New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-15

'lHiH'HN formerly mao an OUCldl surgeon at this
point who continues to collect consultation fees
OF 50 Is IN gold from each person who desires 10
take the baths. the patient subsequently paying
20 cents for each bath. II Is recommended that
this forced medical consult alton before taking a
tepd bath he done away with Jucaro. the port
or Santa Fe. Is on the Santa Fe River. Steamers
touch once week The only wheel vehicles
the ancient volan,e and the OK cart No schools
we're In operation when the island visited.
me revenues having ceased. all Government func-
tons were at standstill The taxes formerly
collected at these points by tho Bank OF Spain
went 10 Havana. whence one-fourth was afterward
RENTED 10 the Inhabitants. The only dues COL
lecuhle directly by the authorities in the island
were the dues FOR slauGhtering cattle and selling
beef Even these taxes nc longer exist. there
are practically no cattle in the island The civil
expenses IF the Government formerly amounted to
only about 5000 per annum. Of which - 900 came
from the Bank Of Spain and 5000 were collected
b, export dues Of ono and half cents on each
sack Of charcoal and seven cents on cord OF
wood
MARBLE QUARRIES OF PROMISE
The only mineral product Of importance in ~.
island is marble. This marble Is found N the rnou,-
talns east and west Of New-Gerona on the north
coast SoHe fifty years ago these marble a., rries
were worked extensively and there are evidences
that much money put into the enterprise For
some reason or other. II Is said. the Spanish Gov
eminent ooked with disfavor upon the Anterrrise
and IN order 10 discourage II levied duty on the
SAND used in saving. which was hauled from the
shore mile from the quarry. This tax killed the
eh''fprlse Ahout Give years few cargoes
, o. marble blocks were got out and shipped 10
havana 10 ne sawed out and worked there Since
then this particular industry has been neglected
Inc HNoIe appears 70 be OF good quality some OF
IL neihs white statuary marble. while other spec-
mems contain various shades OF blue-grained stone
as well as marble NJ A dark gray color There are
7 ~ mon
o. 'hese samples are capable Of brilliant polish
win modern methods good results might be OBJ
/ '"'"eo me Work already done in these quarries
mas only disturbed the outer surface o. the rock
Captain Foltz thinks that better material than has
aIreaol been disclosed may be found deeper in the
nanunlaln. ne old works have most advan-
o. orie clay Is also found in ne is and. and The
flooring and roofing tiles were formerly shipped to
Havana sin exist New-Gerona
Tie tobacco grown In this region sells in Havana
a $40 bale. It is believed that il passes later
as uelta Abajo at higher price Were cigar
factory established in the Island, aptain Foltz be-
product under its own name and that this would
stimulate the growth Of the stape and bring cor
responding benefit 10 the island
difficulty thus far presented in growing the weed
arises from the newness OF the sol. The latter
sure uniform crop. Some plants grow well and
Tie sugar present raised in the island
Is for home use only The Juice is extracted by
| WOODEN n
port A sugar plantation here would not probably
lands Of Havana Province as the soil is not az
srenF as is in the region named Coffee 4 has
''yes mat II cuitivators who understood the work
berry good results might be obtained
PLANTS THAT GROW WE'LL
Cacao (chocolate) is also used. sud only expert
/ mentally grown. but the fruit appears 10 be fine
Rice grows well without irrigation. Yucca. which
/ IS commonly used for starch also grows well
without irrigation. and usually yields well. Ma
/ Tango. which is species Of potato, grows well
without irrigation yields well and IL Of fine quail
/ ity The sweet potato grown in the island pos
/ sesses particularly hne flavor, and with reduced
/ The pantain has q sweeter favor than that grown
! IN Cuba and produces abundently II is shipped
come 60 S0 Sa mp a5a' article Of export
There are at 6n now two a6 rnnnns oFdeF
There is a large Of pine forest. but the logs
snoqs vest for fw g enre Are Of the fRss
small pines arc principally exported to b USED SEQ
roofs Of native Cuban hutsa and FOR hanging to-
baceo during ~ cu 9T6 wbcb the amount and
quality Of the hardwood in the southern part OF 'he
S@antain Foltz is Of the opinion that while much
fine wood might be found IN the southern PORTION %
/ and in SUFFICIENT quantity to warrant the expense
Of getting II 70 the water over the dlncuL fo ~
groIn4 N bs~a eiready been culed and It IL feared
that 10 take oIt the best timber portable railways
" Tbe horses q The island are small and generally
/ pPiIe and rapid ambling gait The pasturage IS not
/ such as 70 favor growth and the STOCK p i
70 por {ef iS 10 cuba Gae lave dsaRPssred
from the island II R Wse tneb a luxury that II is
/ rot usueilv obta tahle even In the towns OF New
Seq5 ei oyeTrmeni was 10 seize all the cattle ne
owners hurriedly sold them ana 'ig p o1s TIE
island is paradise for pigs The vast variety 81
Wild fruits and seeds furnish them aDunoan aorv
cxpored The shallow waters about t9e issto
abound In an excellent quality OF fsh a''o Ioos'e'7
THE QUALITIES OF THE LAND.
The agricultural resources OF the ISLAND are az
follows. Rich land 10 per cent laho Oh uouo'.u .
/ agricultural value % per cent: savannas covered
| Mich ro,rqrov4s and palmetto. % per cent; swamp
and low ground covered with mangroves. % per
cent. mountains and steep hills per cent pine
! ands unsuitable for agriculture. q per cent Inc
/ land thus named lies north OF the Cionega or me
l,a aaroroirated rich only a small percentage IS
actually under cultivation. but the nature Of its
growth shows the value of the soil or the entire
S,,Iiiyrtion '' As an example OF the wonderful va
riety Of products Of the island captain DIV men.
tions in particular farm of less man
+ acres actually I'm cultivation whose products IN
cude coffee sugar chocolate cocoa oocoa lForo
Uhirb landry starch may be made. ma an goes.
which answer for potatoes Iice; 1e@ls 'e''u0' w
The rich arabic land Of the ISLAND Is not found in
large tracts but IN scattered patches among the
hills which Is suitable for tobacco pai ches raIhef
tfsn sugar plantations The demand for consunp-
ton In The island Is small. and The freight ratef
ia th4 main and high Hence the only agrcuIturAi
,rodi,ot fhaf onrnands ready cash market is to-
iacco or This staple the island exported last year
ah7ilt three thousand bales OF one hundred pounds
oacn This year the amount will fall 10 Two th,ou-
sand ha les less for the reason that me "o \, :
WHO had como to the island from Nnena Hna s1
came % escape the They nave now REL y ne
20 their old homes where the reputation OF uas
leaf 4 NOT its acfua superiority, gives me iaDorer
who culfivates in q larger return Tor ms Work -
IA .-ferffon seems have been paid 10 me khu
- trees planted ana IS believed that there u an
orcnire or the island for orange growers OF en-
10 -,ence who would plant trees or the most APP
-ro,er varieties Guava grows wild over large pa
If the ISLAND and furnishes fruit tor pigs II couu
be ,ltfIized in the manufacture Of the suaNh paste
q