built for fair speed and great
carrying capacity Most Of them belong to
the different firms that import the fruit. and
carry from 10000 10 $1,000 punches at each
trip This means from 100000 TO 4090 co.
bananas in every cargo. The perishable
nature Of their load requires quick work In
loading and unloading these Aoats. and
there is no more lively or interesting scene
than banana vessel taking on or dis
charging cargo.
At the little West Indian ports where
the bananas are loaded there Is apt to be