The Republican journal., 1899-10-26
Resources of Northeastern Cuba.


CAEpENAs, Sept. 10, 1899. The city
b Puerto Principe, lying almost in the
entire of the province of the same name,
reached by a forty five mile railway
nom the port of Nuevitas on the north
..ast Though one of the richest and
most interesting capitals of Cuba, as well
Us the quaintest and farthest behind the
mes, it is perhaps less known to the out
idle world than any other town of equal
ems to have turned as lazy as the natives,
and to have laid down his scythe and
me out OF business in the earliest days
European occupation. With popula-
NH OF something over so, 900, the city has
eEer had a hotel-nothing better than
1sadas and fonditas, as quaint and com
Itless as that in which Joseph and Mary
1nd refuge in Bethlehem Of Judea. The
-zenS. however, though unprogressiye
ld sleepy as the sleepiest denizens OF the
opics, are SO beautifully hospitable that
ey never permit a friend to remain an
lur IN a public house. Every stranger
.o comes their way with letters of in
.duction is received literally with open
ms and treated as a bosom friend, and
eli those without introductions-unle
III faces or manners carry too evident
stimonials OF non responsibility as
ledly make their way without difficult
At the worst, travellers in these out
the-Hay regions Will do well to remera-
.-g that in every village the priests
use,-the Padre" (Father), in local
llauce-is always open to the public,
4d in it way-farers may be sure of en-
.tainment at reasonable rates of com
ensation.
4 very short visit in Santa Maria del
leIto Principe, as the town was christen-
b. leads you 10 think that the high
-ounding title is rather mistit. Its mar
W. crooked streets are mostly unpaved
md the low casas Of antiquated architec-
lie are shabby in the extreme. There are
averal old churches, a number OF CON
sAts and monasteries, we'll patronized
lllring, theatre group of somewhat
lore modern buildings for government
-tces, and of course fine casino for
Cuban city is SO poor that it has not
-everal of those anti domestic institutions.
lied clubs in the United States,
II here benedicts may preserve the liberty
ad traditions of bachelorhood at the ex-
euse of their own tiresides. The country
!round Puerto Principe is the best in Cuba
or grazing purposes-vast grassy plains
With rivers running through, where mil
ms Of cattle might be well sustained.
et to this day Cubans generally 90 with
Ut butter, on pay a dollar the pound for
e smelling stuff brought i'll tin boxes
rom Denmark and not fit for wagon
tease Enterprising Americans can tnd
.' better field than right here, Ill we'll
,udueted cattle farms. The industry
5uid not require large capital, like sugar
lad coffee and would bring sure, speedy
md bountiful returns. Some tobacco is
-.5wn IA the ueigbborhood, and a good
.ai vt sugar cane; and Wild honey, pro-
ICED ly the Stingless bees of the conn
81. is exported inconsiderable quantities.
I'D American gentleman is experimenting,
THE line of garden-trucI, on a small
Gm a Principe Province not far from
-- capital. His onions. beans, tomatoes.
4ubages. egg plants, and don know
Nv many other LONELY Northern vege-
eoIes, seem to be doing remarkably well,
Ecep- Ion the draw back OF too fertile
YiL. which inclines to undue exuberance
u vegetation at the expense of fruitage.
e has also an apple and peach orchard
real apple and real peach trees, but in
is climate they do not bear apples and
caches, only beautiful crops of thrifty
ayes and blossoms in their season; for
.e fruit buds invariably drop off prema-
rely. Sugar producing soil, III any part
i the world, will not bear our Northern
luits; but it will grow oranges and other
ropical fruits TO perfection. The wild
ranges of this section. small, juicy and
elbow as gold, are as fine as can be found
nywhere in the world; but, strange to
-tv, there is not a regular orange-gro
Puerto Principe province. CocoaDuts
ne made use Of, and every man field is
hinged with the tall, graceful trees The
4uts are sold on the spot at an average
ate OF eight dollars the thousand. They
ale generally hulled where they grow
md then hauled to a primitive mill near
* uevitas to be ground and pressed for oil
Z he Cuban S process of extracting oil from
he cocoanut resembles that by which
texans make oil from cotton seed The
cake Of solid residue is fed to the pigs
about the only live stock at present
aiSed in Eastern Cuba-and the shells are
Utilized for fuel in running the mills. So
Il, the oil has been locally employed only
as A lubricator for sugar making ma
hinery-a wicked waste of valuable ma
-rrial, it seems, tot hose who are familiar
with the splendid possibilities of the prod
act. Here is an unequalled opening for
lie manufacturer OF palm oil soap, cocoa
t.,,.t D..