Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-30
IN The PROVINCE OF SANTIAGO
American Crooks Systematically Plunder
Houses.
AGRICULTURAL REGIONS BRIGHTEN UP
Last Few Months Has Brought About
an Extraordinary Change In the
Province - Farmers and
Cane Raisers at work.

SANTIAGO, Jan. Correspondence OF
the Associated ,Press.)-A number Of bur-
glares have occurred recently in Santiago
province that seem to indicate the opera
tion Of a regular band OF American
crooks"
During the night Of January 13 the post
Office at Manzanillo was entered and $50 in
cash was taken. The same night at the
same place two horses were stolen, one of
which belonged to the chief Of police Two
nights later a dwelling house in Santiago
occupied as club house and mess by ten
army officers was burglarized. Nearly $500
in cash and valuable gold watch and
chain were stolen
For the last month there have been big
fires on the hill tops, reminding Americans
here of The days when they used to read
In the morning papers Of the burning Of the
sugar cane. tobacco, etc, by the insurgent
forces. But the present fires are kindled
for the purpose Of clearing the land for
farmers use.
Rich Small Plantations.
The hills around Santiago possess some
OF the richest and finest lands in the world.
The small planter, the man owning a little
bit OF land. Is returning to his work and to
his home. Many of the small planters here
nave since the Spanish surrender been work
ing for the government here in the street
cleaning department or some similar branch
or the government service, where they
earned 81 to $3.50 day, and as they have
got living down to fine art and in all
probability their wives and children have
been drawing INDECENT rations in quantity
suft1cient to keep the entire family, most
OF the wages mas been saved by them. Hun
dreds OF Cubans who have been working for
the various government departments during
the last nye months have from 500 to $3.50
saved. This, with one or two acres OF land,
is all that is required by them to develop
into successful farmers on a small scale.
This returning to work in the country is
very good sign for the future. for it not
only means that the lands which have gone
to waste Will once more be nut into culti-
walton. but it also meanS that cultivation
of land tnat was never previously anything
but waste will commence. 1t means vacan-
cies in the sanitary and quartermasters de-
Dartments which will be given to other
Cubans. who in the course of few months
Will also nave saved sufficient money to take
up an acre or Two Of land and go into the
country with their families.
Great Change in the Country.
A horseback trip through the country
San LUIS, returning via Songo, a journey of
nearly fifty miles. taking two days to per-
form. reveals an extraordinary change in the
situation during the last few mon this Three
! months ago there were only dozen or so
small agrcuturists engaged in their occupa-
tion throughout the entire district. while
today there must be about 1000. Then one
would see nothing but waste lands, over
grown with weeds. Today acres upon acres
Of small holdings are carefully attended to
and are yielding luscious fruits and vege-
tables which, could they be landed direct
IN New York. would make the fortune OF
the producers.
Some small capitalists possessing a few
hundred dollars and a few acres Of land are
starting on more ambitious scale with the
intention OF establishing offee plantations.
but as 1t takes three years for a coffee
plantation to begin to pay even running ex-'
penses. few acres adjoining are generally
put into banana and other fruit trees. Vege-
tables are also growing for the market
These more than pay the expenses attend
ant upon the starting of a coffee planta-
tion.
The Cubans consider the coffee grown in
this province as the finest Of the world and
in the markets Of the island it Is always
| other coffee. There never has been a sufi-
Client quantity grown to export very much
| of 1t and almost the entire crop Is invari-
ably sold in the local markets. But it Is
probable that in the future very large
| number OF plantations will spring up and
| that in five or six years Cuba will be among
the large coffee producing countries Of the
world.
Capital is TimOrOus.
Large capitalists still hold aloof from in
| vesting much money in this province and
| merchants here account for it by saying
that capital Ia always timorous and that
| until 1t Is known for certain what is going
| to be done. under what political regime the
! island Is to be continued, 1t is not likely
that any very large amount of capital will
be put into any one undertaking unless
guaranteed by the United States govern
ment.
The payment OF 5000. 900 or $4.00O.O 900 to
| those Cubans who served during the insur-
rection will help much toward the general
prosperity. for it will enable thousands of
men to do precisely what these men who
have been saving money BY their work in
the streets and departments are now doing.
Thsv will be able to purchase land and
thrive and become producers more than con-
sumers. thereby adding to the wealth OF
the island
The cost Of living to the small agricul-
turist is practically nil, for he grows almost
everything needed on his own hit of land