The evening times., 1899-10-28
OPPORTUNITIES IN CUBA.
General BrOoke's Private Secretar,
Writes of the Islond

Writes of the Island.
BALTIMORE, Md, Oct. 2s.-William H.
Fisher. Of this city, received a letter from
Frederick NJ. Moore, who is private secre-
tary to Gen. John r. Brooke, Military Gov
ernor of Cuba. The letter tells in a gos-
sipy way of the opportunities for business
developments in Cuba.
Our Offices Mr.. Moore writes, "are no
longer located at Ell Vedado, but were
moved on July Is to the city, and are in
the palace. We have nice, comfortable
quarters and everything is passing nicely.
We still live at the .yedado, and come in
and go out every morning and evening.
The evenings are now generally spent in
talking to the Cuban senoritas and en-
deavoring to speak the language. In this
respect am, naturally, much ahead of the
other boys, on account of having been so
much longer on the island. The language
is fairly easy to learn and only requires
little persistent application.
THE opportunities for making money,
if one only has a little capital, are excep-
tional. Practically not more than one-third
of the island, which is as large as New
York State, is under cultivation, and along
certain rivers mahogany rosewood, and
numerous other precious woods abound in
large quantities. If one only knew how to
raise tobacco and was willing to labor
hard, he could make great deal Of money
in that line. The only thing about Cuban
lands is the trouble to secure good titles
to property when purchases are made.
THE climate down here would be a reye-
lation to you. OF course, the island being
located in the tropics. it is naturally hot.
but in all seacoast cities. and particularly
SO at Havana, this excessive heat is cooled
and tempered with delightful sea breezes.
which continually prevail The yellow
fever down here certainly does not amount
to much, although there are about twenty
five cases of the disease in Havana at the
present time. The absence of any great
amount of rain and the stringent sanitary
regulations put in operation by the Amer
lean authorities throughout the island are
responsible for the limited amount of yell
low jack prevailing. With the approach
of cooler weather even the present sporadic
cases will disappear, and there will be no
danger whatever attending a visit to this
city after October.
THE soil OF Cuba is 7;ouGerfully Tich,
and fertilizers are seldom used, except in
the case OF tobacco. Hundreds of country
people make good. comfortable ivings with
practically no exertion whatever. Sugar.
of which enormous quantities are raised,
and tobacco are, OF course. the staple
products. As TO tobacco. the turnout is
enormous. and used extensively in connec-
tion with cigars. / am of the opinion,
however, that the majority of the tobacco
imported from Cuba goes to European ma
tions, account of the low import duties
in effect in those countries, although large
quantities, of course, go to the United
States. II some enterprising firms in the
States. with modern labor-saving machin-
cry. would send their representatives down
to the island with samples OF their ma
chinery, | am firmly Of the opinion that
they could sell vast lot and realize hand
somely"