The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-28

Copyright, 1898, by the Author)
New York. Aug. 26.-Ever since there
has been a prospect that Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines might be-
come a part OF the territory of the
United States, and hence field for
Yankee enterprise, the eyes of thou
sands Of Americans have been turned
in that direction. Some of them are
men with money to invest, others are
seeking a profitable field for the en-
ployment of their ambitious energies,
but all, with characteristic American
push, are anxious to get the first and
fullest information as TO the prospects
and possibilities of these new lands.
Every man who is known to possess
knowledge of the resources and trade
conditions of these islands of the East
and West indies has received numer-
Gus inquiries from intending investors
or settlers, Cuba, being nearest our
own shores, has attracted the most at
tention, and the Cuban junta in New
York has been besieged with inquiries
regarding the climate, crop conditions
and prospects of investors. In regard
TO these points, Mr.. H. S. Rubens, the
counsel of the junta, who has care
fully studied the natural resources of
Cuba, says:
THE salient features of Cuba today
are its immense prodigality and the
large amount OF property as yet unde-
Neloped. There is no country in the
kWOrld so richly endowed by nature
Aith raw materials that can so easily
be changed into positive wealth. The
exports have reached as high as $780,
900. 000 year, although the country is
but little larger than Ireland. OF the
nTn0 ~, fT4rhn ,11lx-
are now under cultivation. There are
Il coo acres of virgin forests, there
are 5000 600 of natural pasture and
1000 GOO OF barren or inferior property.
Sugar is, of course, the main in
duStry, comprising over fourth tbs of
the total exports. The immense tim
Der lands, when once they are cleared
away, viii make the best of sugar
properties. The sugar cane needs to
be replanted but seldom. sometimes
continuing along for 20 years or even
more before any new planting is neces-
sary. There are immense opportuni-
ties for large capitalists in this in
dustry, but the amount required for
buying the property and furnishing
machinery would run into the hundreds
of thousands. The chance for the
smaller investor is not so good. He
could, perhaps, lease a portion of the
property from the large owner and do
all the work up TO the maj STlnulnS-
There might be a few chances near
grinding plant or central as it is
called, but in general the sugar in
dustry for a small man financially is
not feasible.
The same may be said of the to-
bacco industry, of which the exports
from Cuba are about S10,00O0 600 a year.
The best properties are in Pinar del
Rio, where the finest grade of tobacco
i'll the world is grown. Most of the
tobacco lands however, are taken up,
, and the little that is left is altogether
too expensive for any but the largest
4 corporations TO develop. There are
some chances to start on q small scale
in certain sections where low grade
CT tobacco is raised. But in this bust
ness and the sugar industry consider
able knowledge is necessary to avoid
failure.
Perhaps the industry third in i'm
portance is furnished by the timber
lands. In the east there are vast tracts
of forest that have never been touched
The suicidal policy of the Spanish gov
eminent was never better shown than
here. Little attempt has Deen made
to reach and market these woods. The