The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-07
QUEEN ov rnE ANTILLES
Mr. Crews Gives some Interesting Sta
tistics Regarding the Island of Cuba

THE QUEEN OF THE ANTILLERs
Havana. Cuba, February L
Editor Messenger:
This is my last day In the beautiful
and interesting Queen OF the AntiI-
lers" and its Incompatible. in some re-
,spects. metropolis. as I leave on the
steamship Olivette for Key West at
. o'clock this afternoon. ! cannot say
that 1 am satisfied to leave Cuba, and
might say the same in regard to all
the cities / have visited in II, SO pleas
ant has been the weather and SO very
Interesting. instructive and comfort
able have been the surroundings. 7
have not had an hours sickness since
! left North Carolina, and there has
not been any very unpleasant wealth
Ier.
1 might say that the only ~inconven-
ience / have met with worth mention
ing, and o the only reason why I
am satisfied to cave here, Is my not
being able to speak the Spanish Ian
guage. / have depended largely on our
soldier boys down here for informa-
ton, and have found them very cour-
teous and obliging in every way.
Nothing has made me feel more at
home on the island tina the sight of
the Stars and Stripes and the Ameri-
can soldiers.
For the information Of those readers
lnf The Messenger who have not visited
this island and have not the latest sta
I~tiStics as to population. area. products.
ietc., I give briefly the following from
different sources: Cuba is 100 miles
long with a width varying from IS to
100 miles and the area is 1920 square
miles. There are six provinces-Santi-
ago, Puerto Principe. Santa Clara, Ma
itanza, Havana n Pinar del Rio. The
population about 1852, 900. There are
~ rivers. with only one navlgable. the
ICanto. In the states We would not
think of calling one half of these by
any other names than creeks. branches
or brooks.
The largest city Is Havana with a
population of some 23o. 00C. There are
"a islands, 3 lakes. 80 mountains
and peaks, and some 42y towns and
cities. The largest OF which is Ha-
vana, which is also the largest of any
of the West Indian towns. One of the
Ithirty-five mountains reaches the
height of 1870 feet. 1t is called the
Rico de Turguino.
In 1901 there were some 36S sugar
plantations on the island.
I get these figures from Cuba IL
lustrdted"-in which are not only
given the number Of plantations. but
the names of each. with the name and
owner Of some and where situated.
1 will let my guide tell YOU the fol-
lowing and close.
THE finest and largest OF the West
India islands, was discovered by CO.
lumbus, on the 2Sth day of October.
1892, n was named by him Juana. in
honor of Prince John, the son of Fer
inand and Isabella, the sovereigns of
Aragon and Castillo. Upon the death
of Ferdinand, the island was called
Fernandina, receiving afterwards
the name of Santiago. as a mark of
for the patron saint Of
Spain: and still later. the inhabitants
to illustrate their piety-gave it that
of Ave Maria, in honor Of the Holy
Virgin. Cuba extends from Cape
Maizi, on the East. to Cape st.
Antonio, on the West,in a curved
line of 100 miles. 1t lies be-
tween 19 and % degrees latitude.
1t is lit miles wide in the broadest
part, from Cape Maternillos on h
north. to the Western point Of Mota
Cove, on the south, q miles east OF
Cape Cruz.
The narrowes part Of the island is
% miles, from the mouth Of Bahia del
Mariel on the north to the Cove Ha-
Ol Liz Soolh. iloli W
it is % miles; neal the cen
ire of the island. the breadth, north
and south, is about Is miles. The per-
iphery of the island, following a line
less tortuous, and cutting the bays,
ports and coves at their mouth, is l.
719 miles, of which SIG are on the north
and 90S on the south. It's area is about
the estimate the adjacent islands or
keys which belong to it. it is $4,000
square miles.
Immense forests of precious woods
are to be found in the sland. whose
products enter into the fines art gems
of the cabinet-makers Of New York.
Paris and London
THE principal products are sugar,
tobacco, coffee, cocoa, corn, rice, yucca,
yame, sweet potatoes, potatoes, va
nilla, etc. Exquisite fruits, as the pine
ranges sapodillo, anon, cocoa
nut. caimitos, berries. gunabana 1.-THE
of the Antilles), Nancy,
guava, bananas, maranon, etc.
THE situation of Cuba, commanding
the entrance of the gulf of Mexico and
the communication between North and
South America, gives it a high COM
mercial anil political Importance. In
deed, such designations as The Queen
of the Antilles, The Key Of the Gulf
The Sentinel of the Mississippi The
Beautiful Ant1lleS,' Inc Gem OF the
American Seas" Unfortunately be-
upon this enchanting island.
are sufficiently significant OF its adj
vantageous commercial position and
it's remarkable natural beauty and fer.
tility.
THE city of Havana, advantageous
Iy situated, is built pom a tongue OF
land, the head of which is protected by
the fort of MORO Castle n h
heights of La Cabana. The entrance
to the port is protected: on one side
by the fort Of Santos Reyes del MORO,
garrisoned by soldiers. n an appar-
ent battery, that Of the Doce Amos
toles, built at the level Of the water,
which gives shelter to the garrison:
the other side by Fort La Punta-
At the southeast of the MORO, rising
above the city. is the fortress OF San
Carlos de la Cabana, which can shelter
Loco. The batteries of La Cabana and
La Pastroa are built at water level. as
the Twelve Apostles, and armed with
guns. On the east about one mile, Is
Fort No. 4. and on the southeast,
about 4 miles, is the Tower of Cogi-
mar. Both the fires of Moro n La
~ hon n, fha onn cido onI IF thn