Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-21
THE. ISLE OF PINES.
II IS Now Under Inspection by Amer.
leans

american ian0 spectators are NOW
casting longing eyes on the Isle of
Pines. The promoters who so far have
failed to make money out of Cuba
think they see their chance. Since
the money must come out of the
pockets OF their fellow countrymen
VINO are looking for real estate invest
ments. some facts about the isle and
Its status may be interesting to the
people of the United States
Inc present activity on the part of
the real estate agents in Havana is
based on the belief that the Isle of
Pines will be an American possession.
The ground for this belief is the re-
ported Willingness of the Cubans to
concede it rather than to grant naval
stations on the mainland, and the
knowledge that the American authori-
ties hold that the title was ceded 10
the United States by Spain in the
treaty of Paris. On this point it would
be well for the American public to
await the determination of the cues
tion before making land Investments.
The Platt amendment simply requires
that the constitutional convention in
the supplementary ordinance shall pro-
vide for determining the status OF the
Isle of Pines.
The United States can enforce its
claim under the treaty of Paris. if it
so desires. but there may be sonnet ming
like cross purposes, and it is han dly
probable that this country would give
up all claims TO naval or cOaling sta
tions especially on the north coast, in
order to possess itself of the doubtful
equivalent of the Isle of Pines. More
| among the Cubans with regard to
maintaining what they claim is Cuban
territory and. while in contrast with
the Indignation which was aroused a
few months ago at the suggestion of
the Isle of Pines being an American
Possession, the present disposition is
to yield that claim. wave of popular
sentiment may come up at any time
and upset the plans for relinquish-
ment.
| state these facts because the
prospectuses of the Havana real es-
tate spectators are becoming pretty
numerous and are based mostly on the
claim that the Isle of Pines is an
American possession beyond dispute.
Ii that We're true it would still be de-
sirable to know something Of the
lands which are offered for sale and
to make sure that a ten-acre town lot
in the island was any more valuable
than the ten acres of sand beach in
California. which used to be sold for
five dollars. In the Isle of Pines ii
would be swamp instead Of sand that
might be bought.
If the island does become an Ameri
can possession it is possible that the
sponge fishing interests which have
their headquarters at Batabano, on
the main land. will be transferred TO
it. in order to come within the United
States tariff and for other reasons.
That is one Of the projects which is
now under consideration. The sponge
fisheries amount to something like
$500 900 a year. and are the chief in
dustry of that part of the CUBAN
coast They are greater than the
sponge fisheries on the north coas. in
the neighborhood of NuevitaS.
Naval experts do not seem TO be
fully agreed regarding the availability
of the Isle of Pines for naval sta
ton. There is good anchorage on the
southwest end of the island known
as the Gulf of Siguanea, and ii IS
claimed that from this anchorage yes
sells drawing twenty feet can pass
around the island northward to New
Corona. which is the chief harbor and
to which the vessels from Batabano
come This passage is inside the small
KEYS or swampy islands covered with
nanproye bushes. 1t is worth recall
ING that when the Panama canal was
first projected European governments
gave some attention TO the possibility
az Snain establishing a naval station
on the Isle of Pines. and the Spanish
authorities made some sort OF an eX-
amina ton. but after their usual way
they did not pursue it, and there was
M oficial report of special value dur
ing that period.
Sbould the isle be declared an Amer
ican possession. and a naval or coal
inc station be established. the people
who own the land will probably be
able TO get good terms for 1t from the
Tinted States. There is pracucailE
no government land except few
hundred acres on the north coast.
which has little value. 1t is occupied
bv tenants who might claim II under
sn,atter sovereignty. They were sup
rosad TO pay nominal rental to the
a.surv at Havana, but few OF Them
complied.
The Isle OF Pines has an area or
.hout eight hundred square miles. but
= ;s impossible to determine now
,r,ch of this is real land ana now
much is swamp. The southern nan or
the island is one vast swamp greater
in extent than the Dismal swamp OF
Virginia. Because NOBODY hho"s
about this cienaga, or swamp iaouious
stories are told of its wealth OF ma
hogany and various kinds OF TIMBER.
what is known to be tact IS tnat IL
;. dansely pOpulated with caimanes, or