Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-05-19
IN THE REBORN CUBA
CHANCES FOR AMERICANS TO GAIN
FORTUNES ON HER SHORES.

CHANGES FOR AMERICANS TO GAIN
FORTUNES ON HER SHORES.
ducer-Her Fine Tobacco, Banana and
Coffee Lands-The Mineral Wealth Is
misunderstanding Islands Richness.
'Cuba is the smile of the sea-" says
the ever picturesque Ingersoll. 1t is
country 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 us 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, $4,000, 900
pounds in year. With American ener-
BY and enterprise the island could be
made to produce so, 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 the
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 is
not more than one-half Of per cent of
saccharin lost. Cuba will be market
for sugar making machinery, agricul-
tural machinery, electric light appli-
ances, railroad supplies, wooden ware,
etc. In fact, there will be a ready and
constantly increasing market for all our
productions, from clothes to catnip.
At present Cuba grows 10000, 900
pounds Of tobacco leaf, which opens up
field for American manufacture. The
25,000,000 cocoanuts raised annually
show the need of active and energetic
capital in cocoanut oil factory. Tho
100000, 900 lunches 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 ths rnanufac-
ture of soap, coarsely fibered cloths and
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 1850
there were 800 plantations running at
a 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. It
requires only small capital to start a
coffee plantation. A half crop is grown
the third year, and the fourth year sees
the full yield. 1t pays from 25 to 100
per cent on the capital invested, which
is much too fascinating problem to
remain long unsolved by Uncle Sam 8
enterprising family.
The mineral wealth of the island ia
incompatible and inexhaustible. The
copper mines are exceedingly rich and
added capital and energy will develop
them to 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 a political
sense Cuba has wonderful future
Evidence of it's richness is given by
the fact that Cuba was self supporting
as early as 1897. Since that time it has
prospered steadily and exceedingly. 1t
has paid Spain since 1897 from 81, O00,-
900 to Sc. 600, 900 yearly. It is ooun-
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 off the little
island and American thrift will be in
fused into its 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.
1t is 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
city. The bay is a 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
harvests in Cuba whether it be annex.
ed or not, and in the years not far dis.
tant the population will be largely