The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-01
The Isle Thai Soon
Will Be Made Free



SPHERE is widespread and grow
III ing feeling that the time when
III this country win intervene to put
III stop to the atrocities which are
being perpetrated by Spain IN
Cuba, under the excuse of suppressing
the rebellion there, is to be almost count
ed by days. The powerful and righteous
reasons which impelled the Cubans to re-
volt against the continued domination
of Spain, and engage in war for in
dependence, are generally known and
heartily sympathized with, but there Is
less familiarity with the character of the
country and wonderful resources In time
OF peace. of an irregular crescent shape,
Cuba is much larger than popularity sup.
posed, for it is 130 miles long, has an
average width of so miles and an area
of 45,3l9 square miles, without including
its adjacent islands, which add over 1000
square miles more. Although mountain
Gus in the interior, much of the coast
line is low and fiat, and difficult of APP
proach on account of the numerous reefs
and small islands. Notwithstanding this
feature of the coast, ii is said that no
other island in the world has as many
excellent harbors in proportion to its
size. OF these, Havana, Matanzas, Bahia
Honda, Mariel, Neuvitas, Nipe and Car
denas, on the nCrth side, aud Santiago de
Cuba. Trinidad, Guantanamo and Cicn-
iuegos, on the south side, are the prin-
cipal and best known.
o
The island o. Cuba is divided into six
provinces, the most thlckly populated OF
which is Havana, and the least is Puerto
Principe. The total population before
the present instruction was over 1902,
900 but il is estimated that at least half
million have since pcrished in battle
by disease and hy starvation. Although
there is much cleared and cultivated land
there are no less than %, ,0OO 900 acres OF
almost impenetrable forest, fully Is, ,U0O,-
100 of which have never been disturbed
by man. But the soil which has been cul-
tiVated is marvelOusly rich and produc-
tive. To what extent this is 30 is shown
py the fact that, notwithstanding the dis
cOuragements to Industrial enterprises
through the misrule of Spain, the exports
In 1898 were valued at ever $4,000 900 Span
ish dollars.
Notwithstanding the prevalence of vel
low fever in the seaCOast cities and towns
the greater part of Cuba is said under
normal conditions 10 be a very healthy
place Although not altogether in the
tropics, it has all the characteristics Of
the torrid region. 1t has a wet and dry
season and except in few spots in the
mountains not even light troSts. The
prevailing tempe rature Is not unpleasant
ly hot, for the highest is rarely over 50
degrees while the average is Il degrees.
o.
The chief agricultural products are
sugar, coffee and tobacco, of which the
United States takes the greater part. In
1893, for example, there were Sl5,S94 tons
Of sugar produced, of which rs 2O4 tons
were exported, the United States taking
6S0Gi2 tons. OF 227,OO0 bales of tobacco
exported, two-thrds came to this country.
together with moro than half the l47,-
$4,000 cigars made. But while the ex-
ports footed up a total of $4,000 600 Span
ish dollars, and the imports S. Oo1, ,OO1 the
taxation on the people reached nearly d.
100000 Spanish dollars. OF this tremen-
dous burden, which is more than one