Arizona republican., 1898-11-09
pl0S AND POULTRY.
They Arc Needed la Cuba ffore Than
 Politics.

Washington, Nov. S.-Charlcs NJ
 Pepper writes the E.ar rem Cuba a.
 follows:
 Pigs and poultry and population are
 Of more account to this province than
 policies. They have their politicians
 radical Cuban advocates cf Cuba libTe;' intriguing Spanish annexation- lstS- and conservatives, who sensibly tc;raGel trusting cnc United Sta4ss Bui even these could De spared if the pigs and poultry could Ee had for the in
 ha.oitants who have survived the dis trsss Of the last three years. When the present population is Sure,o. some thing to cat it will take up the oues-
 uon Of the new population which will be needed to develop the eg-icultura! resources.
 have seen TO signs Of rations from the United States being distributed out this way. Jerkkd beef, bacon, beans and four would be good, but in their absence the inhabitants are getting aicng. They are raising in q small way bCnatos, CT sweet potatoes, rice, yucca and maiagU2. The rco.s Of the yucca and malagua aI3 said to be quite hutritious. The malagua looks like coarse tobacco. From the size and shape of the leaves it is called ele- plants ears. The trouble with this purely vegetable dict is that while it may sustain lif2, there is nothing in it to rebuild eand stre1 gthsn weakened systems and if them for worI, iG the fields. Bread and meat are needed. -
 in the time of psace the Cuban cou1- e-y people had their "b6hio'' or hut, fer a dwelling, and sometimes they lived in a larger house known as a rancho" They cultivated the soil, and pigs and poultry were @ part Of their belongings. Frequently they had a ccw. The government under which they lived left them in dirt and ignor- ance, making nc effo.t to be.rer their condition. ]. was net an ideal exist ence, but it afforded the means of liy- ing in physical comfort. To get the country population back into that state where they can provide for themselves is the first step toward the welfare Of themselves and the future common wealth of Cuba. Pigs and poultry will help 10 dc it. I have seen a few hogs of the Georgia razor-bacil variety, with sRcuts SC sharp that they could drink cut of a jug. They are better than none at all.
 From the town of Pinar del Rio east to Artemisa, excert fer a few 1nils5 within the Pinar zone. is q lonely, des- l along to tho north are almost hidden in purple haze: They give TO sign CT the qualities of soil which have made this the richest tobacco country in the world Some cf the land from the foothills toward the marshes On the south coast is chased Gs poor, suitable for neither sugar nor tobacco, though 1t would De called rich in any other country. It is well watared by small creeks. Formerly 1t was used for grazing, and some fine herds were for merly pastrred there. The cattle have been gone for a ysar CT more. For miles there is nutritious grass, on which did net sea an animal SrSziCg. This will hardly last after the ports are taken cuE Of the hands cf the Span ish authorities and the, importation of cattle becomes possible. The pastur age is tco luxuriant to be left un- touched.
 Al enc tir..e thera were saw mills in the western part of the province. They clasrcd the pines. SC rapidly that the palms and tne guava bushes wi1h some mango and laurel trees, were all that remained 70 cover the landscape 4 new growth of rine has sprung up and, | though il natures rapidly, some years i must elapse4 bsfore there is further work for tho saw mill, he plCW is ! the -tCOi which should Dc DIE tG lnl0e- [ Giate' use. Probably, too, it will l'a i the blow from tho United States. In | the fields where tho laGd is being | turned ever have eeea c1iy the priIn lte tongue cf wood w;th piece Of iron | fastened to 1t. The Cuban peasant i cIings to this and he will not of his | ov-r accord change fer an improved i American blow, but in time he will yic!a. American blows WiN-be part Of fAe America yaZa4 ion 70: 1.uba.. Rural | life will also be improved The bohios and ranches in which the peasant classes five are as ccmfcT1 able as the sCd huts and shacks Of Kansas. for iE- stance With their weatherbCarding Of palm, bark and their matching O palm leaves, they lcok like haystack5. The difference is in the dwellers. The man in Kansas who lives in sod hut after awhile is going to have com fcrtable dwelling house. with barns and granarieS The Cuban wno lives in Dohio has never.Ehough that thsre vas anything more in. life fer him.
 : Af0und the ArJzn1isa are two or three cane fields which are fresh and green. They may have cane for the mills to grind by February. Other fields are scant and stunted e choked vi jh r-e-ds, yet they< are Worth clear ing wftf a vieT tD q. crop a year from now.i4 The people are. still under the spsll qf Encouragement. So many have died. ,l