The times., 1899-07-12
FRENCH CAPITAL In CUBA.
The Tobncco Lands of the Island
ReinE Rapidly Bought Up.

The TObncco Lands of the Island
ReinE Rapidly Bought Up.
THE French Government is buying
large tracts of tobacco land in Cuba.
Their agents are to be found throughout
the island wherever there is tobacco land.
and no piece OF ground for sale escapes
them
This significant statement was made to
Times reporter yesterday by Brig. Gen.
Thomas L. Resser, of Virginia, who has
just returned from a business trip TO
Cuba. General Rosser commanded the
third brigade of dhe second division OF
the First Army Corps in the late Spanish
war and became interested in Cuba from
business standpoint. Since he was mus
tered cut of the service he has been in
strumental in organizing company for
the purpose OF establishing a colony of
American tobacco growers in the island.
He left Havana last Saturday and arrived
III Washington yesterday for the purpose
of having a conference with President
Mckinley regarding his observations while
in the island, touching both its social and
business welfare
General Rosser says that there is very
little American capital being invested in
| Cuba. At the same time there is moth
| ing that is not for sale in the island The
English and the French seem to realize
the golden opportunity to secure prop
erty rights there. The English are max
ing specially of buying factories and
railroads and sugar lands. while as stated
before. the French are anxious to acquire
all the tobacco land possible As this is
being done officially by the French Gov
ernment, its significance is regarded as
most important and likely to hasten the
announcement of definite policy toward
the island on the part of this Govern
ment.
As the French Government has the to-
Dacco monopoly 1t can use all the tobacco
grown on the island.
In the province of Pinar del Rio, where
| the best tobacco land in the island is
situated. General Rosser had an option
1 on a certain tract of good tobacco land
| consisting of IL 900 acres He allowed the
option to lapse one day and then hastened
TO renew 1t, but was told by the former
owner that the land had been bought by
| the French Government Immediately on
the lapse of his option. The general trav-
eled through this province on horseback,
| and said that everywhere he met the
| agents of the French Government always
in quest of land.
| Good tobacco land can be had at from
SIS to $3.50 an acre. according to the i'm
provements. If a certain tobacco planta-
tion gets reputation of raising a certain
| quality OF TOBACCO, the land Is Immediately
enhanced in value" said the general,
while the land adjoining. which has not
| made reputation, but which is Just as
good, can be bought very cheaply and
will, when cultivated, be just as good.
While the property owners in Cuba lost
all they had in the war except their lands,
there Is scarcely mortgaged piece of
property in the island. There is a system
of putting an obligation against a piece
Of land, however, called census, which
is quite frequent.
This census is for the benefit of the
Church. and when man makes his will
| he Will often bequeath the Church a GER
tain sum and obligate his lands to pay il.
] AS long as the interest is kept paid ON
| the amount by the estate, no action can
| be begun for its collection, and the debt
| may be discharged and the land freed from
the obligation at any time by the heirs
paying off the face of the obligation
| Titles TO Cuban property are good. The
| notarial fees are very high amounting to
3 per cent OF the amount OF the transac.
| ticn. This is caused by the fact that the
| requirements OF the notary are very strict
If he makes a mistake he is held person
| ally responsible He is required TO give
| his personal affidavit for all records
In speaking Of the Cubans, General Ros-
ser remarked that they were just like
children. Every inhabitant of the island
who owns dollars worth of property
wants TO see either a protectorate by the
United States, or annexation to this coun-
| try.