Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-11-10

rho Cuban LovoS KAso, Display and
Idleness-somo Perplexing
Problems,

Santiago de Cuba, November o.
The main problems to he faced by the
province of Santago-in fact, by the
entire Island OF Cuba In plS efforts 10
throw OFT the lethargy OF centuries
are those which, to greater or less
degree, afhlct all communities, name
| ly. cWplta and labor
With regard 10 the first, there ara
very large number OF people only
desiring mn opportunity to invest IN
The ls.ard as soon az u settled form
OF government Is decided upon, hut
who naturally, under present condl'
tlons, knowing nothing regarding The
future safeguards TO property or me
amount OF taxes to be levied, or the
srahllity OF the future government
when II k formed, hesitate 10 risk
their money IN this province alone
| II r. cNtmngel that There are fully
S20,OOO,00O only waiting for an as
sued form OF government to be at
once invested In business enterprises,
A still greater problem to be solved
Is Che labor question, FOR even the eS'
listing lNlrS rles are crippled for want
Of hands, this particularly applying
to tina mines. The pay Is from 70
cents u day upward, or about the
same AZ paid IN the phosphate mines
OF Florida, and The mines viii board
the laborers at rs cents q day.
II may he taken us nm established
fact that the present generation CT
Cubans will never become miners.
They are far too eneryated and lnlo-
lent, and the negro race here find the
means OF u lazy subsistence too easy
at hand 10 have amy incentive TO In.
Dor. The Cuban may do little light
work; he may make few cigars,
or he may even condescend to do q
little homework, II you do not expect
too much In the way Of cleaning, but
what he prefers Is to put on few
stars, huge pair OF boots enormous
spurs and a handsome chapeau won
derous to behold, mount an easy-go'
ing Cuban pony and parade the prln'
clpal streets, Give this TO the Cuban,
WHITE or colored, and you have him as
pleased as a child with n new toy, as
proud as a peacock and about as sen.
siIble as an ostrich.
In Santiago there Is another ele.
ment added TO the labor troubles,
namely, the Jamaica negro, who is
ono degree worse than his Cuban
brother In tho matter OF industry
There are over 1000 OF his type here,
all wanting jobs MS WATERS, stewards
Wallets or something equally easy; but
as TO the real work OF the island, The
digging, mining and labor that will
bring the sweat to mans brow, the
Jamaica negro wants none of II. The
problem was long since solved in his
own country by the Importation oil
the Indian coolies under contract 10
work five years
The mine owners and other large
employers of labor are considering
some plan whereby they can over
come the difficulty Of obtaining men
The Spaflsh>\merlcan Iron Company
has seRG to Spain for 500 men. M
one can take n three hours ride oven
this part OF the island without being
impressed with The fact TINT the earth
is about the most productive on thl
face OF the globe, and that n man
with a family and 5000 or $500 is Prob
ably better oil mere Than anywhere
clst in the world, With very little
labor he gets not only the necessariei
or life. but even It's luNnrles and m
addition can always sell enough I,
supply himself aud family With The
things he cannot grow His coffee
sugar vegetables, fruit, chickens
hogs, goats and tobacco he can raist
himself,
To men whose ambition IL is 10 lead
u quiet easy, ready.made existence
not anxious to Shine in politics or nm!
OF the learned professions, and who
have very modest capital, The province
Of Santiago de Cuba offers one ol tn
choicest fields in the world.