The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-01
THE PROSPERITY OF CUBA.
IMPORTANT REPORT PUBLISHED M
TIE WIN DHPARTMENT.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Increased Cultivation OF Tobacco = Pro-
duction of Sugar Will BE o 10000 Tons
More Than Estimatod-Tbe Business of
the Port of HavanR-Customs Duties.
WASHINGTON. April 30.-ActinR Secretary
Of War Meiklejohn made public to-day q re-
port upon the commercial and con-
ditions In Cuba. The report shows that the
future Of tho island under n stable govern
ment promises u marvellous development OF
wealth. The peculiar and special conditions OF
the island show. the report says. that Its COM
mercial and agricultural future must be pros
porous. in spite of the ravages and destruction
OF the late war. Already, the report says, some
Of the capital taken way during the years OF
war has returned. and new capital Is being at
tracted by the certainty Of profit.
Tobacco IL now being actively cultivated In
those parts OF the country where II has never
heretofore been grown. II will continue to be
| ono Of the most important resources OF the
island. Itaffords work to thousands ofllaborers
In the country and In the manufactures in the
cities and towns At the beginning Of the
present year the sugar crop was estimated at
about 20O.0O0 tons. Later estimates, however.
based upon the actual production at the end OF
March. and a better knowledge OF the good
condition Of the cane indicate that the produce
ton will reach 100000 tons. On March 81.
1898. the amounts exported and on hand were
232.032 tons. as against lit. o03 tons exported
and on hand March 81. 1899. The amount made
since that date up to April Is and the esti-
mated amount Of July l make q total Of 3o7.-
0O3 tons. This will be. the report says. the
more surprising II 1t be borne In mind that
the fields have not yet been prepared. that q
great deal Of the machinery was totally or
partly destroyed. and that many plantation
owners were forced to begin planting in con-
fusion and hurry. while others. for lack Of re-
sources. have delayed grinding past the proper
time. The scarcity OF domestic oxen greatly
retards the operation Of sugar estates. and
foreign cattle imported at considerable cost
must become acclimated before their services
are OF much value. The island is particularly
In need OF cattle for all purposes. as they were
destroy ed by both Cubans and Spaniards. as q
war measure or for food.
In regard to applications that are being re-
ceived from time to time to remove or lessen
the duty on various articles Of general use In
the United States with the object OF increasing
their importation into the island. the report
says that. in many cases. the existing tariff
does not stand in the way OF importations from
the United States. The removal Of all duties.
1t Is believed. would give little or no encour.
agement to such importation. Many articles
In common use in the United States are not
suited to tho physical conditions OF Cuba.
During the month Of March. 1859. 200 vessels
of all kinds. OF q total tonnage Of 213. 263 tons.
entered the port OF Havana. and TIA vessels Of
q total tonnage of 1S0.4S3 tons. cleared from
that port for foreign ports, or those entered
$50 were m OF a total tonnage Of 1885,;
t tom sHss' q aA9 HIN II NSt ton sa''topff t Hesse, Cleared al g i1 ls5
were OF q t0tal tonnage Of l7o.43t
s tePHdH & we're "A. American a p Eneii s - Span:
| trb md u frApN rfhnr n Rtn . md ~ h
English hs ' / Spanish shh' and 1 f from not other Countries.
q q En- Eesi fisfhamas 81 s S'saifSSa and nd S so from ameG osssf;
SsS s. Wsrs A% aa4 Of the ! E sniIjInFTi y i seani e'sa aed
i PaPin %st shs ; @ontf Z March b 9 there en- M
tte inSs. f toee} r9rt and ID c aay | 'o Of a NessG' toR q, ss
OF 22S,2S7 tons. During this month there
cleared from the port OF Havana 3l3 vessels OF
Hq Burina tie mouth til o, March last there landed
S' f}#f ,rs SS;Sss s q sr%s s III IfS Co. 'f lsoS SS" s'sss s sssS:
!! ssEFs the y peFt 3 f HaSan %oR For points Joints ooassfdss sSs
the ph nu GaPSFt Of eisa ri e snesr e. iea Was sS cens!ae sas
by increased during the month Of March h,
RR4 pIea a q > Sisse conside sHd =, di mil s2hssr'0 0'
The total collections OF the port, OF Hayana
month, were sa1.925.M 6f this, AMOUNT
ss79; 19 u ~ sse eSpst ssties Of s5 l%Bsst 80 SS ., ,on Sss;,
asss: t ss;ts5 & /? . & d sP e ss.ti hn iasnee .RRr ;sss;
ruary. but not collected Il until March. There
VA s rsdpa nf s7 dHEi2g the month OF March, 1888
fu pSs Of t9 sSe Stand Ht ~ from srag 9sh. !. fsS1. to suMst a4ei
{ r. : 9 81 R 2i|s''sH.s s y si5 + 'o isF % xssf| FL IL E:
!; lie Works. Ports and Harbors." $l03. 05B; Of fol
.".CCht s,T Eevos and ! Ht9sp dnd 80 S ;Sn 1.9 {o1 u i.c 70,
, From a comparison it appears that. during
e9s eu mS { 81 IN 1 is"3. fss shoT Ysa2 'a nnd i SS5sss thar
eol isse; ah iS n 1sSS. 81 & fs sRq 1873 sf sRsn e IN 'f isSs
and the a9nt tho q ,a Mar ,has sh THs, a l%HT 5s sS soIle 6.
!, Collections for these three months during TIE
J nine, years preceding, the current year were
I t %HsS Se isss t Ahfs t ises sS aassrvss t ,srshSs So mSath'
!, duetion that has been made in the forme'
The apparently large collections during these
|, three months last year. the last year oithe war
during the year under the title "LIbramen
presented to the cashier. which check fguEet
N the collections as money, went to the
= treasury as Sucn, anu WIS tneu lOSC SlRHJ VI
/ The effect and. SO far as can now be learned
a the purpose OF this transaction was to increase
! the apparent collections.
/ The total Of all the receipts for all the port.
= Of the island Of Cuba during the month OF Jan
. uary last was ST .O0l .22S.S7. The total for sal
, aries OF customs employees during said montl
) was S2Q.53s0 1. and the total for rents. supplies
y the month was 1866. ~. making tho percentag,
! o., the cost Of collection Of customs reyenuel
= all over the island during the month BOP plus
U The total OF all the receipts for all the ports o
the islsndo of Cuba dqripg the month OF Feb
. The total of all the receipts for all the port
: q the Island OF Gubb S, dying The TsI month .
9 age OF the cost Of collection Of customs rev
Z Z enues all over, the island Of Cuba during tn,
4 Custom House. amounting 70 1923. 791. SO, wer,
4 not actually paid during the month Of March
. for this month. II they be counted as pal,
: during the month Of March the percentage o
= cost OF collection all over the island would b.
3.43.
ma