The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-29
CUBA TO BLOSSOM AGAIN
FARMERS RETURNING To THEIR
LANDS IN SANTIAGO PROVINCE.
Transforming the War-Devastated
Wastes Into "Gardens of the Gods"
Many CuItivatinE Coffee.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Jan. 2O.-For the
last month there have been big fires on the
hill tops reminding Americans here of the
days when they used to read in the morning
papers of the burning of the sugar cane,
tobacco, etc, by the insurgent forces. But
the present fires are kindled for the purpose
of clearing the land for farmers use. The
hills around Santiago possess some of the
richest and finest lands in the world. The
small planter, the man owning a little bit
OF ground, is returning to his work and to
his home Many of the small planters here
have, since the Spanish surrender, been
working for the government, either in the
street-cleaning department or some similar
branch of the government service, where
they have earned from 81 to $3.50 day. and
as they have got living down to a fine art
and in all probability their wives and chill
dren have been drawing INDECENT rations in
quantity sufficient to keep the entire fam
lily, most of the wages have been saved by
them. Hundreds of Cubans who have been
working for the various government depart
ments during the last five months have from
500 to $50 saved This, with one or two
acres of land, is all that is required by them
to once more develop into successful farmers
on a small scale.
This returning to work in the country is a
very good sign for the future for it not
only means that lands which have gone TO
waste will once more be put into cultivation,
but it also means the cultivation of land
that was never previously anything but
waste. 1t means vacancies in the sanitary
and quartermaster's departments which will
be given to other Cubans who in the course
OF a Few months will also have saved suffi-
clent money to take up an acre or two of
land and go into the country with their
families
A horseback trip through the country. ac-
companied by guide from Santiago to San
Luis, returning via Songo, a journey of
nearly fifty miles, taking two days to per-
form, reveals an extraordinary change in
the situation during the last few months.
Three months ago there were only dozen
or so small agrculturists engaged in their
occupation throughout the entire district
while to-day there must be about 1900 Then
one would see nothing but waste lands, over
grown with weeds. To-day acres upon acres
OF small holdings are carefully attended to
and are yielding luscious fruits and veget-
ableS which, could they be landed direct in
New York. would make the fortune of the
producers.
Some small capitalists possessing a few
hundred dollars and a few acres of land are
starting on more ambitious scale, with the
intention of establishing coffee plantations
but as 1t takes three years for a coffee plan
tatlon to begin to pay even running ex-
penses, a few acres adjoining are generally
put into banana and other fruit trees Vege-
tables are also growing for the market
These more than pay the expense attendant
upon the starting of a coffee plantation.
The Cubans consider the coffee grown in
this province as the finest of the world and
in the markets of the island it is always
sold at from to 10 cents higher than any
ficient quantity grownAto export very much
OF 1t, and almost the entire crop is in
variably sold in the local markets. But it
is probable that in the future very large
number of plantations will spring UP, and
that IN hVe or six years Cuba will be among
the large cotfee-producing countries of the
world
Large capitalists still hold aloof from in
Vestlng much money in this province, and
merchants here account for it by saving
that capital is always timorous and that
until II IS known for certain what is going
10 be done and under what political regime
the island Is to continue it is not likely that
any very large amount of capital will be
put in by any one undertaking, unless guar
anteed by the United States government
The payment of three or four million dol
lars to those CubanS who served during the
1nsurrection will help much toward the gen
eral prosperity, for it will enable thousands
OF men to do precisely what these men who
have been saving money by their work i'm
the streets and departments are now doing
They will be able to purchase land and
thrive and become producers more than
consumers, thereby adding to the wealth Of
the island. The cost of living to he small
ag1lculturlst is practically nil, for he gro VS.
almost everything needed OH his own bit
of land.
A number of burglaries have occurred re-
Gently in Santiago province that seem to
indicate the operations of a regular band of
American crooks During the night of
Jan. Is the postoffice at ManzanilIo was en-
tered and $93 in cash was taken. The same
night, at the same. place, two horses were
stolen, one of which belonged to the chief
OF police. Two nights later a dwelling
1 mouse IN Santiago, occupied as clubhouse
lied. Nearly $500 in cash and a valuable
gold watch and chain were stolen.