Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-21


stricted immigration Is 10 the future
welfare Of the Island.
With the present inadequate popula-
ton. tho immense tracts OF fertile soil
hitherto uncultivated will remain bar.
rem and unproductive, the virgin wealth
Of priinevaI forests, covering one-half
Of the island. will continue untouched
by tho hand Of man. and the generous
mines Of iron, copper. manganese and
coal will lie comparatively neglected
and unyieldipg.
The inexhaustible richness Of the
soil. the tropical luxuriance Of growth
in field and forest, the reliable and
never failing yearly rainfall which rem.
deIs irrigation unnecessary. the exist.
epcs Of % good harbors, and tho posi-
BILE facilities by reason Of the island Q
typographical conformation. Of rail and
water communication between all points
in the interior and the seacoast must
tempt thither the many American farm
ers who seek greater scope for their in.
dustry than they can secure ut home,
but they will in every case be confront.
ed with the labor problem. the scarcity
Of ablebodied men seeking and vel
coming employment.
All agricultural work demands ex-
posture to the broiling tropical SON
snrougpous tine entire day-exposuro
which can only be borne and stood by
native or thoroughly aoclimatsd labor
srs. OF acclimated laborers only very
small number remain in the island to.
day, and those are already MI contracted
for by the old established sugar cane
and tobacco planters. Those employers
still have room for more hands.
The native labor even is not all avail
able today, as the greater part of the
men are in the Cuban army. and nj.
though weary Of fighting and strug-
Cling and gladly welcoming nm oppor-
tunity to return 60 the gentle arts Of
peace are kept under arms. starved, IN
clothed and uncsred for by superior
orders Of the so called Cuban govern.
ment. which refuses to dishand the
army until detiri;e expression is made
by the United States government Us 60
its ultimate intentions regarding Cuba's
political future.
This lofty attitude OIL the part Of the
Cuban governments does not, however.
hinder the military chiefs from allow.
Ing their men to earn an honest dollar
by exchanging for the nonce the wsrlike
maenete for the peaceful spade. In
stance the case and hiring out rs dny
labcrers nc Msrianao, where 200 Cuban
soldiers Of General Menocal's command
were employed by Captain Joseph Try
Crawford to build the landing place for
the American troops, each insurgent re-
ceiving 81 pay for days work.
This sensible action on General Memo
GALS part enabled his men to purchase
food and clothing. of which they were
sorely in need. and afforded an oppor-
tunity Of discovering just exactly how
:eady they were to return to work.
When Menocal announced that he him.
self would pick out the strongest and
best fitted in camp, there was such q
general scramble among the men tall OF
whom were colored). tempted by the
prospect Of earning their first money in
three years, that il was found necessary
20 allow them TO work in rotation, all
getting = chance to get q days pay.
The same thing happened when 800
men we're solicited for clearing the
camp site at Quemados
With donble the present population
in 1898 the value Of sugar exported from
Cuba was over $75, 600, 600 and the to- |
tai quantity Of sugar manufactured
!, 050, 900 tons. Since then. owing to |
the insurrection, the output has fallen |
OF considerably, hardly exceeding l00.-
600 tons for the past two years.
Il is estimated BY planters and sugar |
merchants that with good government !
and proper enterprise the island 10 capa-
BILE Of yielding an average sugar crop |
exceeding 5000. 600 tons annually, |
which would practically mean the mo-
popoly OF the entire markets Of the
world. The quintuplication Of Cuba's
sugar production would mean q CORE.
spending incssase h the poDslation cf |
the island through immigration II wide
y diversi6ed and heterogeneous els- |
msnts isnosant Of and inexperienced In
Institutions and among
whom jealossy and dissenGiou are bousd
70 arise. This would mean fresh dis
turbances and open revolt. involving the
destruction Of property and the loss q
capital invested IN the island'sdsvelop-
msnt
Tie blssding ard welding a thess
dispoedans slsnents jn1o 80 beeuBoni.
- vAels VII eeolyv ~ : ~