The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-24
PRESENT SITUATION IN CUBA.
VIEWS OF CONGRESSMAN n. n.
HAwLEY or GALVESTON.
He Has Just Returned from n visit
to the IsIn qualifications of Cuban
Products to Ours.

Congressman Hawley Of Galveston has
returned from trip to Cuba, where he
has been for some twenty-three days. Mr..
Hawley's trip to the island and his in
vestgations there have been awaited with
much interest by the sugar men, who
have been trying to get definite informa
ton as TO tho effect of the new relations
with Cuba on this. the greatest of all
southern industries--the raising of sugar.
Congressman Hawley is a heavy lnves-
tor In sugar plantations himself He has
interests at New iberia, La, and In parts
OF Texas.
My trip to Cuba" said Congressman
Hawley, was partly for recreatoA aud
partly TO inquire into the morale of the
Cuban people; to investigate their re-
sources and their possibilities. To say
the least, it was a most pleasant trip. es-
pecially so through the country districts
where the hospitality OF the people Is
something to be wondered at. visited
the provinces OF Pinar del Rio, Matauzas
Havana and Santa Clara.
The devastation in the island of Cuba
brought on by the late war in factory
and neld was far more extensive and COM
plete in its influence than had ever be-
lieved.
1T is estimated that Cuba will make
less than 800, 900 tons of sugar this year
and the universal opinion prevails that
next years crop viii not even reach tnat
figure, The losses in many OF the States
are simply irreparable, and many OF the
smaller estates. which were In perfect
working order before the war, will nevsr
be re-established, and where they aro le-
planted With cane, in many cases, they
Will be Joined to the factories OF larger
estates. II has been found in Cuba tha:
the smaller estates have not been aud
cannot be profitable.
Much land is devoted To sugar that Is
in state OF partial exhaustion aud is
not profitable to those who cultlya.4 g.
The results in both planting eni OPP
Grating sugar houses are much the sane
as here-that is, depending upon the man
agement and direction, II costs as much
to plant an acre of cane In Cuba as II does
in the State of Louisiana. but the caue
does not have to be planted as often. The
life of planting depends upon the charac-
ter OF the soil. A fair average production
of cane down there, per acre, is sixteen
to eighteen tons, Some lands produce
largely more and some a good deal less.
The average fields and their tonnage per
acre Will not appreciably eXcsel ihe aver
age fields and their tonnage in Louisiana"
How about the percentage Oi sugar.
was asked the congressman
They set more sugar. The Clhal can,
yields large Der cent. Where wo get
to o per cent they get from ~ - 10"
Then you do not consider tina. the
sugar industry of the Southern States is
at all threatened or endangered by the
Cuban product under our new relations?"
My answer is plain, II you will only
draw YOUR own conclusions, The political
conditions In Cuba are tentative de-
rived my opinion from meeting and talking
with merchants and planters. all OF whom
were residents OF Cuba. ! consider Their
opinion OF the greatest value. The pre-.
vailinG desire in the island today is for
peace, security, employment and an OPP
portunity 40 repair their waste places,
This can Only /be done gradually. II VIII
be years before Cuba can produce asTmlsh
sugar as she did the last crop before the
war Capital will be invested there, but
il viii go slowly until the political ques-
tons are more assured. feel certain
that there will be no serious disturbance
to imperil the development OF the island.
As to the relations OF the products ~
Cuba TO those OF our own country. think
they will remain practically as they ste
at present, In the matter of tarifl, etc,
although the president has certain powers,
same. | do not believe that any develop
ment there will Influence or determine our
own development 10 the South, Therefore
in direct answer TO your question. | 10
not think Cuban products, sugar In par
ticular " YOU will viii Interfere "; D
cur Southern production
What do YOU think viii be the form II
government
Il do not entertain the opinion o. soma