Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-04
THE ISLAND OF CUBA.

vi an irregular CToSCeut Sudpe, Siod
is much larger than popularly sup
posed, for it is 730 miles long, has an
average " idth of so miles and an area of
3,319 square miles, without including
its adjacent islands, which add over
1000 square miles more. Although
mountainous in the interior, much of
the coast line is low and fiat, and diff
cult of approach on account OF the
numerous reefs and small islands. Not
withstanding this feature of the coast
it is said that no other island in the
world has as many excellent harbors in
proportion to it's sizs. OF these, Ha-
vsna, Matauzas, Bahia Honda, Mariel,
| Nuevitas, Nipe and Cardenas, on the
uorth side, and Santiago de Cuba, Trim
Ii'ad, Guanauamo and Cienfuegos, on
the south side, are the principal and
best known.
The island of Cuba is divided into
tx provinces, the most thickly popu-
ted of which is Ravaua, and the least is
Puerto Principe. The total population,
u re the present insurrection, was over
/ 100000, but it is estimated that at
ST half million have since
,Derished in battle, by disease
md by starvation. Although there
is much cleared and cultivated
I'd, there are no less than 10000 900
cres of almost impenetrable forest.
fully 100000 of which have never
ben disturbed by man. But the soil
which has been cultivated is marvellous
rich and productive. To what ex-
tent this is so is shown by the fact that,
Notwithstanding the discoursgements
to industrial enterprises through the
misrule of Spain, the exports of 1898
we're valued at over SO 100000 Spanish
dollars.
Notwithstanding the prevalence of
yellow fever in the seacoast cities and
towns, the greater part of Cuba is said
under normal conditions to be very
healthy place. Although not altogeth-
er in the tropics, it has all the charac-
.eristics of the torrid region. 1t has
wet and dry season, and except in few
spots in the mountains not even light
frosts. The prevailing temperature is
not unpleasantly hot, for the highest is
rarely over 80 degrees, while the aver
age is II degrees.
The chief agricultural products are
sugar, coffee and tobacco, of which the
Uuited States takes the greater part
II 1898, for example, there were SIS, 1894
IONS OF sugar produced, of which us, ,204
tons were exported, the United States
taking six hundred and eighty thousand
six hundred and forty-two tons.
OF 227 900 bales of tobacco e1
ported, two-thirds came to this
country, together with more than half
the 147, 1865, 900 cigars made. But while
the exports footeu up total OF S9,000,-
600 Spanish dollars, and the Imports
Sc 600, 900, the taxation on the people
reached nearly 25,000,000 Spanish dol.
lars. OF this tremendous burden,
which is more than one-sixth the COM
bined value of the imports and exports,
less than one-half came from the Gus
toms, and one-fourth of the whole is
entirely diverted from the island to the
uaes of the Spanish crown.
1t is supposed that the negro race
either predominates in point Of num-
OPTS III SuUh VI ~ louSh uCalIy oc, Ou'
this does not appear to be the fact, for
Just before the rebellion it was esti-
mated that there was less than half a
million of this race on the island,
against over a million whites and about
sc. 900 Chinese. OF the whites, the ma
tive born, or Cubans are by far the
best educated, but neither the mass OF
the Spanish residents nor the negroes
are overburdeued with scholastic
knowledge. There seems no doubt
Tat under proper government the
wealth of Cuba would be prodigious,
and even with poor rule, but free
from the oppression of Spain, it should
be of more than ordinary proportions.