Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-05-06
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR CUBA
Every Indication of Retarning Pros
perity that VIII RSeak All
Former Records.

conditions in Cuba, showing that the
future Of the island under a stable
government promises wonderful de
velopment of wealth. The beneficial
effects of the economical administra
tion of the islands affairs which is
now being encouraged under the di'
rection of the war department are al
ready apparent. A good deal of the
capital which was removed or which
went into hiding prior to and during
the Spanish war has returned and new
capital is being attracted Wy the safer
and more stable conditions. The in
crease in the business of the custom
house demonstrates better than any
thing else the revival of general trade
Tobacco the Chief staple.
Tobacco, which will continue to be
one of the most important crops, is al
ready being cultivated in sections Of
tie island. where it has never been
grown hitherto. The crop, estimated
at the beginning of the present year
a, 200 900 tons, based upon actual pro-
duction at the end of March, it is es'
timated, will reach 100000 tons. This
despite lack of facilities. the confusion
ard hurry with which the crops were
planted and the fact that much of the
| machinery was totally or partially
DESTROYED. The scarcity of domestic
oxen due to the wholesale slaughter
of stock by both Cubans and Spaniards
for food purposes during the war, is
greatly retarding the operation OF
sugar estates.
| Exports for the Month of March.
| During March 1880 bales of leaf to
bacco, $40 cigars, 5s1, 900 packages o
cigarettes and 1900 kiIos of cut to
bacoo were exported from Havana. Th'
| expectation of various kinds of mer
chandise, which do not pay duty. prin
cipally sugar, old iron, pineappes
palms, preserved fruits, honeys
sponges, etc, reached 4,09l,o kilo
from Havana.
Collections for March.
The total collections during Marcl
were $s96,925, a collection exceeded
only twice at Havana during the pas
ten years (lS9j aud ls9S). The az
parently large collections last yeal
which reached in the equivalent O
American money, 1921, ,12S, is account
ed for by the fact that the duties o
large quantities of war supplies an
materials shipped into Havana nnde
the title of ''libramentoes," were pal
BY check and figured in the collection
as money which went into the treas
ury. but which, as a matter of fac
never represented money at all,
Another Pertinent Consideration.
In considering the large import;
tions into Havana last month it mu:
be horne in mind also that the dutit
under the American regime are q
least 80 per cent. lower than the spar
ish rates, showing tnat none of tn
revenues are being sequestered as III
doi the old Spanish rule.
Three Months of American Rule.
For the first three months of Amer
can rule the total receipts for all th
ports of Cuba were as follows: JAM
! any $1,061,22s, February So16,0l
March $1,261,s45, while the cost of co
lection for these months were exceed
l. ing low, as follows: January col pt
, cent, February 4.63 per cent, Mare
3.43 per cent.
How the Revenue Was Apportione'
The money transferred from Il
customs fund during these thrt
months of American rule to the otht
administrative departments, total VI
pbS.4Oo, was divided mainly as follows
Sl4O, ,4S0 for barracks and quarters
, S9Zl,s25, for "sanitation," $26S,390 ft
rural police and administration
S10i ,9S6 for public works, ports an
harbors. Sl03,0O0 for "charities an
hospitals" and 1851 ,6j3 for civil go
ernment.'
Vessels visiting Havana.
During March 200 vessels Of 2l3,2
tons entered the port of Havana. {
these 107 were American, 3. Englis
: 70 Spanish and 35 of other countrie
:, Of the 4,349 passengers landed, 2,6
q came from the United States, whi
,,t6e passengers left Havana.
= 4 total of S5,341,972 was import'
d into Havana during the past thr
n month, and total of 2,01O,259 eNpol
t ed, of which $2,009,059 went to Spa
A and only 81, 200 to the United States.