The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-12
FACTS ABOUT CUBA.
Interesting Mass of Information
Crowded Into Little Space.


dense forests and extremely fertile planta-
lions. 1t is traversed by mountain chains,
whose Hottest peaks, in the eastern and
western provinces and in the center of the
island, are over $500 feet high. 1t has $50
rivers, mostly short and small, but pro-
viding ample means of irrigation. In Amer
lea they would be called creeks.
No other island of its size in the world
has so many good natural haroors. There
are 20 of them, 81 Of which on the north
and Is on the south are accessible to large
ocean steamers.
The population of Cuba, by the Spanish
census of 1887, was 1851 6S7. The war is
estimated to have reduced it about LOCO,
900. The relative racial divisions, by the
census of 1887, were as follows: Whites, l.
Ill 600; negroes, $4,000; a total of 1851, 900.
Natives of Cuba, 1,25OOOO; Spaniards (of-
fice-holding class). 10000: all others, $1,000;
making a grand total of 1,6S1,OO0 OF the
whites 15,515 could not read-three-fourths
of them all. OF the negroes 1853, 7S2 could not
read.
Industrially considered, the island has
four distinct sections. Pinar del Rio, in the
extreme west, grows unsurpassed tobacco
and fruits. The provinces of Havana, Ma
tanzaS and Santa Clara are devoted almost
entirely to the growing of sugar cane and
the extracting of sugar therefrom. Puerto
Principe is devoted to cattle raising and
Santiago de Cuba is a mining, coffee and
fruit province.
The real life of the island is centered in
the leading cities, whose relative popula-
lions (lS9 census) are as follows:
Havana 23O,UO0
Santiago de Cuba. ....................... $1,000
Matanzas ............................ a0'OUV
o. SS VS0
Fuerto Pflnclpe .......................... E9,UVV
6ahctu Espirltu .....................''..' 5U'VV0
CaIoenas DVVVJ
One-third of all the islands inhabitants
live in these seven cities
In peace times the commerce of Cuba
amounted to about $100,0OOO00 in exports and
$5S,OO,OOO in imports. Most of this trade
Britain and Spain. This country alone i'm
ported SCI 600 in merchandise from Cuba
in 1891. Before the war the island was pro-
ducing $4,000 tons OF sugar, 10000 tons of
molasses, and 100000 bales of tobacco yearly.
Besides the products named Cuban soil
yields bananas, iron ore, manganese, cedar
and mahogany in abundance. Before the war
disturbed our trade relations the United
States was exporting 100000 worth Of Its
products mostly manufactured goods, to the
islanders.
There are over 1900 public and private
schools in the island, besides an institution
of secondary instruction in each province
and a university in Havana. Education is
nomhnally compulsory, yet only 50 per cent;
of the whites and II per cent. of the colOred
people can read and write
Only one-tenth of the land in Cuba Is I'M
der cultivation. Much of it is still unex-
plored. The number of landed estates in 1892
was nearly $1,000. and their value was esti-
mated at 1920, 00J 600. The total number of
mining titles issued at the end of 1891 was
296. OF these 1873 were iron mines, IS manga
nese, and SO copper
According to the last returns Cuba had
LOCO miles of railroads 224 miles of tele-
graph wires, and 157 telegraph offices. Her
sugar plantations numbered 200, her tobac-
100, her cocoa plantations %. She had 5000
grazing farms for horned cattle, 1890 small
farms, 1900 warehouses. and 5000 depots
and factories. She numbered % cities and
towns and 204 villages.
The annual income of her inhabitants was
estimated at $S0,OO0,0O0 and the taxes levied
the enormous total of $S3, 100000 year:
The climate of Cuba has been slandered.
The highest recorded Temperature , for many
allure at Havana is n degrees, for August
So degrees and for December 65 degrees.
The average annual rainfall for the ISL
and is about forty-five inches Even during
the rainy season the sun shines all day long,
except for an occasional hour, when the
rain comes down in floods. AS soon as the
shower ceases, rarely lasting over an hour,
the sun comes out as brightly as ever.
The people Of Cuba are simple; ami t lie
tall as the American, and the white Cuban
is not strongly built. His eyes and his hair
are coal black, and his face is full of ami
nation. He is clean and tidy about his per-
son, though his house may be far otherwise.
His clothing if he is of the better class, is
ers at the sides, has no hip pockets in them,
and holds them up always with belt. He
wears Panama hat. worth anywhere from
The Cuban senorita is generally pretty,
has black eyes with sweeping lasRes,
small mouth with cherry-red lips and per-
feet teeth. Her complexion is olive, tinged
with a glow of pink. She talks charmingly
and her features are full of expression
and feet are usually small. She is apt to
marry at fifteen or seventeen, have large
family by the time she is thirty, and in
later years grows portly. She makes true
and devoted wife.
The humber women of Cuba dress in the
gayest colors and are very fond OF Jewelry:
The lowly Cuban man wears tattered and
unclean clothing, and his shirt is open half
way down his breast.
The Cuban, like the Spaniard, likes cock
fighting and bull-fights. He IS a procrastina-
tor. There is no hustle in him. If he is
business man he goes leisurely TO his ONCE
at in the morning, returns home at IL for
breakfast, takes a siesta, and returns to
his office at or o'clock, remaining there
not later than 4. Not heavy days .exer-
ton. But there are always "manana" to
morrow.
The better homes of Cuban cities are all
built of stone or cement, around patio or
courtyard which contains flowers and often
a fountain. They are generally one-story
houses, sometimes two. They have great
doors and windows, without glass, but these
fresh air. No carpets are used in Cuban
homes because the vermin are so prollic
The furniture is not upholstered Ior the
same reason. Wicker and cane furniture
predominates The floors are usually of
hardwood or mosaic work.
On the street. at his office, or wherever
you meet him. the Cuban is the pink of po-
likeness. He always. raises his hat to you
and asks for the health Of your family,
even if he has never seen them. Whenever
a lady leaves the room, even If it is a pub
lie cafe Cuban gentlemen all rise to their
feet. Her escort bows in recognition.
All Cuban families possessed of any means
eat their meals in courses The meal ter
inmates always with the aromatic coffee
and cigars. The ladies smoke, too. Every
body between the ages of eight and eighty
smokes in Cuba. The women of the island
are said to smoke more than the men.
The humble natives carry their burdens
on their heads, balancing bucket OF water
as easily as a bundle Of wood A Cuban
peasant girl. thus laden, swings jauntily
along, putting her iive-inch cigar as she
goes.