New-York tribune., 1901-06-20
THE SUGAR CROP OF CUBA.
.AcK OF PROGRESSIVE IDEAS AMONG
THE PLANTERS.
THE ACREAGE FOR THE COMING SEASON A
THIRD LARGER THAN LAST YEAR
AMERICANS HOLDING ALooF-

AMERICANS HOLDING ALooF-
w.,s,zss Cuba June il CSpeciaD-Sugar
tnaerlies The industrial life Of Cuba. The pro-
sucars are beginning TO find that il also under
es the Dolitical life Of the island. The potent
onseryat.,e influence for the last month mas
,een the sugar planters and their field hahos'
rhev are for peace almost at any price, anu
heir moderation checks much radical aslla'ioH.
Al this time the planters are taking account OA
he past and making their estimates lor t"e
uture They stil have confidence that cane
ugar in Cuba can hold its own against pee'-
oot but the wiser ones among them oeleNe 'h7'
heir position can only be intrenched ai'er
evolution in the present methods OF proauctiOh
nd distribution
The crop figures for this season are ehcouras
ng enough. In round numbers the proacc'ioh
3 fixed at Go0o0O TONS and this has brought
OF far from S}0eO0oea. The payment for the
ron has helped 10 reduce the unfavorable trade
balance against the island. While the price has
zen fair, had il been a shade higher the pro-
iuction would have reached 650o0G tons: but
many OF the planters preferred not 10 grind, be-
eying that prices will be a little better next
car The cane acreage for the coming season
5 about one-third larger than during the last
ear II is not likely that much of the new
ands which are being planted in the eastern
ma Of the island in the belief that tariff con-
essions will be made bv the United States will
ave cane ready for grinding within the next
welve months vet there is every reason 10 look
or a crop Of 100000 tons TO $4,000 tons in the
eason Of 1902
BETTING BACK TO NORMAL PRODUCTION
In this. the great central sugar belt, another
,ear win bring most Of the plantations up to
lefO he
shere are still many estates around Matanzas
Fhich have not been cleared and replanted, but
hey grow fewer with each month, and the prob
fility is that their distressed owners either
sin be closed out under foreclosure proceed
ngs or viii be able 10 finance their plantations
through outside aid.
In the Cardenas district there few estates
shich have not fully recovered. and it has hap
ened this year that Cardenas has gone ahead
Z Matanzas in its shipments, but both ports
ave handled more than 100000 bags. or 100000
ons each. Some OF the bad belt, as il is known,
; still under partial recultivation, but this is
secause these poor lands do not pay for raising
ugar at present prices. Most Of them are held
ut as bargains TO Americans. who think that
II sugar lands in Cuba the same. and who
ometmes are led into buying wherever they see
ane growing.
'oing through an industrial and a social revo-
ution. but he does not yet grasp how thorough
. is. The old baronial estates are passing away.
The individual planter is becoming less and less
factor He talks Of the old time feudalism
ust as the Southern cotton planters used TO
ak OF it, and he grieves over the new condi-
icns which reduce his own Importance, but
here is remedy. His hospitality, where he
as the means. is princey as in the past. and
{ he has been able TO get large enough ad-
ances on his crops or 10 find some corner of the
lantatiOn which was not already mortgaged he
Till counts the season in Paris London or
;aratoga with his family, but with the creditors
'ressing him and the new conditions Of produc-
ion TO be met, it is only in a few cases that he
able TO take this vacation.
Nearly every planter charges his troubles 10
he insurection and is unwilling 10 recognize
hat even without the ravages of war he would
ave had 10 meet subtle economic revolution.
NE curse OF the Cuban planter always has been
Is greed for more land. Now. in order 10 save
omething from his estate. he is forced to sell
art Of il. One great land owner who had hold
ngs amounting TO one hundred thousand acres
ias been in the keenest distress for the last
hree years. He appealed 10 his friends with an
Indignant complaint against his bankers because
hey had advised him 10 sell a third or a half
Z his plantations and secure capital with which
o work the remainder. After three years he
vas forced TO take his bankers advice, but to-
lay he feels that he has been harshly treated
n the province OF Puerto Principe there is one
and owner who can travel seventeen miles along
he borders OF his plantation without crossing
neighbors land- He came through the insur-
ection with smaller losses than most OF his
elbow planters, and soon as the American
occupation started he began buying more
and; but he, too. has had 10 lessen his holdings
nd for the last year has been selling instead NJ
buying.
LIVED IN FEUDAL EXcLUsIvENEss
In the old days every great planter had to
iave his own central" or mill. His plantation
vas not really an 'ingenio" without the central
This was as much part Of his barony as WAS
he casa de vivienda," or spacious residence in
he midst Of handsome gardens The machinery
vas OF the most expensive kind. and the central
vas operated on the most expensive principIes
The pride OF the planter was this mill Ha
'rnulated his neighbor. and it happened when
ne insurrection came along that there was a
Fast amount OF property which could he de-
troyed by the insurgents or the Spanish troops
addition 10 burning the cane There are still
many OF these ruined mills TO be seen I'm the
uear belts. but the true situation only has been
perceived within the last year This was that
spite OF the immense destruction. the island
iad mills enough which We're left in good con-
Hilton TO grind all the cane that was produced
md could be produced for years to come Amer
can manufacturers OF sugar machinery also
iave perceived this fact. but only recently II
nplains why the market which they expected
lss been SO disappointing. In the year before
ne insurreoSon the island produced nearly
-''oovco tons Of sugar. and with possibly half
ne mills destroyed there are to-day enough of
hese remaining TO grind a crop as large as that