New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-14
CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
DISTRESS OF THE PLANTERS IN SANTA
CLARA PROVINCE.
AMERICAN INTERESTS THERE PREFER to
AWAIT THE CRASH TO ACCEPTING
INADEQUATE RELIEF.

f~1ova Agriculture means chiefly the sugar in
d,s-rv Much tobacco of a fair grade is grown
and its cultivation is spreading from the Rene
6ios district through the whole province The
Remedies product has felt the effect of the high
tariff TO- several seasons. and therefore is not
e-,orn,allv depressed this year. It would quick
u feel the benefit Of substantial tariff reduc-
lions and the revival and spread of tobacco
craving would have . perceptbe influence on
fbs general prosperity of the province Yet
nc cn-2rared with sugar, tobacco is only a
minor factor in this region.
In the production OF cane it is universally
accented that the most favorable conditions
are on this south coast Proximity to tide
water the newest machinery and most modern
processes in the sugar mill. large infusion OF
American capital and American business meth
DDS IN the management of the plantations are
combination of favorable circumstances. Fur
therlrore. less damage was done in this dis
tict during the instruction than in other
parts of the island. The Cienfuegos plantations
can make money when others may be grinding
care at a loss. If they are not making money
those in other sections sure TO be losing.
They are not making money this seasons
crop In all Santa Clara Province just two
planters are credited with ability to carry
halarce to the profit side of the ledger. One
of these is not yet certain that he will do this,
hut If his accounts do balance 'favorably he at
tributes IT 10 enterprises incidental 10 his plan
tation and not to sugar growing In the indus
try Of growing cane and grinding it at his own
mill he would be the loser. This planter is able
10 borrow money at per cent in the North
while his competitors pay u per cent One Of
them who recently secured a loan at per cent
was looked upon by his fellow planters as a
marvel OF financial ability
The great planters in the Cienfuegos district
DO not blame the United States because sugar
in the worlds market has dropped so low. What
they criticise the American Congress for is the
delay and the uncertainty In meeting the eco
rornic situation and the inadequate nature of
the reciprocal tariff concessions with which il
is L. be met Most of them selling
their sugar for whatever they can get Specu-
lators may buy and hold il for the long period
which will be necessary in order to gain the
benefit of the prospective reduction. That which
some of the beet sugar advocates in Congress
pretended to fear If & reduction were made to
apply this years crop-the buying of the
sugar by the specuators-is far more likely to
happen now than if the concession had been
made months ago. Every days delay has helped
the speculator at the expense of the planter
This is the universal testimony here where
the planters are better able TO hold and carry
their crops than in other parts Of the island
Some Of the larger American interests have
withdrawn their support to the propositions be-
fore Congress because Of their disgust the
delays and the inadequate reductions which il
is proposed to couple with impossible conditions
Rather than depend on 20 or - per cent. they
will await the crash which viii force the United
States 10 grant 30 or 100 per cent. The Ameri-
can capital which within the last two years has
come into the Cienfuegos plantations in some
instances as a means of recognizing them, and
In others as advances. which practically change
&c m A
longer wait than was anticipated is necessary
In order TO secure results. More money must
be had. But this does not cause a loss of faith
In the future of the Cuban sugar growing in
dustry. It only causes disgust at the blindness
Of the American Congress in failing to see how
closely political prospects are interviewer with
Industrial conditions While a few Of the
American interests in their disgust and resent
ment are ready to have Congress do nothing.
confident that they can take care Of themselves
in the crash that may come. this is not the gen.
eral sentiment. The majority would rather have
the economic situation bettered as an accom-
panirnent to the change in government. They
are not seriously apprehensve about the power
which is to be placed in the hands of the
Cubans. for they find the transition going on
more smoothly and with better prospects than
they expected but they know the value Of a
fair degree of industrial prosperity in sustaining
what they look upon a political experiment
Of doubtful duration.
Within ten day nearly all the mills will have
finished grinding Some of them have kept on
since March because they could not afford to
stop and figure up what they were losing. They
knew that whatever the amount the loss would
be greater if they left the standing in the
fields Now they must count up the number of
sacks Of sugar they have on hand, and decide
whether they can afford to carry any of II over
Or whether the whole quantity must be dumped
on the market. When this calculation has been
made they must determine what they are going
10 do for next year 1t is this latter problem
which makes the industrial outlook in Cuba SO
dark after May !. Wages have been rising
gradually TO something like their normal level,
and in the widespread effort to reconstruct the
country there has been something like compeu-
tlon for field labor the part of the planters
The present prospect does not encourage the
ldea OF such competition in the future. In
stead the field hands are likely to be bidding
against one another, and many Of them. unable
70 IND work Will drift TO the towns This al
ways is bad sign. The net probability is that
unless the legislation by Congress gives much
greater promise than is held out, Cuba. with
ner mixed agricultural industries not fully re-
slNeo. and with undeveloped resources OF m
nalte possibilities must look forward to a period
Oh depression the outcome of which no one can
s,ns. This is the view formed after cafelui
staoy In the sugar producing region
AS TO immediate conditions, they were wittfly
Inscribed by local capitalist who said the
Planters were not the who should have
= asnlpathy. II had come TO be case OF pity
ne poor creditor" None Of the creditors are ex-
Sing early repayment Of principal. They are
ling UP nights wondering where the interest
= 70 come from. This means no more credit for
s Ie PLANTERS But the latter cannot be evicted,
80 o one can be found to take over the DUST
- ~ raising in the present conditions
burden
The customs receipts at the Cienfuegos Custom
n of rOprc