The record-union., 1899-05-06
By Distributing Agricultural Utensils to
Those Who Need Them.
Reports From the Tobacco-Grow-
ing Districts Indicate Much
Larger Crop This Year Than
Last, the Quality Being Excel
lent, in Spite of Unusual Heavy
Rains.

NEW YORK, May "a dispatch TO
khe Tribune from Havana says:
General Wilson, who is making a visit
of inspection to the added territory now
under his command. is reported to have
made an important announcement in
his interview at Cienfuegos with Gen
eral Jose Miguel Gomez, the Civil Gov
ernor of that city.
This was that the military govern
ment proposed to distribute agricultu-
raj utensils to those who needed them
to resume the tillage of the fields, aud
that the value of the tools thus adj
vanced could be made good subsequently
by payments to villages and ether gov
erning boards. Interest on advances
was to be charged at the rate OF D per
cent. Local commissions We're TO be
chosen to conduct the distribution Of
the utensils. Such a scheme carried
through in a practical way would I'm
dOubtedly do much to stimulate the re-
viwal of agriculture in the rich central
provinces of the island. In Santa Clara
province sugar and tobacco growing old
NOT wholly cease at any time during the
dnsurrection or during the war with the
United States, and this section already
shows greater recuperation than any
other portion of Cuba
Reports from the tobacco-growing
districts around Villa Clara indicate a
much larger crop for this year than for
last, the yield being now estimated at
about $1,000 tierces.
The quality is excellent, in spite Of
unusual early rains.
The owners of cOaSting vessels here
have been put to some embarrassment
by orders from Secretary Alger forbid
ding them to engage hereafter in COM
merce with foreign ports. Some of the
lines have contracts for transporting
cattle, mules and other livestock from
Mexico and the United States, and will
be forced to abandon this part of their
business at serious loss.
On the. ground that the importation
of oxen and mules should be especially
encouraged at this juncture, in order to
extend work on the plantations an APP
peal to the temporary vacation of the
SecTeta,y's order will probably be made
to Washington.
One of the English newspapers here,
the Havana Herald" joins the Span
ish press to-day in Questioning the ex-
pediency of the early closing regula
tions put in force this week by the city
authorities. The Herald agues that
much inconvenience has already been
caused by the early week day closing
edict, inasmuch as a large parArof Ha-
vana's population has been accustomed
to make necessary small purchases up
to 10 and II O'Clock at night AS most
of the small shopkeepers live in the
shops they occupy, forced barring of
the front doors at 9 o'clock is also de-
clared an unnecessary hardship Many
protests are being prepared by the
smaller merchants. against the Common
Councils rather startling experiment.
La Lucha's" English edition an
nounces to-day with sensational head
lines that General Gomez has chosen
Colonel Carlos Manuel Cespedes as the
future active leader of the military
party in Cuban politics. Colonel Ces-
pedes is the son of the President of the
Cuban republic, and served in the liz
surrection with General Calixto Gar
GAS staff He is native of Santiago
province and is considered one of the
ablest young men in the revolutionary
movement. He is at present a. member
of the committee assisting General Co
mez in winding up the affairs of the in
surgent military organization
Colonel Cespedes, La Lucha" says,
with prophetic insight quite unaccount-
able to ordinary observers, is already
practically nominated and elected Pres
ident of the prospective Cuban repub-
lie.
American political methods are APP
parently coming rapidly into favor with
Cuban students of the art of popular
government
STEVEDORES ON A STRIKE.
HAVANA, May 5.-The stevedores
here have inaugurated a strike for an
advance of wages to So a day in Ameri-
can money, instead of 50 30. An attempt
to supply the places of the strikers with
Chinese resulted in severe fight. About
100 Cinnamon are employed, in spite of
the opposition of the strikers. The Chi
nese Consul has asked General Ludlow,
the Military Governor of Havana. for
protection for the laborers. The Consul
has also protested against the removal
of the Chinese quarter outside the city,
which has been ordered by Surgeon Ma
jor John G.. Davis on the request of
the citizens of Havana