Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-13

pie now practically without homes. A
nome to a Cuban family means a very diff
ferent establishment from the conception
OF even the poorest American farmer. A
shelter from the rain and a patch of
ground on which to raise a small amount of
food and a small amount of stuff to sell
constitutes wealth and happiness for the
poore- classes NTH rural districts, and it
Is when these shall all have found such
home that Cuba will become universally
prosperous and contented.
Lack of Good Roads,
There is great deal of undeveloped ter
ritory, and roads of all kinds are sorely
needed before these sections can be utilized
by industrious people who depend upon the
sale OF the product of their land for their
ilVlng. The Americans are planning to
nave board of public works in every dis
trict for the purpose of opening up the en-
IRE country to settlement. 1t is designed
20 put tax on land so as to force the
breaking up of some of the immense and
90" unproductive Plantations. and thus
encourage the sale of small plots of
ground. The courts must be reformed so
that money can be leaned on land in small
amounts, and justice be given the lender
ana the borrower alike. In fact, Cuba must
be filled with the homes of small farmers
fully protected by :ustly administered laws
before its real future can be outlined with
any surety of judgment.
Good farming Land within a short dis
lance of the larger cities is now held at
from 80 to $50 an acre, and there il land
adjacent TO the city of Havana for which
the Cinnamon pay much as so a month
rent for truck gardening purposes. There
Is an immense area of land in Cuba the
title to which still rests in the state Moth
ing can tie done with this until Cuba has a
responsible government, empowered TO sell
the same, and give gooi title to the pur-
chasers. The building of several railroads
Is conter1 plated, and capital can BE- Sc
cured for the purpose as soon as the laws
viii allow Of their being built. A railroad
the length Of the island, with branches
reaching north and south to the numerous
fine harbors on the coast, will work won
derful development in the productive com
mercial life of Cuba.
Resumption of Farming: Industry.
The American occupation has not yet
brought any great change to agricultural
life, except that a cessation of war has
caused resumption of work wherever
there was money to restore the working
plant. The People are gradually getting
back into the country, and farming opera
tons are being resumed wherever it is pcs
sibfe. Honest courts are needed to confirm
just titles and rights and protect the Dor
rowers and the lenders. Money is needed
to loan on good security to operate with
but this money will not be loaned until the
lenders are satisfied that the courts have
been purified Perhaps some money is with
held because of the uncertainty of the po-
Gtical future. 1t is not the waiting for
Sope1h Ho@SNSE, WHICH causes
the hesitation, but it is the fear that the
Americans may withdraw. The owners of
the money. Cubans though they may be,
acknowledge this frankly to the American
authorities.
1t is not the influx OF American farmers
which will work out the agricultural fu-
ture of Cuba, but the utilization OF mag
nffcent natural opportunities by the people
who are natives of the soil. Americans may
succeed here and there, but no man should
come here to live without fully Investigating
the chances of success, carefully weighing
the disadvantages against the advantages.
and giving the matter practical test he
fore finally committing himself This island
must not be looked upon as the promised
land sby the struggling American farmer.
The cry of Cuba for the Crhans" means
more than the control of the political Of
fees. j. d. WHELPLEY