The times., 1899-08-27

TRINIDAD DE CUBA, July 2s.-Accord-
ing to official figures. the Cuban trade with
the United States in its best years-1s92
and Isss-smounted TO $1o2, 1864. .2O4-four
times as much as ever with China or Japan,
thirteen times as much as with Russia,
and even considerably more than the grand
total Of our average annual trade with
Austria Hungary, Russia, Sweden and Nor
way, Denmark, Turkey. Greece, Italy.
Switzerland, and Portugal combined. II
this was the case when Cuba remained In
the grasp of penurlous and poverty-strickeD
spain. what will il be when her resources
have had a few years fostering under the
friendly wing of the richest Republic?
Almost as large as England, and about
three times as big as Belgium, II the island
ever becomes as densely populated as either
OF those European countries, II VIII easily
sustain 24,000, 0e0 inhabitants Among
Ct,s,a's most urgent needs of today are
railroads. and ali that the building OF them
iuaplies: and in this feature alone American
cauital and labor may find untold bonanzas-
The need OF American machinery is also
very great, not only TO replace the man!
million dollars worth destroyed IA tne
suear mills. but that now needed IN the
Sslcreasiug coffee and tobacco industries, IN
converting cacao beans into chocolate, palm
nuts into soap and oil. fibres into cordage
paper. and textile fabrics-in short IN the
manufacture OF all manner OF articles 10
everyday use. which have never been, pui
should be, made in Cuba
InsuIar Mining.
A great deal OF mining machinery has al
ready been shipped 10 the eastern end oi
the island, and more is on the way The
Spanssh- American Iron Company, which
has its main Office in New York City, and
Is largely made up Of capitalists who have
been active in the Lake Superior iron ore
hnsiness-the CoIbys, Elys. and Rookie
fellers-are the principal stock owners. A
number OF years before the war, the com
many acquired control OF several thousand
acres OF valuable iron ore deposits in the
southeastern portion of Cuba, betweer
Santiago and Guantanamo. Many thou
sands OF dollars were expended in ezpior'
ing the property, opening the mines anc
establishing facilities for handling the out
PUT. AS there was no harbor convenient
TO the mines. in order 10 ship ore econom'
icaliy. IL was necessary 10 construct ar
artificial harbor. by building great break
water on the open coast. few miles cas-
from Santiago. Loading piers were built
large enough to load four vessels at once
These and other extensive preparation
were practically completed several year
before they we're put to use, because tn
company adopted the policy Of waiting 70
advantageous market conditions. FINAL,
reduction of the duty or iron ore from q
10 40 cents per ton, and an increased de
fnand for Bessemer iron ore In eastern
Pennsylvania, started the shipments. tn
Spanish american Iron Company made
contract with the Johnson Steamship Com
pany TO transport 10000 tons of ore Il
points north OF Cape Hatteras. and for
time all went merry as a marriage bell
Quantities of the ore were discharged a
Port Richmond and carried TO furnace
along the line OF the Philadelphia an
Reading Railroad. and then came the wa
and called a long halt in the proceed
fngs-
The Oldest, largest. and richest iro