Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-15
SHOWN BY CUBAN CENSUS
LOSS OF POPULATION IN TWELVE
YEARS $500.
Effect of the War and the Reconcen-
tratiOn PO1icy-SOme Inter-
esting Figures.

Gen. ]. P. Sanger, in charge of the census
taking in Cuba and Porto Rico having al
ready made public the results showing the
gross population Of the islands, has now in
preparation q number of bulletins to be
Published at intervals, showing specific de-
tails of the populations as regards race.
color, age, nativity. residency, and SO on.
The first Of these bulletins was made pub
tic today, giving the total population of
Cuba by provinces, municipal districts.
cities and wards, and is introduced with a
thorough and most complete description of
the prevailing form of local government in
the island, setting forth in exact detail the
powers intrusted to each of the municipal
authorities.
The total population of Cuba on October
49, 1889, determined by the census taken as
of that date, was 1,5I2, I9I.
The latest census taken under Spanish au-
thority was in 1887. The total population
as returned By that census was lC3l 6S7
Whether that census was correct may be
a matter of discussion, but If incorrect, the
number of inhabitants was certainly not
overstated.
Comparing the total population of these
two censuses. 1t is seen that the loss in the
twelve years amounted to $3.50. or SO per
cent of the population in 1887. This loss is
attributable to the recent civil war and the
RECOMMENDATION policy accompanying it, but
the figures express only part of the loss
from this cause. Judging from the earlier
history of the island and the excess of
births over deaths. as shown by the regis
t1ation records, however imperfect they may
be, the population probably increased from
1887 up to the beginning of the war, and at
the latter epoch reached total of little less
than 100000 1t Is probable, therefore.
that the direct and indirect losses by the
war and the recommendation policy includ-
ing a decrease of births and of immigration
and an increase of deaths and of emigra-
ton, reached total of approxima tely
2OO.OO
Havana province, in which most of the re-
concentrates were collected sustained a
relatively small loss in population Indeed.
the population of Havana district including
the city of Havana. increased from 200, 44S
in 1887 to 242. Oi5 in 1889 while nearly every
other district of the province lost popula-
ton. Pinar del Rio and Ma tanzas, lying on
either side of Havana. lost nearly equal
numbers and proportions of inhabitants.
Santa Clara, lying beyond Matanzas to the
eastward. remained almost at a standstill,
while Puerto Principe and Santiago, still
farther to the eastward and farther re-
moved from the center of hostilites, gained
greatly, the increase being probably due
not only to Natural increase but to the mi
grafton of people away from the center of
disturbance.
The area of Cuba is approximately 1900
square miles. and the average number of
inhabitants per square mile 35.7, about the
same as the state of Iowa.
as thickly populated as the state of Connec-
ticut, and Puerto Principe. the most
sparsely populated, is in this respect COM
parable with the state of Texas. Puerto
Principe, with but six rural Inhabitants to
square mile, is a pastoral province.
The urban population of all cities of more
than 1000 inhabitants numbers 741 273 or
nearly one-half of the entire population.
The urban population of cities of 5000 or
more Inhabitants amounts to 499. GS2 a pro-
portion of 323 per cent of the total popua-
ton as compared with corresponding fig
ure of 3D. per cent, shown in the United
States census of 1890.
Nlnety-six Cuban cities have a population
In excess of 1000 inhabitants, in sixteen of
which the number of Inhabitants is 5000 or
more hVe have popua ton in excess of
$500. and one (Havana) a population of
22:35. 9S1. VI
The following cities have a population
above 10000; Santiago 1900: Matanzas.
1914: Cienfueyos 3OO3S: Puerto Princ;pe
% 1o2; Cardenas. u $40: Manzanla, II. AGA !;
Guanabacoa. 1896: Santa Clara, 10 7G: ;
SaSua la Grande, II. 12S: Sanct Spritus.
12,695; Regla, 11,3G1; Trinidad, 11120.