The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-23

bJllullOudl DOunudTleb Ol Ouud anu
''the title thereof left to future adjust
ment by treaty" All of which. in plain
terms, means that 1t will be part Of
the United States.
Aside from It's wonderful resources
and marvellous advantages as a health
resort. the Isle of Pines is of great
strategic value to the United States,
inasmuch as II can be made to com
mand the Yucatan channel leading to
the gulf of Mexico 1t will also be in
valuable In connection with the Nlcara-
qua canal If built and controlled by the
United States.
Spain seems never TO have appre-
ciated this little jewel of the tropical
seas, though 1t had been sanctified by
the footprints of Columbus, who dis
covered ii In the summer of 1894, and
who described its forest clad hills and
mountains as presenting a spectacle of
beauty and grandeur. Columbus chris
tened 1t Evangelism, which is still a
favorite name for the island. For
many years after this the Spaniards
abandoned 1t to the pirates and bold
buccaneers who held forth in West
Indian waters to the terror of early
colonlsts. Here was their principal
headquarters, whence they departed
upon their bloody cruises One of
these, the Bajo de Cerro, Is still stand
ing 1t was the hiding place of their
treasure, like the mysterious island of
4. o,,l. -
the pirates a few peaceful whites and
blacks crossed over from Cuba and set
tied In little farms, but up to recent
times Cuba's Spanish authorities util.
lied the garden spot as place of ban
ishment for drunkards, idlers and politi-
cal prisoners These were not placed
under guard, but turned loose upon the
poor farmers.
Today the Isle of Pines can brag OF
only about $500 population, though II
has an area of GOO square miles, or
about half as large as the state of
Rhode Island. There are only two
small towns on the island-Nueva Ge-
roma, its capital, and Santa Fe, 10 miles
farther inland. To reach them one
must sail around to the northern coast,
winding I'm and out the channels be-
tween n hundred Gays and islets, all
green with mangrove thickets. Nueva
Corona lies three miles from the sea,
up the river Casas, and to its wharf
comes once week a small steamer
from Batabano, the southern port of
Havana province. Santa Fe has port
of its own several miles distant-Juca-
70, on the Santa Fe river. several miles
above the Caribbean. Vessels drawing
more than FIVE feet Of water cannot
approach either port because of shallow
water over the bars.
The natural resources Of the island
are important and varied, though they
are yet almost wholly undeveloped.
The soil is extremely fertile, but only
a small part of the island is under Gull
tivation. A few of the green valleys
are used as cattle ranges. Tobacco and
sugar are grown to a limited extent,
and pineapples are perhaps the staple
product. There has been some trade in
woods mahogany, pine and cedar
and there might be a great deal more
Spirits of turpentine, pitch. tar. sui
phur. tortoise she'll and crystals also
are among the possible exports. Silver.
quicksilver and iron exist in the hills.
and the marble quarries practically are
exhaustless.
The Isle of Pines is perhaps most Inn
portant as prospective health resort
and Is destined to become n paradise
for lnvalids. especially sufferers from
lung. bronchial and throat affections.
Medicinal springs abound. the waters
of which are very strongly impregnat-
ed with oxygen. carbonlc acid gases,
chlorides of sodium. sulphate of lime.
nitrate of lime, iron. magnesia, slick,
chloride of calcium and NOBODY knows
what other constituents, making a
combination not altogether pleasant to
take. but Astounding in health restoring
qualities. The climate Is as perfect
as one can hope to find this side the
Elysian fields. with dry. pure air, cool
ed by fresh b-eezes from the nearby
ocean and redolent with the invigorat-
ing odors of the pine forests with
which the uplands of the island are
clad. HATS DUBoTa.