Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-01

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THE USEFUL CALABAsH TREE
have been but slightly developed As
fields for American enterprise both
sources Of ealth present attractive pos
sibilities. Under the new order OF things
which will prevail in Cuba fields 10 in
viting will not remain long unoccupied,
and in the consequent development Of
her great productive capacity both Cnba
and the United States will be the
gamers
The mineral wealth Of Cuba is 80
great that il even partially developed
she would take high rank in this re-
spect. Gold and silver have been found
in paying quantities. but this industry
has never been properly attended to,
and under more skillful management,
with better methods, both these metals
could be mined advantageously.
Copper was mined by the natives ut
Copre before Columbus discovered the
island, and there is strong proof that
native copper was carried across to
Florida and used by tho Florida Indians
many centuries ago. Tho mound build
ers Of that state buried with their dead
copper ornaments and utensils, and
rs there is no copper In Florida or in
the United States for long distance
from there IL is reasonable to conclude
that the metal was brought from Cuba.
Certainty, however, took the place Of
conjecture when chemical analysis
showed the identity Of Cuban copper
with that found in the mounds.
Copper mines were opened in Cuba
as early rs 1918 to obtain metal for
casting cannon. but they were soon
abandoned owing to the restrictions
placed by the government on the bust
ness In i74l, when Admiral Vernon
captured the bay Of Guantanamo, cop
per money was coined by the order Of
Governor Cajigal. From this time mp
to 1880 the mines were unworked, but
in the latter year foI eign companies re-
opened them, and native company
was organized soon afterward A min.
ing excitement followed. and in 1914
there were 227 mines in operation.
Nearly all Of these were subsequently
abandoned, but two foreign companies
and one native company still continued
to work the mines about nine miles
from Santiago.
For many years preceding 1867 from
o., 900, 900 10 %, 500, 900 worth Of cop
per from these mines was exported to
the United States, besides the quaint.
ties sent to other countries. Since the
year mentioned combination Of cir
cumstances led to the mines being
closed. though still as productive as
ever, and the various shafts, from 300
to I.200 feet deep, filled with water,
all save 800 feet Of their depth being
below sea level In later years consid-
cradle copper has been taken from these
mines by pumping the water from the
shafts into tanks, which contained
scraps of iron. The copper held in solu
ton by the water was deposited OH IL
iron and was removed when sufilcien
quantity had accumulated. The process
Of freeing these submerged mines from
water would be costly one. but ex-
perts say it would prove profitable.
The iron mines Of Cuba, all Of which
so far worked are in the vicinity Of
Santiago, overshadow in importance all
other industries on the eastern end Of
the island Furthermore the industr,
is the only one that has been able
withstand the industrial paralysis con-
sequent upon the present instruction.
The Juragua and Baiquiri iron com
panies, both American. with "a capital
Of over Is, 900, 900, now operate mines
in this vicinity, and usually employ
from 500 to /. 400 men. The two CON-
panies ship into this country from 3d.
900 to so, 900 tons Of iron ore per month,
the largest portion of which is used at
Bethlehem, Steelton. Sparrows Point
and the Carnegie iron works at Pitts
burg. The ore derived from these mines
is among the richest in the world, yield
ing from 80 to 81 per cent of pure iron,
and ia almost free from sulphur and
phosphorus There are numerous unde.
veloped mines Of equal richness in tho
same region.
Manganese, q metal difficult to pro-
cure and so Indispensable in the manu-
facture Of steel, also exists in Cuba.
Numerous deposits Of this metal arc
found in the Sierra Maestro range on
the southern coast, from Santiago west
10 Manzanillo. within distance OF 100
miles An enterprising American OPEN
ed mine about 20 miles from Santi.
ago. at a place called Ponupo, and built
q railroad to il. The mine was found
productive, the ore yielding 5S per cent
of metal of superior quality. but after
one cargo of manganese had been shipped
to the United States further operations
were stopped by the insurgents.
As power that will guarantee Be-
curity now holds sway In southern Gu.
ba, the work in this mine will doubt.
less be resumed before long. Nearly all
the manganese used In the United
States comes from the Black sea region
Of Europe. and small quantity is also
procured from the northern part OF
South America. It is but reasonable to
suppose that the nearby mines in Cuba
will be in great demand when the state
Of public affairs is such that they can
be operated in safety.
The mineral resources Of the island
are still very imperfectly known, and
valuable deposits Of other metals may
yet be discovered, as also new deposits
of metals now being mined. Bituminous
coal in extensive layers has been report
ID as existing in various localities
Mines of alum and copperas were once
worked in the mountains Of Juragua
but were soon abandoned. Natural salt
mines also exist, but salt was Spanish
government monopoly, and the mines
were not worked. This commodity is
collected in considerable quantities
along the coast
The timber resources Of Cuba are
probably unsurpassed In any other part