The record-union., 1898-04-09
PEARL OF The ANTILLES.
FACTS ABOUT CUBA WHICH
ARE OF INTEREST NOW.
Health of the Inhabitants and the
Commercial Relations With
the United States.


The island of Cuba lies wholly with
in the tropics, and extends from about
II degrees west longitude to - de-
grees west. It's southernmost point in
the eastern part of the island is IN
latitude 20 degrees, and the extreme
breadth of the island, 100 miles, is IN
the same vicinity. The western end
OF the island is we'll within the Gulf
of Mexico, and is separated from the
peninsula of Yucatan by the Straits
of Yucatan North of Cuba and about
100 miles distant are the Bahama ISL
an0s, with the Santarem Channel in
terVening The Bahamas are sur
rounded by numerous coral reefs and
extensive banks and shoals. To the
westward of Cuba are the Windward
Passage and the island of San Domingo
Cuba has a very extensive cOastline
because of it's irregularity, and numer-
Gus excellent natural harbors. Off
shore the coast is inclosed by reefs and
many low-lying islands that inclose
broad and shallow bays. The surface
of the island is varied and highly
picturesaue-the country being gener-
ally tleNdled anu III ohCh WIN AiAiiN'
mountains and short river valleys. The
mountains rise higher towards the east,
and at the extremity of the island in
that direction are quite lofty and rug
ged-more so than any part of the
Appalachian chain of mountains in
this country.
The narrow part of the island adja-
cent to Havana is comparatively low
land, and the cities and villages IN
this region being poorly drained and
with the most wretched sanitary reg
ulations are scourged with yellow fe-
yer and other epidemics d-'ring the
rainy season that begins in the month
of May 1t must not be supposed there
fore that the entire country is inSalu-
brious in character On the contrary.
the hill district in the interior is quite
free from the contagious diseases that
are so prevalent and so malignant in
the coast cities Furthermore, the eli
mate is much cooler. the air is more
pure and conditions of living altogeth-
er more favorable and more agreeable
1t is well known that Cuba was settled
before the English colonies were es-
tabliShed in America; and the people
of the island. originally of Spanish
blood, have been SO long in their trop-
ical homes as to have acquired dis
tinctive racial traits and a character
very different from the old European
stock The temperament of the Cuban
is less refined and also less cruel than
that of the Spaniard. Their complex
ion is darker. That they are equally
brave and more liberty flowing has been
proved in the light of recent events.
Ten years ago census of Cuba was
taken and the population was found
to number 1.61S,000 of whom l. ,O53,
coo were whites and 52S, 600 were col
ored Ever since the successful strug-
gle for independence on the part of
the Spanish-American peoples. in 1921,
the Cuban people have been striving to
gain their own freedom. AT intervals
of from ten to twenty years rebellions
have broken out, and have been waged
bitterly, only to be repressed and put
down by the stern and domineering
hands of their Spanish rulers. The last
insurrection began in 1868 and con-
tinued for ten years, the warfare being
unceasing. although it was confined to
the mountain Businesses of the island
during the most of that period.
Finally, with the specious and fair
promises of reforms and increased pop
ular rights the colonies We're prevailed
upon to yield The treAehery of their
masters was then revealed and the
islanders We're obliged TO renew the
yoke of oppression and the burden of
excessive taxation.
Under such conditions of misgovern-
ment and hatred of authority neither
loyalty nor good faith obtains between
the colonial subjects and the Govern
ment The relation is strictly that of
the hated despot and the despised sub
ject
The island is full of promise-it is
styled the Pearl of the Antilles. The
soil is fertile, and all kinds of fruit,
crops and vegetation grow with extra
ordinary luxuriance. Corn, potatoes
and other vegetables produce two and
sometimes three crops a year. The
principal articles of export are sugar
and tobacco. and the production of the
former has amounted to 1.S00,000 tons
in one year. In the year 1894 the ex-
port trade to the United States amount
ed to 500, 600 900, and the import trade
was S32, ,630,21 For the same year the
etS,SiCSoeS N<NPCiS anu llliPoi u 49,
Spain was only S40,000,O00. The i'm
port trade from this country consisted
of breadstuffs, machinery, manufac-
lures, drugs, chemicals. etc.
The commercial affairs of the island
since the above date have been not only
paralyzed, but ruined, by the very de-
structive war that has been goin~ on.
Nearly all productive industry has been
suspended, and the people are becom-
ing impoverished by the existing de-
plorable state OF affairs.
Havana is the only large city, hav-
ing 30 900 Inhabitants, and 1t is the
seat of the Spanish Government The
other principal cities are Matanzas,
Puerto Principe. and Santiago de
Cuba, with about 40, 600 population
each. There are about a thousand miles
of railway traversing the mere popu-
lous districts of the island Steamship
lines connect Cuba with the United
States, Spain, France, Germany ani
various ports in South America. The
telegraph system is under the control
of the Government and subjected to A.
strict censorship, as is also the press.
There is cable communication between
Cuba and Florida and another line to
the important islands of the West In