The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-18
WILL WATCH CUBA.
Continued From sixteenth Pag

Poujaud, Atlanta, clerk in the office of
the quartermaster, at Matanzas; Addi-
son I. Ruan, Macon, disbursing agent
for the Signal Corps. Havana; Frank
M. Smith, Woodview, manager of the
government telegraph office at Man
zanillo Walter F. Smith. Macon. ap-
praiser of tissues in the Havana Gus
tom House; CASTOR NJ. Stephens. Hill
ton, manager of the government tele-
graph office at Santo Domingo; N. B.
Stewart, Butler, paymaster of the en-
gineer department at Havana; George
B. Washington, Savannah, bookkeeper
of the auditors office, at Havana;
John c. Washington, Savannah, clerk
in the Office of the disbursing quar-
termaster, at Matanzas; A. S. Will
liams, Blairsville, clerk in the engi-
neering department, at Havana.
Not Rich Now.
1.-The island of Cuba" said Mr.. A. E.
Moynelo, a native of that land, will
not pass under Cuban rule in as excel
lent a financial condition as it was
prior to the last war. The ravages
and devas tation incident to that strug-
gle had effects from which the island
has not yet recovered. There is a
bright future ahead for Cuba, how
ever, and l consider that it is but a
matter of time before it will have en-
NiISly I6CONeItQ lIOul the great bAOW
to its development that the war proved.
For years and years the principal
resource of Cuba has been it's sugar
plantations. The industry of sugar Gull
ture has been pursued with marked
success, and, when it was at its hight,
as it was prior to the last war, it
was source of great revenue to those
engaged in it.
Great sugar estates abounded
throughout the island. There were, in
all, 410 central stations for the man
ufacture of sugar, and to these wide
areas of surrounding country were
tributary, sending in their cane to be
converted into sugar. These mills
were equipped a great cost, the invest
ments upon the estates representing
from $500, 900 to ST, 600, 900. AT the close
of hostilities there were but ninety of
these mills remaining, so that it may
be understood how great was the loss.
1t was complete, for the troops, both
Spanish and Cuban, had destroyed the
mills, leaving them totally unfit for
further use. Not only the mills, but
the growing crops of cane were de-
stroyed. Many of the estates We're
mortgaged, so that the holders of the
mortgages as well as the owners OF the
property were heavy losers.
Re-estabIishing Industries.
Upon the conclusion of peace, money
was secured in one way or another Tor
the recruitment of some of the mills,
the purchase of stocks and the renew
ing of operations, but the condition
does not begin to approach, in pros
perity and comprehension, that winch
prevailed before the war.
MANY influences are tending toward
the development of Cuba and its
restoration to its former aftiuence In
fact, there is promise that it Will grow
beyond it's wealth of some years ago,
for new enterprises have been launch
ed and new energy has been infused
into the people or introduced through
| the immigration of Americans. one
| of the factors that will operate for the
material advancement of the island is
| the great railway system that is TO
| traverse it by an east-and-went route.
The extensive timber belts, wherein
mahogany, cedar and other hard woods
| grow in abundance, will be opened up
| and rendered available for lumbermen
= There has been no adequate means OF
| transporting the timber, and, for this
| reason, it has never been cut and made
| one of the commercial stays of Cuba
Unlike the soil in this section OF
Georgia. that of Cuba that is taken VI
| by timber offers splendid fields for the
I
| timber has been removed. Therefore
when the lumbermen, through the help
| of the railway, have depleted the for
ests, the lands will be taken up by
sugar planters, and that important in
dustry will grow.
Sugar Planters at n Disadvantage.
zone circumstance that will operate
| against the sugar planters is the
changed relationship of Cuba in its i'm
port and export duties. Formerly there
were many countries Spain and others
open for Cuban sugar, without any
duty or with but a slight one imposed
There will, hereafter, however, be the
| disadvantage of duties to overcome.
politically the outlook for the ISL
and seems fair enough with President
Estrada Palma at the helm. l know
the President, and he is man of force
and ability, a gentleman and a scholar
He is perfectly competent to handle
the affairs of Cuba, and 1 look to see
his administration rebound to the ad-
vantage of the island. Many material
Improvements have already been COM
passed under the wise direction of the
American authorities, and there are
additional ones that have been mapped
out and are to be made without de-
lay.
I'm my opinion, however. 1t will be
but a matter of time until Cuba be-
comes part and parcel of the United
States. The best element of the Gu
ban population wants annexation right
now. 1t is the desire of those people
that Cuba become one of the states of
this country. For a time, think, the
Cubans will continue the administra-
ton of their own affairs and the main
tenance of a free and independent gov
eminent. but, firing of the experiment
and desiring those advantages that