The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-05-03
THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
n Comprehensive Description OF the
Country and It's Res0urccs-Ihc
Great Variety of it's Products.

Country and its Itesourccs-Thc
Great Variety of it's Products.
The island of Cuba is situated in the
Caribbean Sea: 1T Is the largest and
most western OF the group called the
West Indies, and its western extrcmitv
terminates at the entrance to the Gulf
of Mexico, midway between Florida
and \ dcatan. CuOa is III miles from
inc latter peninsula, 81 from that of
Florida, lO3 from Jamaica and 10 from
Hayti.
The coniguration OF the island is
vcry Irregular, resembling somewhat
the arc Of circle. Its greatest length,
from cast to west, is LIPS miles.
and its entire coast line, l,7l9. Its
greatest breadth, in its eastern part,
Is about 100 miles its least, iu the pro-
vince OF Havana, % miles, and its
average breadth 80 miles.
Around the island are innumerable
lslctS, keys and banks, many OF which
are separattd from the coast bv narrow
straits, greatly faciliting navigation
Tor small vessels OF little draughL. but
rendering 1T on the other hand i'm
possible In some places and extremely
dangerous in others fer vessels Of mucn
draught.
Along the coast, chiefly on the south
crn side Of the island, ne extensive
tracts OF land in process Of formation,
covered in some places with "a species
OF brnshwood called manglarcs. which
are the source OF a profit able industry,
the bark, which Is rich in ]tannip,
being used for tanning. These lands
are Inundated at high tide, but, being
lGlI pare, whcn the water recedes, the
air Is contaminated by the vegetable
matter, rotted by the action of the
water, producing marsh and other in
iections fevcrs. Fortunately, their
malehc action is limited to the region
inundated, owing tn the sea brcrzes
and the n Winds, which constantly
purify and cool the atmosphere OF the
island.
In other parts OF the island, instead
OF m~anglares, there are low lands.
which are inundated during the rains,
IN which springs of fresh water
abound. They are covered with sipc.
ranns 9nd other aquatic plants, and, at
ilttlc cost, arc drained and utiliZ Il for
agriculture.
The geography of the island is de.
by Il chain OF mountains,
which, like u back bone, travcrscs the
from east to west. having mo
elevations throughout It's extent.
except a few isolated groups OF but
llttlc height, but very abrupt, until it
reaches The eastern coast, in the pro
vince Oh Santiago de Cuba, where it
oliurchtes, and, rising suddenly, i)ins
Il group called Sierra del Cobre, with
peaks 5000 feet in height, resembling
ana forming apparently the beginning J
the mountain chain Of Hiyti, which
rises on the other side OF the cana. del
Y iente' and which is visible frcn the
cuban coast.
The rivers are n%avigable In the
EASTERN part OF the island only but
hey are always available for
irrigation. 1hey are for the most
part OF little length, on account Of their
sources being very near the coast, but
'helr abundant waters, util Il I'd for the
irrigation OF the fields, as is now being
one In Ine province Of Havana, arc a
onrcc OF ~incalculable wealth To The
agriculture OF the country.
The sub soil OF the country is formed
chalky rocks Of primary formation,
porous, having the pecu.
larlty OF forming vast caverns like
he caves OF Bclldmar, in Matanzas.
'hich are one OF the natural wonder.
| the world in many places these
ocks rest upon others OF slaty formn.
ION, and in the center of the island
hey are combined with the slate and
and granite rocks, which
redomlnate in the eastern part of the
Sland.
n latest census. taken in 1887
ave a total OF 1861, 900 inhabitants
{ whom 52S, 900 were blacks and | O53,,
10 whites. ~ I
Taking together the natural increase G.
the population and that In immi.
ration, Of which there has ALWAYS
cen considerable to Cuba, and The a
OF a census in 1895, the tota, Donu. .
'tiou may be estimated at 1000 ono |
'uls, OF whom 500, 600 are colored and '
10 rest whites 1t is to be borne in
ind that In Cuba the censuses that G
ave been taken shoH that The colored
.ce Is diminishing. D
Havana, capital OF tic island. ia q =
ty OF go, 600 inh' bitants, with fine v
'omenades. bou' wards and streets. '
hotels, with restaurants .,
.ual to these OF New York, Paris, ~
lenos Ayr's, etc. three theatres in :"
first.class companies perform .,
o OF them, tho Teatro Tacon, being l.,
ns'dertd one OF the finest In tho ~
'rld clubs and social and ~scien.ifc !"
stitutions, all Of which together con.
tutes the main part of the intel.
,tual ! fe OF mod I'm peoples. In the
are buried the remains ~ vi
Ir'stol her Colu nbus and his SON Sc
go; among several fine