The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-04-07
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CUBA'S OUTLOOK.
MANZANiLLO, March 10, 1899

Editor Democrat Star.
Having recited to your kind and pa
tient readers the pleasures and vicis-
situdes attendant upon our trip from
your enterpriSing city to the island
toward which the eyes OF the world
are turned. l will cndcavOr to place
before you the real conditions, pros.
poets and probable future Of Cuba.
The climate OF Cuba from NOvem-
Der until April is perfect. Cool morn.
ings and evenings, and bright beauti-
full days, enough rain to keep the
ground moist, with air SO pure, balmy
and soft that as you breathe it into
your lungs it seems to vibrate through
your every nerve, giving lifean vigor
and delight in living.
After the first Of April the rainy
season gradually comes on. by the
rainy season one must not imagine a
steady downpOur, but showers heavy
and soaking at irregular intervals
through the day and night, interspers-
cd with sunlight. The sun pours down
"A heat so intense at times that a va.
por rises from the ground which caus.
cs such humidity as to render breath
ing difficult. Yet it drives the damp
feeling from the interior OF the houses.
The apparent causes OF fever preva.
lent here Is first. on account OF
the water, which makes all seaSl0re
towns more or less malarial. Next. in
the gross carclessness OF the people,
who throw all refuse from the house
into the streets where it was left to
decay or be eaten by the buzzards.
In building their houses and in ev-
cry home it Is the same, the water
closets adjoin the kitchen; the vaults
are deep enough and stone walled. but
there is no drainage and poor ventila.
tion, the consequence is when the air
is heavy Il sickening and disgusting
odor permeates the court and living
rooms which Is bound to have a dcbil-
itating effect on all. The water is
brought from the river, but the pipes
are laid too near the rendezvous OF the
hundred or more waslerwOmen for
perfect satisfaction to the consumer.
Sewerage and waterworks in addition
to the enforced cleanliness would re.
move all local cause for fever. Gil
matte fever Is very light and passes
away leaving no debilitatinv results.
Yellow fever Is almost as much a bug
bear here as IL has been with us,
though the Cubans have not been
troubled with the extra curse OF
"xspurts." am not speaking for
Havana. IT, Is a pest hole that re-
quires u Chicag fire to clean up, but
the statement made above will apply
to all towns on the south coast, ex'
ccpting perhaps Santiago.
The temperature is so even that
planting Is done at any and all sea
sons Of the year with equally crafty
Ing results. The ground Is SO ricl
that fertilizing is unknown and per
feet crops OF vegetables are raised sea.
son after season without any apparen,
wearing out OF the soil. 1t Is claimed
the soil is so rich that four years |,
required tn subdue II, and then II en-
riches itself from season to season.
| Agriculture has not been carried or
to any extent. The corn shown u.
was immense In size Of ear and grain
The vegetables brought to our door.
arc delicious and tender, but tn,
prices arc exOrbitant. Fancy an or
dinary sized head OF cabbage divided
into Afths and sold at ave cents
9th. The natives imagine all Amer
leans are millionaircs and charge ac'
cordlngly. Anything that Is planted
will grow aud bear full fruitage that
does not require frost for develop
ment. The recent freeze on our gulf
coast will have \ natural tendency to
turn tho eyes OF the orange grower
| to new fields, and Cuba Is waiting