Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-16

been sheathed and the islands opened
again to cultivation, Baltimoreans will
have the same chance to take hand
in the development of the land as any
other people Of the country. :.
Mr.. Fax during his advent On the is
land tooa up his abode at Santiago de
Cuba, in the eastern section. Iron ore
and manganese are ia he found here
in abundance, he ,sssr also copper The
iron ore mines are yci undeveloped;
the best mines have not yet been work
ed. These are stretched along the
coast of Santiago. REPORTS" says
Mr. Fox, come from oti.er sections ON
the north coast, near Paracoa, to the
effect that iron ore abounds there, but
this has as yet never been inquired
into. American possession OF these
mines would be of great advantage to
the furnaces along the American coast
especially to the furnaces at Sparrows
Point. The tax on Cuban ore Is
40 cents per ton. 1t is superior to the
ore gotten at the lakes. In other Sec
lions ochre and other minerals have
been found on the surface, but no one
can tell what riches are hidden furtheY
down until the mines are developed
Around Santiago is the best coneA
country in Europe. Sugar cane Is als1
raised. 1t is fine country for rails
ing cattle. Here there is grazing tha
year round, because there is no winter.
The business could be carried on IN
a great extent under favorable condi'
tions, but heretofore and at Presen'
all the cattle are consumed on the is
land. If conditions were favorable Gu
ba could compete with any country "
the raising Of cattle.
The interior is practically undevel-
oped, and what riches are hidden be-
meath the soil are yet unknown to tbE
world. Much of the land is covered
with fine cedar and mahogany. bu'
lumber cannot be gotten out because
there are no railroad facilities nor
highways. The people live in prlm-
tive way, but they are hospitable and
peaceful. The interior is more health
full and is milder than the coast. The
city OF Santiago, if it had the same Ia
cilities that Baltimore enjoys, would
be as healthful, if not more so, than
our own CITY, Cuba needs railroads
more than anything else. II there is
any immigration it would be to the
country in the interior, which is very
fertile. so many as two crops a year,
and sometimes three being raised. The
people in the country live on what they
produce. They could supply the whole
island and other parts of the world,
but this is impossible because of the
absence of railroads and highroads. All
the eggs and chickens consumed in
Santiago come from New York, and
the people have to pay dearly for them,
whereas these articles can be supplied
very cheaply by the people in the in
terror, if they could in any way con-
vey their products to the city.
along the coast is a fibrous growth
which is used for manufacture Of rope.
The English have been cultivating 1t
on their own smaller islands. In Cuba
there is a great field for enterprises Of
all kinds. The island needs money
and business men. A railroad from
Santiago to Havana would do more
than anything else toward developing
the country. The only way to travel
there now is by horseback. The horses
are of the finest stock, but there are
few Of them left, most Of them having
been taken for use in the army. The
horses there are small-they would be
regarded here as ponies; but they can
stand twice as much service as the best
American horses. Many Of the people
have been so hard pressed for food that
they have to eat their own horses, and
the very poor who have no horses Oft
en- steal the stock of travellers and
others for food. If the Americans are
going to land troops in Cuba I think
they will make great mistake If they
take heavy American horses with
them. Small horses and ponies, such
as are to be found in Mexico, Texas
and on the plains, should be used"