Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-27

last week seems to warrant the assertion
that the Isle of Pines passed absolutely to
the United States. In that treaty Spain re-
linquished its sovereignty over and title to
Cuba. In the second article of the convention
Spain ceded to the United States Porto
Rico and "other islands now under Spanish
sovereignty in the West Indies. The words
other islands," it is claimed by those who
have conferred with the secretary of war on
this subject, necessarily include the Isle of
Pines and every other island not specifically
named. This contention is largely due to the
discovery that the island is of much value
and something vastly more important than
the mere penal settlement which during
Spanish sovereignty gave 1t is chief repu
tation.
A most interesting story concerning the
island and its possibilities is told by J. NJ.
Barris of this city, an American traveller
who has visited much of South America and
has just returned after tour of Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Isle of Pines. When the
boundary dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela arose over that movable boundary
known as the Schomburgk line, Mr.. Harris,
who for years has been exploring new re-
gons investigating mineral and timber
lands, visited the disputed grounds and went
over the Schomburgk line from the Vene-
zuelan side. He then explored the territory
from the British side and prosecuted his in
vestigations throughout the whole OF the re-
gion. He has also been through Central
America and Guatemala. With this expert
ence, Mr.. Harris it would SEEM ought to
be qualified to Judge of the value of the
products OF the island which he has just left.
Tells of the Island.
THE Isle of Pines" said Mr.. Barris. SIS
sixty miles from the Cuban coast, with which
communication is maintained by a small
steamer plying twice a week between Bata-
bana and New Corona. 1t is about ffty-five
miles wide and seventy miles long and
great tracts OF its central portion lie 1,500
feet above the sea. 1t takes its name from
the great open pine forests which abound
in the north. Government experts inyesti
gated the northern portion OF the island and
| conducted my inquiries in the southern
part where ! was astonished at the products
which unfolded themselves before us. In
this part of the island there is an eXtraordi-
nary growth of mahogany, cedar, ebony,
various varieties of oak, lgnum vitae and
other native woods. l found some Of these
mahogany trees, the most valuable OF the
woods that enter into American manufacture,
to be twenty feet in circumference. Not
even in the mahogany districts of South
America have ! seen anything like them.
They are virgin forests, for, as yet, timber
has not been exported from the island at
all. These districts have not been visited
because they cannot be approached from the
northern coast, which Is more thickly set
tied, on account of the great marshes and
swamps. But II the island is approached
from the south the timber districts can be
easily located.
"The cheaper pine wood growing in the
northern part of the island is suitable for
telegraph poles and railroad ties and there
Is an enormous quantity of 1t. Our Amer
lean forests are being fast denuded to sup
ply the market for these articles, and
believe the pines of this island can be
utilized 10 stay the ruthless destruction
that has been going on for years in our
northern forests. The timber and mineral
products of this island, properly developed
as they would be under American stimulus
not to mention the tropical fruits that grow
in abundance sugar cane and tobacco,
which can be cultivated with little labor
will make this island one of great value
TO this country. These mahogany forests in
the south start almost from the coast and
timbe districts would be a problem easy
OF solution There are several good harbors
on the south coast, where 1t is said vessels
drawing twenty feet of water can secure
a safe anchorage.
"The marble auarTies OF the island will.