New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-13

The first consignment Of new potatoes from the
farms Of The Cuban Industrial Relief Commission
o. Ceibz Mocha Cuba was unloaded from the
steamship YUcatan yesterday morning. The work
Of planting cutiva-ing and harvesting these po-
tatoes was done chiefly by the widows and or
phsns al Ce5a Mocha who have been redeemed
ron condition Of starvation by the employment
given the industrial relief farms. The potatoes
viii be sold al current market rates in this city,
and the proceeds VIII De returned TO Cuba, TO be
used over again in the employment Of destitute
widows and orphans
To most readers Of The Tribune the Cuban In
dusTal Relief Commissions plan Of giving relief TO
the destitute IN Cuba is Wei known. The plan is 10
help The poor 70 hep themselves Instead Of giving
aims, il gives employment at the current rate of
wages Of the district. The plan also contemplates
the giving OF employment that viii not only sup
port The workers and their dependent relatives,
but viii bring 81 return in money, that the en-
terpr-ss can be made 10 some degree seIf-sustain-
ing
Tie Cuban Industrial Relief Commission estab-
Ashed al Ceba Mocha last spring two relief farms,
where work was given 70 the destitute reconcen-
usoos Of The neighborhood- Owing 10 almost
Unprecedented drouth during the spring and sum
ner The crops cultivated during the first
months OF the enterprise were not largely pro-
cuctve. The second crops. planted last October
and Novernoer. Jared better, owing chiefly TO the
constant and Intelligent cultivation which they
oslFed al the hands Of John I. McWilhams. the
American farmer in charge Of the farming opera
IONS The weather has been excessively dry yet
Z considerable crop Of potatoes and other vegeta-
rles has been raised
William Willard Howard, general manager Of
ne Cuban Industrial Relief Commission. said yes
e'o-y that MS desire IN the matter OF selling the
potatoes, 10 obtain for the benefit Of the
WIDOWS and orphans OF Ceiba Mocha the highest
lIce that the potatoes would bring in the markets
u Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Il The people Of the city knew" said he The
pluial condition Of the poor women and children
VINO have cultivated these potatoes I am that
10 one would for moment hesitate TO help my
pan along. These widows and orphans are the
remnant of the reconcenIrado population Of Ceiba
docha- There were eight thousand reconcentradOs
ou''ng the war There are about eight hundred
low. Five thousand reconcentrados lie in the little
oeineiery al Ceiba Mocha. When We began work
d Ceiba Mocha last spring many Of the poor people
"ete actually al The point OF starvation. one
10y did die u starvation after we had estab-
-Sls1 22r work there; but I cid rot know OF his
e'-liiion until il was zoo late to 90 anything to
BE-. him
We dc not have money enough 10 give work 70
1lrse poor people ali Of the time but we picked
W lhe most desperate cases. and made certain
Ia laey should receive enough work TO keep body
- SOU together Gradually the work that
-''lg among the poor began 10 tell. The walking
~7ielons became q little stronger and the tagging
4s-ess steps little brisker. Laughter came into
four years
our superintendent, Mr.. AfcWIlliams is not
- 4 practical farmer Of many years experience
- e mas store u human sympathy that has
- blessing 70 more than one poor creature
-. --a Mocha. II has been M McVVHIiaIrs's
L.. = 20 oot into the village and pick out the
--e halt and The SICK and 10 put them 10
- ID the nelds lie mas wonderful salve
49, 4oclor friend gave him IN Pennsylvania
-, -eN n finds boy OF q man too sick from
~ sores ana ulcers and that sort Of legacy OF
oyer concentration he takes the sufferer