Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-03-16
REAL ESTATE IN CUBA.
Herman GUM Writes OF the POssibiIi-
ties for Young Man
With Capital.
LANDS ARE VERY CHEAP
Large Tracts of Renting Land Which VIII
Probably Soon be Taken.

Lands are bought and sold in Cuba
by cavallarias, meaning what a horse
can work In day and in American
measure near 33 acres. The lands are
owned by large companies or rich
Spaniards or their descendants.
In Santa Clara Province, consider
ed the best agricultural OF all prov
inces, only two per cent of the lands
have over been under cultivation. The
taxes upon the lands being very
light, the holders are Indifferent
whether the land is worked or not;
and, while they wish to sell, they ask
all kinds of fancy prices if you go to
them and ask for price; but some
lands arc offered at reasonable prices.
For instance, you can buy land in III
cavallarias lots, u distance OF two
miles from town and railroad, at
$1,000, Spanish gold ten per cent less
than American money --- making 1T
about $ll per acre. On these lands
you can raise rice, cotton, bananas,
wheat, sugar cane, corn, coffee,
pine apples, in fact anything that
you want. That these lands, II the
country gets Americanized, will be
worth 800 per acre, ! do not for a
moment doubt; and yet | would not
advise anybody to purchase just yet
for u number OF reasons: first, the
titles want TO be proved; second, il
wants to be seen whether Americans
can stand the climate; third, the polit-
cal situation should be settled first,
because 1t IL patent that the Cubans
cannot govern this Island SO that it
will be satisfactory to an American.
Lands can be rented Of the large
sugar estates. have the following
from the Sugar Intendant of one of the
largest in this provinces: This com
pany has now 26iO acres planted, and
IL planting at the present time 1866
acres more, and has 1860 not under
cultivation. They offer to rent the
unbrolSen lands on terms as follows
A man takes three cavallarias loo
acres J., breaks 1t up and plants it,
They furnish the sprouts and charge
ut the rate of 300 for 33 acres, which
10, - tlh nnu
the crop is ready they will grind the
cane for you and give you 4 per cent
of the weight of the cane in sugar, Oh
they will buy tho cane and pay you
~. so for $500 pounds of cane.
Thirty three acres will safely bring
$1,000, the expenses for cultivation
hauling to factory, etc, being about
$400 per annum, leaving IL net gain OF
5000; on 100 acres, $500.
You can raise sufficient meat sheer
and cattlo), chickens and eggs, milk
and butter, wool and garden products
to support the family and hired help
1t IL not expected that II renter viii
work himself, but only oversee his
farm.
The capital necessary for II renter
II for 100 acres $500. He will hay,
to have tools, oxen, wagons, and
maintain himself and help until u crop
is realized.
Tho renting of lands for tobacco
and the raising of same is even more
profitable, and with American ma.
chinery and horses for cultivation
after the land Is broken, | think Il
young man with push and means car
gain fortune in short time,
But let everybody wait until we sec
how the rainy season will operate
ON American blood. November and
December and December is the best
time to como here. Planting is being
done all the year round. have seer
some Irish potatoes that were planted
In December are good now. They
will plant another patch next week
Sweet potatoes arc plenty, and II any
one had the ambition they could b,
exported To the states and big profit
made.
Sweet potatoes are only planted
once, and then you dig and dig fol
years until they run out.
In my next | will write you some
thing about the commercial condition.
and the prospects for Americans tt
como or ship to this place.
II. GUM.