Evening journal., 1901-10-28
TO BE OBTAINED IN
NEW TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS

possessions to seek their fortunes isl
amazing. But, after all, it is not to be
so much wondered at. when one takes
into consideration the opportunities
and advantages which are to be found
there.
Among the very latest Of Uncle Sam S
territorial acquisitions is the Isle Of
Pines. 1t is one of the West Indies,
and formerly a part OF Cuba, but was
separated from that island by the Platt
amendment. which finally was accepted
by the Cuban Constitutional COnven-
tion The Island was discovered by Co
lumbus in 1893, during his second vOy-
age to America. 1t is about fOrty-five
miles off the coast of Cuba, almose di-
rectly south from the city of Havana,
A brief history of the island may prove
of interest to those Wilmington young
men who are thinking of trying their
fortunes in faraway climes, but still
under the American flag and according
to reports, they are not few.
From a date soon after the settle
ment of the American continent until
early in the nineteenth century the Isle
Of Pines was much frequented by pi-
rates Its many natural harbors, FORM
ed by coral reefs, made safe and con-
venient headquarters for the maraud-
ers who lived by preying on the ships
and settlements of all nations engaged
in the West Indian trade. Soon after
the breaking up of these pirate bands
in the early part of the century, Spain
began to use the island as a penal col
ony and as military post. Since that
time, until the treaty of Paris with the
United States, the Spanish Governments,
when not engaged in war with the Gu
bans. had a considerable force of sol
diers garrisoned upon the island IT
was here that most of her political
prisOntrs were sent, since they could
be easily guarded, and the chances of
communicating with their friends or
fellOw-conspiratOrs were reduced to a
minimum.
Any person from a northern climate
can live in the ls,e of Pines in the sum-
mer with as much comfort as in the
State of Delaware, while the winter
months are. of course, very much more
comfortable The Isle of Pines has one
continuous summer, the variations in
the temperature throughout the entire
year being scarcely as great as often
occur in single summer month in
many of the Northern States. 1t is rare
indeed when the thermometer in sum-
mer on the island registers as high as
80. and in winter the mercury never
falls below so. No such thing as sun
stroke or heat prOstratiOn is known and
the climatic effect on Northern people
although engaged in outdoor occupa-
tions even in the rainy season of the
year is not serious because there are
no sudden weather changes.
1t is claimed by the natives that there
has never been a case of typhoid or
yellow fever on the island. The soil
being a loan (not clay) with a slight
mixture of sand, there is very little
mud during the wettest time of the
year, while all kinds Of plows and other
field or garden tools scour beautifully.
rendering 1t a great pleasure to work
the SOL as compared with the soil of
Cuba. where both the red and black
lands are so muddy in the wet season
ana hard in the dry, and tools will not
scour whether the soil be dry or wet.
Road building is easy on the Isle of
Pines. While the country as a rule
Is rolling table land, the higher ele-
vatlons are not abrupt; there is very
little 'ihill-land.' The statement has
been made by a gentleman who has
travelled all over the island on horse
back that trolley lines could be run
through almost every section without
making single cut or. a single grade
more than sufficient to run the water
of the tracks. These same trolley cars.
when the needs of the people demand
or Justify it. could be run from power
generated by the waters of the high
banked. swift-running little rivers
which take their rise in the south part
OF the island and run to the sea in a
generally nOrthery direction. The
rivers are fed by springs and furnish
ample water for power even in the dry
est time of the year and owing to the
rapid fall can easily be utilized for
power and in many places for irriga-
ton, were it needed. The latter, how
ever is not necessary as the rainfall
is sufficient to mature crops of ali
kinds.
The Isle of Pines is within four days
by boat and rail of every large city in
the United States, except San Francisco.
A number of direct lines of steam
ers pass the island and there will thus
be competing lines. which means the
lowest possible freight rates. The dis
tance from New York city is about the
same as to st. Louis.
THE NATIVE PEOPLE
The natives are of Spanish descent
and speak the Spanish language. They
were loyal to Spain during the recent
war. but took no part in it, and they
are now almost TO a man gratified that
the island is United States territory.
| There are only about 5000 natives on
the entire island. The country is rap.
idly filling up with people from tbs
United States, and in short time these
newcomers will occupy a large portion
of the land. The natives are an intel
ligent, hospitable people and welcome
emigration from the States