Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-12

have been but slightly developed. AS
fields for American enterprise both
sources of wealth present attractive pos
sibilities. Under the new order Of things
which will prevail in Cuba fields so in
viting will not remain long u%noccupied,
and in the consequent development OF
her great productive capacity both Cuba
and the United States will be the
gamers.
The mineral wealth of Cuba is SO
great that if 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 at
Copre before Columbus discovered the
island, and there is strong proof that
native copper was carried across to
Florida and used by the Florida Indians
many centuries ago. The mound build
ers Of that state buried with their dead
copper ornaments and utensils, and
as there is no copper in Florida or in
the United States for a long distance
from there 1t is reasonable to conclude
that the metal was brought from Cuba.
Certainty, however, took the place OF
conjecture when a chemical analysis
showed the identity Of Cuban copper
with that found in the mounds.
Copper mines were opened in Cuba
as early as 1916 to obtain metal for
casting cannon, but they We're soon
abandoned owing to tho restrictions
placed by the government on the bust
ness. In TAI, when Admiral Vernon
captured the bay of Guantanamo, cop
per money was coined by the order OF
Governor Cajigal. From this time up
to 1880 the mines were unworked, but
in the latter year foreign companies re-
opened them, and a native company
was organized soon afterward. A min
ing excitement followed, and in 1874
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
%, 900, 900 to So, 500, 900 worth OF cop
per from these mines was exported tt
the United States, besides the quaint
ties sent to other countries. Since tn
year mentioned a combination of cir
cumstances led to the mines being
closed, though still as productive a
ever, and the various shafts, from 9O'
to 1,2OO 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 thes
mines by pumping the water from tn
shafts into tanks, which containe'
scraps Of iron. The copper held IN solu
ton by the water was deposited on tn
iron and was removed when a suffcien
quantity had accumulated. The process
Of freeing these submerged mines fron
water would be a costly one, but ex
perts say it would prove profitable.
The iron mines Of Cuba, all of whic
80 far worked are in the vicinity 9
Santiago, overshadow in Importance al
other industries on the eastern end c
the island. Furthermore the industr
is the only one that has been able t
Withstand the industrial paralysis COZ
sequent upon the present insurrectioI
, The Juragua and Baiquiri iron con
, panies, both American, with a capits
of over IS, 600, 900, now operate mine
in this vicinity, and usually emplo
from 800 to l, 400 men. The two con
panies ship into this country from 80
j 900 to so, 600 tons Of iron ore per month
! the largest portion Of which is used
Bethlehem, Steelton, Sparrows Poil
8 and the Carnegie iron works at Pitt
burg. The ore derived from these min'
r Is among the richest in the world, yielt
ing from SO to 81 per cent Of pure iroi
and is almost free from sulphur an
phosphorus. There are numerous und'
veloped mines of equal richness in tt
same region.
n Manganese, a metal difficult to pr
cure and so Indispensable in the MANI
Q facture of steel, also exists in Cub
Numerous deposits Of this metal al
found in the Sierra Maestro range .
the southern coast, from Santiago we
to Manzanillo, within a distance Of II