Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-12
CUBAN FACTS IN BRIEF.
Interesting Items About the
Pearl Of the Antilles.
HER PEOPLE AND HER PRODUCTS

Al About the Principai Cities. the Raiay
season. the Deadly Msshste, the yellow
Fever. the Revolutlouists and Their
Great struggle For Liberty.
Cuba from east to west II 100 miles
long. Its width varies from 20 10 1875
miles. The island. with it, dependen-
cies, contains "a, 27s square miles. The
entire coast line IL 2. 900 miles In extent.
The Cubans are the planters Of the H.
land. The Spaniards, usually govern
ment officials or traders. live in the cit
les. In the interior oil Spaniards are
known ~ Galatians.
The rainy season In Cuba begins In
May or June and ends in November.
The most rain falls in September and
October. The average number Of rainy
days in = year IL 100.
Though tropical, the Cuban climate
il an equable one. The Thermometer
never rises % high ~ 1t sometimes does
in New York, and sunstrokss are I'M.
known.
Mountain chains extend from east to
west throughout the whole length OF the
island. Between the mountains and the
coast low tracts usually intervene which
in wet weather are overf1owed and are
almost impossible.
Cuba has 26O rivers, all small. In
the low coast lands both north and south
are extensive swamps
Yellow fever prevails each year in the
seaport cities Of Cuba, beginning to-
ward the end Of June and disappearing
In September. Foreigners only are at.
tackled by the disease.
Havana harbor, one Of the finest In
the world, il entered from the north
west by q channel which is narrow for
three eighths Of . mile and then opens
into magnificent bay.
For Havana to 81 rrender before o hos
tile force IL not new experience In
its history In the first century OF is
existence il was repeatedly sacked by
pirates and buccaneers, and in 1862 an
English squadron under Admiral Pocock
bonn barded the city and compelled it to
capitulate
The revolutionary government Of Gu
ba was organized at Camaguey on
Sept. 10, 1895. when a president and
vice president were elected and cab
met formed.
The general in chief Of the revolu'
tionary army in tho field is Maximc
Gomez. The lieutenant general Is Calix
to Garcia
The headquarters Of the Cuban junts
in New York arc ut No. SO New street
Manhattan borough.
Cuba contains many mineral springs
which are famed for their valuable
healing properties.
Despite its tropical situation the city
Of Havana il . comfortable place ever
for summer living. The houses ant
dress Of the people are adapted to secure
coolness, and the seq breeze by day anc
the land breeze by night gratefully tenn
per the heat.
Cuba has not been generally knowr
as nh iron producing country. yet In
several years before the outbreak Of bel
present civil war 500. 900 tons Of iror
ore and 10000 tons Of manganese,
amounting to IS. 600, 900 in value, were
annually produced for export at the San
tiago dc Cuba mines at the eastern enc
Of the island.
There are more than 200 excellent
ports in Cuba.
1t il little wonder that the Cubar
patriot handles the machete well. M h'
Is trained to its use from his earliest
boyhood. To the countryman i, is Ak
jackknife, reaper, cleaver-in short, II
fulfills every purpose, great and small
for which cutting tool IL required. lr
his private quarrels he uses il with
deadly effect, and face 70 face with the
Spanish enemy he feels that in his ma
chete he has weapon which he know
and which will not fail him.
Tho boxes In which tho Cuban cigal
man facturers pack their fragrant wares
are made from native cedar cut on th'
mountain slopes.
Havana, Matanxss, Santiago-thes'
are the three principal cities Of Cuba II
the order Of their size and commercial
importance. The exports Of Santiago
the least of the three, amount in time
~ ,,aoca On eS OOO (lOO annually