The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-22
NUMBERING IN CUBA,
Senator Griffith Of Dandy Gives
Journal Reporter an Interest
ing Account OF This Bust
in That Island.

s. l.. Griffith OF Dandy, Senator from
r tland county, stopped in the city briefly
Thursday evening whore he had been look
ing after his lumber interests. When in
terrogated by a JOURNAL reporter in regard
to the reports that he was contemplating
engaging in the lumber business in Cuba,
Mr.. Griffith denied that such was his iu-
tentiOn. He said upon the occasion OF his
visit TO Cuba he went there simply to look
the field over and to study the mode in
which numbering was done there. lie saiu
the numbering interest there was confined
to such timber as mahogany, lignum vifp,
rosewood and lance wood, which was got
ten out in most primitive manner for the
export trade. He is confident that Ameri
can capitalists could make mints of money
in the business If they would install there
modern machinery and American work
men, cattle, aud methods of doing Il work.
The business at preaent is done on small
scale. The timber is simply hewed and
drawn to the coast for shipment to New
York. The mahogany is graded so as to
briug in New York $40 to Sl60 per thou
sand feet Lgnum-vile is sold by the ton
rather than by the foot, selling at $50 per
ton.
While in Cuba, Mr.. Griffith saw lignum-
vitae trees which would reach fifty tons in
weight. If the lumber was worked out and
finished on the island its value would be
greatly enhanced and the increased revt-
nue. from the business would remain in
Cuba
One thing against Americans engaging in
the business there al the time OF Mr.. Grit
fths visit to Cub was the unsettled con-
dition of the country. He is OF the opinion
that this could have been remedied sooner
and more easily and effectively had the
work of bringing it aboul been given to a
practical business man like Senator Proctor
at the close OF hostiiiies with Spain, in
stead of institutng military regime there.
Mr.. Griffith believed a man with Senator
Proctor's ability could have brought about
peaceful state of affairs there and have
gotten things into practical wOrkingl order
in short time, aud would be OF more value
in such work than regiment OF 0rigadier-
generals He does not believe in under
rating the value Of the military, but holds
that it is trained in its especial work and
the business man in his. Where one leaves
off the other should begin.
By way OF illustrating his meaning he
drew an imaginary picture OF the chaotic
state which would have followed in our
| country had the government ruled the
south at the close OF the civil war.
Mr.. Griffith compared the average wages
paid in Cuba to those paid in Mexico. In
Cuba dollar day in gold is demanded by
the natives while in Mexico only fifty cents
in Mexican money is paid. As Mexican
| dollar is only equivalent to fifty cents OF
/ American money the average wage there ls
really only twenty-five cents per day in our
money.
The greatest obstacle in the way of en-
| gaging in the numbering interests in Cuba,
Mr.. Griffith said, was the great difficulty in
obtaining a clear title to large tracts OF tim
Der land, Years ago the country was di.
vided into grants of from $4,000 to 100000
| acres These were held by Spanish
grandees. The title to these grants were
made out to the head OF the family. The
head of the family dies and the title still
runs to the same party on the records as
the property has never been divided among
the heirs. Should tract of timber land
he purchased all but one or two of the heir:
might sign over their title to the property
yet the consent TO the sale Of those who
have not signed might be impossible to get
They even might not make known theil
claims until after large amounts had beer
invested by the capitalist in developing thu
property and they could then step in ant
cause endless trouble as their titles would
hold. AS the business is done now practi
cally only one tree is bought at a time ant
is cut down and taken off the premises a
soon as possible in order not to have trouble
with some heir who is unknown and who's
consent to the sale has not been obtained.