New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-14
CrBA's ADVANCE IN 400 YEARS.
AN AuToNOMIsr TELLS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
UNDER sPANISH DOMINION.

AN AI-TONOMIST TELLS WHAT HAS BEEN JUNE
UNDER SPANISH DOMINION
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. n I may do so without infringing on the
right OF YOUR corresp )nL"rt. "E s. c." TO an
swer hlmseIf the communication addressed TO Elm
In to-dav's Tribune by "R. G. b." and II you VIII
kindly grant me the necessary space In your COL
umns would Ike to present TO the CONSIDERATION
OF the latter some facts In answer 10 his statement
that Cuba under Spanish dominion has made no
substantial advance in four hundred years And
in order that these facts may not seem TO be
c,lored by preiudlce In favor OF Spain will take
them from source professedy favorable TO the
,nsurgcnts-a short History OF Cuba" compiled
by Lieutenant T.. iIannaford from the latest ana
best authorities" published In February OF last
year
In thi. publication the value OF the agricultural
exrorts OF the island FOR year shortly before
the last instruction" Is given as upward OF SS.-
0c 900" The tobacco crop lis estimated at about
80 coo 200 annually" Cuban sugars and tobaccos
are stated 10 be famous the world over Not
all the bounty stimulated and cheaper production
OF beet sugar: IN Europe" II is added. has been
able 10 displace Cuban sugars In foreign markets
though competition from this source has largely
reduced the profits in raising them" I'm Cuba
the grinding season lasts twice as lorS as II does
in Louisiana. Throughout the sugar-ralsng dis.
tricts the towering furnace chimneys CO the mills ="
with modern machinery, are everywhere The most
conspicuous objects Under conditions OF p s,aSe
IONS per annum.
II the picture which the island now presents is
less cheering one. who Is 10 blame for II?
The city OF Havana. the Cuban capital, is thus
described In the same publication: The famous
capital Of Cuba which l. al so the commercial
centre OF the West Indies is the Oldest city found
cd by Europeans in America. dating II ON 1919. It's
harbor IL very fine II is the foremost tobacco
and sugar market OF the world, and manufactures
IN Immense quantities. The census OF 1857
showed n population of 2UJ.hS The city. which Is
made up OF the old and new towns the latter
outside the old walls has hlndsome suburbs. be-
sides many and beautiful public parks and
promenades
Havana Is metropolis of wealth. good Twins
and general luxury. with an abundance OF Gates
and restaurants, fairly rivalling those OF Paris
IL is massively built mostly OF stone and paved
with granite or other stone equally hard being
the best ;eral Tor this lana OF prodg.ous rains
and flaming suns
Other data from the same publication are fol-
lows: There one thousand miles Of railroad
In regular operation In times OF peace through
out the island, besides about two hundred miles OF
private lines running TO the large sugar panta-
lions. and which during the war Of 1857 were
more less completely destroyed The telegraph
lines aggregate $50 mics. The number OF vessels
that entered the i've principal port5-Havsna, San
;lago Cienfuegos. Trinidad and Nuevias-n 1894
In round numbers two thousand. with tom
mage OF two and one-half millions"
All this would seem to be substantial advance
In the condition OF the island since the days when
the natives taken prisoners In by their neigh
bors. The carlhbees. were devoured by the latter.
New-York. Jan. ~. 1898. AN ACTONOMIST