Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-07
Our CUBAN LETTER.
BUSINESS Opportunities for Americans in Cuba-How Carl
tai May be Protaby Invested-Rch Tobacco Lands and
Sugar Estates May be Bought for Song.

one of the poor reconcentrados quar-
tered on the place. was going joyfully
to his parents hut one morning, carry
ing chunk Of beef in a sack, which
the planters steward had given him.
The soldiers overhauled him and de-
manded to know what was in the sack.
The boy took to his heels in alright,
but was speedily captured and brought
Into camp. Meat was scarce, and the
soldiers almost as hungry as the re-
concentrates, so they decided that the
boy had stolen it. In vain he pro-
tested and begged that the steward be
sent for. he was tied to a convenient
palm tree, and while the soldiers
cooked and ate the meat, was fiogged
at intervals during the day-to make
him confess. they said. Being released
at nightfall, the boy tried to crawl
home. but died on the way.
On another plantation, whenever
new lot of reconcentrados were brought
in. the captain OF the guard detained
all the girls and good-looking women
in his tent. and afterwards sold them
to his soldiers, making ocular auc-
tion of t-for jack-knives, food ra-
lions, etc, as the men had no money
the highest bidder being allowed
first choice. On the Santo Tomas
plantation. In Pinar del Rio province,
lived an honest old colored man,
was supposed to have Joined the in
surgents. One day when amusements
ran low, II was decided to 'kill time
with the old man. He was brought to
campand ordered to disclose the where
abouts Of his son. This he could not
do. had he 30 desired, having no idea
where the constantly moving rebel ar
my was situated. The soldiers tied
him to tree and fogged him awhile,
without avail; he could not or would
not tell. Then they compelled him to
dig his own grave and kfieel beside IT.
and into 1t he fell pierGed by score
of bullets.
The planters say that In any event
there must soon be acute famine in
Cuba, because nobody within the zones
of cultivation and the garrisoned
places has planted vegetables or other
food-products for two years past, but
has devoted himself to raising crops
which would bring in most money, in
order to hurry his family out of the
country. Most OF them took to to-
bacco-planting, as promising quicker
cannot stop the production of tobacco
as easily as they can prevent cane
grinding, and maybe they are less dis
posed to interfere with II, as any Gu
ban would rather forego his bread, and
certainly his sugar, than cigarettes.
L saw one PARTICULARLY HHt-lophiUR
tobacco farm. and was informed That
1t belonged to the captain OF the local
guerillas. His place was duly guard
ed by Spanish troops, which lie got de-
tailed at government expense; and he
also paid the insurgents not to modest
his crop. by giving them one-third the
value of 1t. Last winter several
Americans took advantage of the times
and made large purchases OF tobacco
lands. At present the tobacco indus
try Is good for nothing. principally
owinr to Weyler's decree OF two years
ago. forbidding the expectation OF Ha-
bana leaf tobacco. The insurgents
retaliated by burning factories and all
the stored tobacco they could lay hands
on. But the marquis of Tenerlffe APP
pears to have been thrifty fellow MS
well as n butcher" Already mil
lionaire. he made another fortune out
OF his celebrated order for many So
called American tobacco firms exported
thousands OF bales In spite of the
prohibitory decree, pretending that 1t
was diplomatic transaction between
Washington and Madrid. The real
secret was that Weyler graciously per-
mitted shipments to be made by those
who gave him liberal commissions. The
very best tobacco raising region In the
world Is Cuhas "Vuelta Abato;" but
today every plantation In II is aban-
doned and In ruins. After Weylers