St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-10-26

presents few incentives for industry.
The vast expanses of natural pasture
land in the island ought to prove q
great attraction to farmers and others
who have devoted much attention to
the raising of cattle. But little atten-
tion was given by the Spanish govern
ment to this source of wealth, for
SPANS political economy never consist
ed SO much in direct land tax as in q
tax upon industry and commerce. Con-
sequently ranchman or landed pro-
prietor might bp the owner of extern
sive pastures and large herds of cattle,
but the government took no account OF
it until the owner began to dispose OF
his stock in the market. 9a
With perpetual summer, or at least
no snow and frost to constitute win
ter as known further north, the cattle
industry can be conducted at the mini
mum of cost The stock never need
housing, and the grass is as luxuriant
in the winter months as in the summer
time. Western men who fought in the
ranks Of the rough riders in Cuba were
enthusiastic over the prospects it held
forth for cattle ranches. During the in
surrection the herds were greatly de.
pleted by the Cubans who slaughtered
the cattle in many instances for the
kidneys alone and left the rest Of the
carcasses to rot on the field.
During the occupation Of Pinar del
Rio by the insurgents it was singular
oversight on the part Of the authorities
that in attempting to starve the rebels
out Of that province they did not take
into consideration the fact that myriads
Of cattle roamed over the grassy plains,
and that the tree clad hills and valleys
were alive with hogs, which furnished
the insurgents with an unfailing supply
of food g enii ih.i'pl1R 'eoi
The pasture lands north Of Trinidad
are SO we'll adapted for the raising Of
horses that it was formerly a common
phrase that even the beggars Of Trini-
dad pursued their vocation on horse
back. In the vicinity Of Sanota Spiritus,
extending eastward to the province OF
Santiago, are extensive prairies which
furnish grazing for great herds Of cat,
tie. Some Of them are without natural
water supply, but they have been pro-
vided with enormous wells at intervals.
These sometimes reach depth Of 300
feet, and the water is drawn by a noria,
a device employed by the Moors when
they occupied Spain. This consists of a
large wooden wheel made to revolve by
animal power, over which passes an
endless belt, to which buckets are at.
tached. The cattle ranges extend fal
across that part Of Cuba termed CANA
guey to Santiago province. ~ u. sno
The mountains of Guantanamo, in
the vicinity of Santiago, are considered
the most productive coffee regions il
Cuba. Coffee is grown in every part Of
the island. At one time it was as large
ly cultivated in the valleys and plains
as is now the sugar cane, but at present
most of the coffee raising is done in the
district and neighborhood of Santiago
and in the jurisdiction of Guantanamo
Land in this part of the island has beer
particularly cheap, and planters in con
sequence have found it to their advan
tage. as their old places became worl
out, to sell them and remove to Guanta
namo's beautiful hills, where the eli
mate is healthful, the crops excellen
and the land cheap.
Coffee culture in Cuba for variou
reasons has declined somewhat durin,
the past quarter of a century. This ha
been due in some degree to the practi
oally prohibitive tariff placed by tn
United States on Cuban coffee in favo
Of the Brazilian crop. Many who for
merly planted coffee now raise suga