The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-07-31

nearer to being fully developed than
any other province.
The province Of Pinsr del Rio is very
largely undeveloped. Its riches consist
principally at present Of 6ne tobacco
and, and probably much Of the unde.
veloped country many in the future be
successfully used for sugar culture.
Even The little Isle Of Pines holds
millions Of dollars Of undeveloped
wealth il tho Wsy Of marble and iron.
Its timber has been pretty we'll cut.
merely because its small size and the
fact that vessels could easily reach it
made trsnsportion comparatively
easy. Between the Isle Of Pines and
the mainland are famous sponge fish
cries, and on the island in many PAGES
are fine mineral springs, which when
investigated will doubtless prove to be
Of great medicinal value. This makes
it possible that the island will some
day become "a important health re-
sort, although that Of course is still
long way of.
When asked whether he would ad-
wise y,ung Americans to look for op-
portunities in Cuba, Gen. Wood an
swered: "Of course. Where else in so
comparatively small an area within
such easy access Of Of the markets Of
the world can any such range Of un-
developed wealth be found? I have
the most unbounded faith in Cubs. If
I were millionaire looking for invest
ment I certainly should bring my money
here, knowing what I know Of Cabs's
dormant wealth,
| Interrogated about the people Of
Cuba, Gen. Wood replied:
lam glad to have chance to say that
with every day I have been in Cuba my
admiration for the Cubsns has increas-
ed. The Cubans have their faults, but
they have no more than the average
run Of plain humanity, and it must be
Remembered that they have lsbored un-
der many Disadvantages. The Spani
ards on the island are as fine class of
people as I ever knew. They are hon
est, Industrious, and as faithful in their
devotion to the island as If no war with
Spain had ever happened. The word
Of the average Spanish merchant is as
good as his bond. I have heard almost
no complaint about sharp dealing
among. Spanish merchants. The native
Cuban is good farmer, whether as the
owner and manager Of q plantation oras
| worker on it. Most Of the professional
men IN Cuba also are native Cubans,
| and many Of them are Of great ability.
The Cuban physicians and lawyers are,
as rule, good men; these are the great
elements Of strength in the population.
The element Of weakness is the drift
ing population Of the towns. This ele-
ment-Which offers Ia serious problem
is direct and natural outcome Of the
long var with Spain; it will gradually
eliminate itself, however in aIl prob
ability. So far as morals go, the pop.
ulation here will average up about IS
other populations average, I suppose.
I will say this emphatically; the aver.
age Of crimes against property and
sgsilst person is much smaller than
| ne have any right to expect in the cir
cumstances. After the war there were
many bandits in the country; they have
disappeared. There were bandits in
our own country after our Civil War
The correspondent here diverges to
note the outcome Of sensational let.
ter from the head Of the Cuban cigar
trust indicating that the tobacco region
was overrun with, bandits. Inquiry
by the American officials proved that
this alarmiss letter was based on .
sheer invention; that there were no
banditti Whate7er. On this point Gen.
Wood said: There is no more need
for the traveller in Cuba to fear violence
than there is need for man to expect
assassination on the most quiet and
pesceful street of the cslmest village in
the United States. l should not hesi-
tate'-this with emphssis-"to put my
wife and baby into volante "a two
wheeled carriage peculiar to the coun:
try districts) With only the driver, and
he unarmed, and send them over any
road in Cuba. They might drive from
here to Santisgo in this way without
giving me one qualm Of fear that shey
would be molested by robbers or other
laRless persons" Gould there be
stronger testimony than this?
Gen. Wood expressed himself as sur
prised to see in American papers con-
slant reports Of Cuban hostility toward
the United Statesand pronounced them
"eertsin]y not true" ''Wehave done,"
said, "all that ne could do to meet any
inst and reasonable demands Of the
Cuban people, and they have certainly
done great deal to show their sppre-
cistion of what We have DONE"
It was predicted by the governor gen.
eral that if the commercial and sgrl-
cultural elements of Cuba would enter
the struggle of politics and accept ONCE
a good government could be formed.
He believed in and had advised, he
said, the reduction Of duties by the
United States on Cuban sugar and to-
bscco, and the. CubsDs would be more
than willing to give corresponding and
compromising reductions on American
| produts, affording to the United Sta tes
"a magnificent market for almost all
manufactured goods, and for the sugar
machinery"
Iswss pointed out by Gen. Wood
| that the Cuban municipalities were be-
ing assisted, but assisted out Of Cuban
funds drawn from customs and inter-
| nsl revenue taxes. 'All Of the expenses
Of the United States troops, as to the
building of cimps and barracks and
the cost of sanitary york Of the whole
island has also been paid from the
Cuban funds" This is a fact that is