The times., 1899-03-15
A COMMERCIAL view
OF The isle OF Pines
An Interesting Report by Cap
tain Foltz.
Picturesque Topography Marred by
impossible Swamps.
Valuable and Varied Natural Re.
sources-Thc Entire Population
Estimated at Two Thousand.

sOurces-Ihc Entire Population
Estimated at Two Thousand.
The Assistant Secretary OF War made
public yesterday a report just received
frcm the collector of customs at Havana,
Col Tasker H. Bliss, in relation to re-
cent visit made to the northern part of the
Isle of Pines by Capt. Fred S. Foltz, Sec
ond Cavalry, collector of customs at Bata-
bano.
Captain Foltz states in his report that
he spent upward of three weeks in the
northern part of the island. He was una
bic TO visit tine southern portion on account
of an impossible swamp, which is only ac-
cessibIe by sea. Captain Foltz states,
however that the southern portion of the
island contains considerable mahogany and
other valuable hardwood. In regard to
the topography of the section visited, Cap
tain FoltZ remarks that the surface Is
a plateau with an elevation of some fifty
to one hundred feet above the sea, broken
by ridges of hills or cliffs that project
abruptly here and there above the general
level surface. The soil, generally speaking,
gravel. all of which makes good roads
even in rainy weather by merely cleaning
away the brush.
The two mountain ridges at the northern
end of the island have an elevation OF
some 1900 feet These ridges are COM
posed of limestone and marble. The 9TH
er ridges in the centre of the island are
much lower. less precipitous, and are
formed of gray sandstone and red rock and
gravel containing iron. The southern
part of the island is composed of what is
locally known as "dogteeth' coral rock.
The southern coast is rocky and danger
Gus, containing only one small harbor,
Carapachiray. On the southwest coast OF
the island is a capacious anchorage, the
Ciguanea. and from this anchorage vessels
drawing twenty feet of water can pass
nOrthward around the island as far as New
Corona inside the keys that lie some six
miles off the coast. The whole island, with
the exception Of the rocky southern coast.
is surrounded by mangrove sWamps. with
here and there short stretch of sandy
beach. The only two landings on the ISL
and are New Corona. on the Rio Las Casas.
and Jucaro, the latter on the Rio Santa Fe.
These are accessible by vessels drawing
five feet of water or less, the bars at the
river mouths being very shallow.
The states Barren Claim.
The central part bears yellow pine. most
ly too small for lumber, although there are
considerable tracts of very fair sawlogs
As you approach the western. northern. and
eastern coasts the pine disappears and
the country becomes savanna covered
with thin grass and dotted with scrubby
trees and palmetto In general appear
ance this section resembles the barren
parts of Florida.
Captain Foltz says that after a careful
investigation he finds that the only land
belonging to the State is contained in some
siyty-three lots, of about fifty acres each
and scattered about within three miles OF
New Corona. These lots seem TO be those
left after the land had been picked over
They are generally in the worst locations
practically worthless, and contain nothing
but mangrove scrubs, dwarf palmettos, and
thin pine grass. \ few of the lots are
better and are used as small farms, the
resident paying. it is understood, nominal
rent. to the Hacienda at Havana. However
there are no records on this point in the
island
Captain Foltz could find no record oi
dues paid TO the Crown for the privilege
of exporting timber but says it is under
stood that contributions are arbitrarily lev,
led from time TO time by the militar!
governor of the island. These ''contribu
tons or qualifications, were paid to Sc
cure immunity from official obstruction il
the going and coming of vessels from tht
/ inaccessible points at which the lumbe
was gathered. II is presumed, however
that a poTtion at least of these 'cOntribu
| tions was used for the benefit of tn
island. No record appears to have beel
kept Of the amount or disposition.
The governor OF the island regulate
the dues for the slaughtering of cattle
/ for the selling of meat, and also dues fron
( stores or shops for the selling of goods o
/ all kinds. AS an illustration: WOO
/ choppers camp would require beef an
would also probably maintain a store 10
the sale of provisions. In this case tn
proprietor of the camp would become liza
! bic for dues but which. on account of tn
} usually inaccessible location of the CAM
these dues were difficult - collection. Tn
J quantity of mangTOve and other scrubb
I wood available for charcoal and soft wooC
I Captain FoltZ states, is practically un
/ limited.
All the coast of the island and the key
/ 10 the north are covered with this growt
of mangrove and other scrubby wood, an,
as far as could be ascertained the CROW
does not appear to have collected any due
for The privilege of cutting. The due
| seem to have been simply in the nature {
| town taxes levied on wood choppers camp
in order that they should not by leaviu
! the established towns escape the burde
/ of taxation. II is believed that the in
| preston that dues were paid to the stat
for the use of its timber lands in th
Isle OF Pines has arisen from an errOneOu
understanding of the system eyplaine
hitherto.
Since The first of January last the take
named like all others. have not been paiC
The alcalde of the island, as well as tn
| military governor ian officer Of the Cuba
| army either did not feel themselves sutii
| cientIy secure TO enforce payment, or fOun
! il TO their material interest TO allow thing
to run themselves. AS a consequence 4
I all this the bridges are in need of re
| pair, the schools closed, and the clerks liv
| ing from hand to mouth without any re
muneration.
The Two Towns.
The island contains but two towns Ne
Gerona'on the north coast, and Santa +
In the centre. The former numbers som
900 inhabitants: the latter $50 person:
The entire population Of the island is abor
2.0OO. The capital is New Corona. In ia,
IL is the only town. and Santa Fe, fiftee
miles distant. is officially suburb. Cap
Foltz recommends that the towns be mad
officially Independent of each other 3
Santa Ea pngspGSps "a mort al Tucaro spve