Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-06-07
RESOURCES OF cusA.
THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN PARTIALLY
DEVELOPED UNDER SPAIN.

THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN PARTIALLY
DEVELOPED UNDER SPAIN.
Few Americana realize the importau CO
Of the island Of Cuba and the beneficial
results which would follow the estab-
lishment Of free government there and
the opening up OF her ports to unrestrict-
ed trade with the United States.
81. b. Fullerton, Of this city, who has
travelled extensively on the Island and
has made study Of its resources, says
Of its exceptional advantages:
III have spent twelve years among the
Spanish American people Of Cuba and
Mexico, and l say unreservedly that,
speaking from . distinctly commercial
point Of View, q victory for the United
States In the present war and the cOnse-
quent opening up OF Cuban ports TO UNI
restricted trade and commerce will b"
one Of the greatest things ever &C
complished by the American people. The
profit upon our business with Cuba for
few months following the cessation Of
hostilities will fully repay all the money
spent In the war. When the grandeur
OF the idea of freeing the down-trodden,
oppressed islands dawn upon Europe"
ne continued, "several OF those nations
will regret not having demanded the
political emancipation OF the Island long
ago, and thus secured to themselves the
tremendous business which will come
from Cuba to the United States. The
wealth and resources Of the island have
been and still are greatly underestimated.
~ have been all over the country on
horseback, and tell you that not one
half Of Cuba Ii under cultivation. Her
crops can easily be trebled. Even her
farming methods are not yet modern
lied. The sale Of modern farm machin-
cry In Cuba, once peace 's declared, VIII
be enormous. II Cuba WAS not per-
feet garden she would not have pro-
crossed ss she has under the Spanish
rule. In that respect she IL an exception.
People do not generally understand TO
what extent the Spanish have tyrsnnized
over that beautiful island.
"Cubsns have been taxed TO death,
and the worst OF Il Is that the money
thus collected has not been expended for
the benefit of the people there, but went
tn the home governmental least. what
r, m tined Of II after the local officials
had extracted their steslings.
"The custom house at Havana has
long been one OF the worst pest holes In
the world. Bribery Of the port officials
has been common thing for years. For
instance, there Is no duty on corn, bu,
there Is high tax upon flour. Accord
Ing 10 the rules, every tenth barrel must
be opened and inspected. A deal will be
made with the collector whereby a cargo
OF -four will be admitted for small pay.
ment, which goes into the pockets oil
the officials. The cargo will be labeled
corn, and every tenth barrel IL filled
with that article aud given distinguish
ing mark. Thus II IL passed through
the hands OF the collector-nine out OF
every ten barrels containing -four. Many
thousands Of barrels OF -four have also
been shipped to Havana covered With
cargo Of coal. Cheese IL sent down 10
the centre Of barrel OF potatoes, and
jewelry Ia often stored In case ol
| wooden ware. Every branch OF the
government is VIGOROUSLY corrupt.
"In introducing goods these officials
had to be bought up all along the line
from the highest TO the lowest. IL the
Spaniards saw that you were getting q
foothold and selling considerable guam
titles OF goods they Immediately arrang-
ed for special tax TO cover your line
Thus all progressive movements were
throttled. Notwithstanding all these
draw backs the United States has been
constantly increasing her trade with
Cuba for fifteen years and millions OF
dollars have been invested there. Mod.
ern methods have thus been introduced
to some extent. Many Of the natives
still care for the sugar in the old-fssh-
toned way.
while Cuba had the best seed tobrcco
In the world. they allowed vast ouNn-
titles 10 90 TO waste. We introduced
driving seeds, which saved all that was
formerly wasted. The introduction oil
machinery effected q saving OF 20 per
cent 10 caring for sugar cane. These
and other reforms and changes were
being slowly accomplished under Span
| ish rule, and the strides made under An
improved government will. Ia NV opin.
ion, astonish the world. Take Mexico,
| for example. Our business men began
trading with that country fifteen years
ago. She was then using English and
German machinery on small scale.
Our machines were lighter and did the
work as well. We soon got the trade.
At that time Mexico did not manufsc;-
ure goods OF any kind. Now she has
the finest cotton and paper mills In the
world, and Is making wonderful strides
In civilization and advancement. just ss
soon as she broke the Spanish yoke the
Improvement commenced and has con-
tiDued ever since. In Cuba q Spanish
landowner Is content 80 long as his
plantation earns him sufficient income
to allow his living In splendor 10 Madrid
or Paris. He does not care for improve
ments or machinery. There Is no 60
! ahesdativeness about the Spaniard. He
Ia royal entertainer, but dishonest In
his business dealings, not sparing his
own brother In matters OF money and
business. Spaniards have no idea OF
machinery. There are no engineers and
few mechanics among them.
1.-The yellow fever IL confined almost
exclusively to Havana. Ii could be cas-
lily stamped out by the establishment OF
sanitary regulations and the cutting OF
canal from the hsrbor to the ocean.
The Spanish government made an APP
preparation for this work, but 1t was
stolen by corrupt officials and the work
was never begun. Cuba's climate IL
naturally healthy, and the observance Of
sanitary rules will make II free from
contagious disease like yellow fever.
One OF the most striking things In any
country which Spain has dominated at
one time or another Is the fact that the
people, no matter from what race they
spring, consider themselves superior to
and will not associate with the Span
iards. Even though they are associated
with the Snaniard and rule. New York