The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-11
Fortunes
ITO Be Made
InNewCuba

sountry of wonderful resources. Add TO
these its geographical position. and we
have the factors of glorious product.
1t is within easy reach Of New Orleans
and other large markets Of the United
States. Transportation is cheap. The
United States and Cuba are reciprocal
In productions. We find there ready
market for manufactured goods, and
the island sends as sugar, bananas and
other tropical productions. A tremen-
dous trade would spring up under free
trade conditions.
Cuba is the largest sugar producer in
the world. The Constancia plantation
near Cienfuegos produced, according to
the last Cuban census. 40, 600. 600
pounds In q year. With American ener-
gy and enterprise the island could be
made to produce 80, 900, 900 tons easily.
There would be heavy competition
among experts in the production of sug-
ar. These lands would be scientifically
cultivated and the cane reduced by tho
diffusion process. This is stepping
process. The cane, finely chopped up,
is placed in large iron cylinders and
submitted to the same process as tea In
the housewives teapot. Thus there il
not more than one-half Of per cent Of
saccharin lost. Cuba will be market
for sugar making machinery, agricul-
tural machinery, electric light appM-
ances. railroad supplies, wooden ware.
etc. In fact, there will be ready and
constantly increasing market for all our
l~S1 -
At present Cuba grows 80, 600, 900
pounds of tobacco leaf, which opens up
field for American manufacture. The
$4,000, 600 cocoanuts raised annually
show the need of active aud energetic
capital In cocoanut oil factory. The
90. 600, 600 punches Of bananas now
grown yearly can be more than doubled
after political differences have been set
tied and the trade of America sets in.
Material is abundant for tho manufao-
ture Of soap, coarsely fibered cloths end
many kindred industries. Fruit farms
on an average make large returns after
three years, except the banana, which
yields abundantly after the first year.
On the mountain slopes In the east
ern, central and western parts are the
finest coffee lands in the world. In 1860
there were 500 plantations running at
large profit. This kept up for eight
years, when the wearing Ten Years war
ruined them. They were either devas-
tated or allowed to decay. All these
will be revived in regenerated Cuba. II
requires only small capital 70 start
coffee plantation. A half crop Is grown
the third year, and the fourth year sees
the full yield. 1t pays from Is to 100
per cent on the capital invested, which
is much too fascinating q problem to
remain long unsolved by Uncle Sans
enterprisipg family.
The mineral wealth Of the island IL
incompatible and inexhaustible. The
copper mines are exceedingly rich and
added capital and energy will develop
them to a much greater degree. The
iron mines are capable Of producing
enormous quantities Of bessemer iron
ores. These ores are very valuable and
known the world over to manufacturers
as "Spanish ores" As time strides ON
the smoke of factory chimneys will be
no novel sight in the now paralyzed
island. In business as we'll as political
sense Cuba has q wonderful future.
Evidence of its richness Is given by
the fact that Cuba was self supporting
as early as 1897. Since that time It has
prospered steadily and exceedingly. It
has paid Spain since 1897 from 81, 000,-
900 to $6, 600, 900 yearly. It is coun-
try wonderfully prosperous and in
creases in prosperity when let alone by
its own and other peoples. 1t has grown
steadily richer despite the fact that its
per capita taxation Is three times that
of the United States. Now that Spain
must forever keep hands of the little
island and American thrift will be In.
fused into it's slow southern veins we
shall see great things from it.
The climate of Cuba is in many parts
delightful. Being insular, the heat Of
the sun is much tempered by cooling
breezes from the surrounding waters.
It 10 much more healthy than is COM
monty supposed, the higher portions be-
ing comparatively free from the deadly
disease of some of the lowlands. The
fearful mortality from yellow fever In
Havana is due almost wholly to the
horribly unsanitary condition Of the
oity. The bay is huge cesspool that
contains enough germs Of all sorts,
kinds and conditions to devastate the
world. There is almost no tideway in
the bay-not more than four inches.
With American capital and American
business ability the drainage of Havana
and its consequent improvement in mat
ters Of health are foregone conclusions
Americans will reap rich financial
barvests In Cuba whether IL be annex
Cd or not, and in the years not far dis
tant the population will be largely
American In either case. American cap.
ital will predominant and American
ideas of government will obtain. On ac-
count Of the right hand Of fellowship
now extended by Uncle Sam Americans
will be welcomed by the Cubans and
given concessions greater than any other
nation. The relationship between the
countries will be very Close. and tho