Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-16

Cuban farmer. He knows the possibilities
of the land, and he has a definite idea of
utilizing them for his own benefit. A new
conner from the states has the same posi-
biiities, but he will not have the same adj
vantages IN the beginning, because he does
not know the language or the country as
his countryman does. On the other hand,
ne may bring a greater practical experience.
He will probably not be able to buy land
as cheaply, yet he can purchase all he
wants on moderate terms, especially for
cash. One hundred acres in Cuba is not
necessary to support a family and to lay
little something up for the future. The
''caballeria." which is thrty-three and one
third acres is the farm unit. Interesting
scientific analyses have been made of the
variety and amount of products which can
be had from caballeria. They are too
scientific to be of practical value. From
them. for example, 1t can be learned that
In many parts of the island the soil is good
for cotton. But nobody is coming here to
raise cotton in competition with the over
production of the southern states. The
people who are raising other things will buy
cotton goods, and that is of more conse-
quence-
Country of Small Farms.
1 had been in doubt whether much land
was for sale in Cuba outside of the big
sugar plantations and the undeveloped
parts of the country. The masses of the
people before the war were landowners.
Though the ''bohio'' or palm hut might be
the only improvement they cling to these
small holdings from general ton to genera
ton. In spite of the necessary concentra-
ton of large tracts in the sugar plantations
Cuha was a country of small farms The
most wholesome development it can have
IN the future is to continue q country of
small farms. The question which interests
Americans is whether these openings now
: 81 I,n+
body who wants to engage In Agricultural
pursuits can find the means of doing so
All the insurgents in the Cuban army can
return to their homes in the countrv all
lhe representatives in the towns can be
put back in the fields and there will still be
tendntIess small farms. That Is the mean
!hs OF Inc 4o0oe0 deaths within the last
Ihree years. The country has tann Iaft
without inhabitants enough to ti1I tba st,
ne Fold must be filled bv immieration
al Iler while immigration from Spain will
bo,a,s N IN POSSIBLY by the coming of la
DoierS IN large bodies. The small farn,er
WIN precede them. There is no reason WIZ
ne should not come from the United States
- ldIt proportion of Americans are in
- - az pIGsehl- Most of them remain in
IA ana Ihey are enthusiastic promoters
90 not believe that they overdraw the
prospects. But they expect to make MONEY
ou' 81 other peoples money They are not
-aI I"eIS, t1ou%h many of them are pretty
Wen posted on land. Cuba will never he
AmericanZed by the promoters alone When
Americans begin to take hold of the soil
ana cultivate 1t the real process will he
sIn. l know that different conception OBJ
tdh7 IN the states The idea seems to he
heid that Americans can farm Cuha FROM,
the outside and reap the fruits of the labor
OF others without themselves contributing
disappear. van
/ am writing for the information of those
who have already given it up and want to
khoW somethlng definite regarding land and
crops and similar matters
Land titles are well fixed Tho svs+er, of
transfer has been in use long time and
clouded property is almost unknown in the
country. Just now most OF the farms for
sale are plastered with mortgages. Many
are overdue, many have been renewed
Both Weyler and Blanco found it neces-
sary to issue DEGREES forbidding the fore
closure of mortgages, and in a large num-
Der of cases renewals were made on this
account. Purchasers will find II cheaper 10
take up these mortgages than to continue
them for the interest IS very hgh-usually
y per cent per annum and rarely less than
~ per cent. Generally the mortgage will
prefer to keep the mortgage running If an
American is the buyer. If he insists and
will not reduce the interest rate another
piece of land in the same neighborhood can
always be found The money lender IS
usually the "bodeguerO." or Spanish mer-
chant in the town. He is a ShyIock.
No County Banks.
Cuba has never had such a thing as the
country bank. The Spanish Bank of Ha-
vana had branches in the larger towns
The big commercial and shipping houses
did semi-banking business, but not In the
way Of receiving deposits and making loans
That was left to the "bodeguero" who
made the business of lending money as
profitable as it was unpopular. In
spite of the high rate Of interest and the
frequency with which it was compounded
the property usually remained in the hands
of its original owners. This could not have
happened If the soil were not inexhaustibly
fertile. The security for loans of this kind
is not so uncertain as the advances which
banks in the western states make to, the
farmers A single crop of wheat or corn in
year, and if the season is a bad one the
farmer in distress is a condition which
could not happen in Cuba. Sometimes the
tobacco crop is poor and the buyers and
manufacturers have to renew their ad-
vances for another season. But this does
not often occur. The time from the plant
ing to the harvesting is short. Two crops
Of corn may be raised in year. Other
products are turned over with equal rapid
fty. Loans can be made with the certainty
that the soil in a given season Is going to
produce enough to repay them. If the ISL
and had in existence q system of country
banks its TeCuperation would be swift No
such system exists. but one will come with
the gradual development of the small
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