Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29

oeACA 'SSctdDlSS lHeH CnGFe are GlSO pas
ture lands. 1t may also be said that there
Is room for plenty of people to come and
settle. President-elect Estrada Palma told
me in New York a few weeks ago that If
he could be sure of the prosperity Of Cuba's
agriculture, he would not be worried about
the politics with which the new republic
is bound to be overwhelmed at the start
He is right.
Almost Afraid to Mention Cotton.
/ hesitate to mention cotton. On the train
coming out. during a stop at siding,
had strolled across the field to see what
looked to be like the yucca or starch plant
In its earlier growth. Instead 1t proved
to be little patch of cotton. 1t was nes-
tied along one side of a big cane field, and
half hidden on the other side by the chap
paral, or tall grass.
Speaking of it on the train robust
voice behind me, In pretended whisper
said:
"Tschuh. Don't you say a word about
cotton. Those beet sugar fellows will hear
you up north and will be asking a combine
with the cotton growers to save them from
Cuban competition
L turned and recognized the face of an
American whom I had seen around the
hotels for two or three days He had
drffted over from Florida with others of
the winter visitors and was waiting for
milder weather to return to New York.
some one had told him that before going
back he ought to see the tobacco country,
and he had taken the train to which he
was directed and was heading into the
tobacco region without much idea on his
own part Of Cuban geography, and with
out caring particularly.
His comments were breezy and entertain
ing. Like almost every other American
who has been in Cuba this winter, he was
beginning to think that in some way there
was bungiing in the United States. and
pSti nf LOT oIo
ton showed what was running in his mind.
But this was only poor little patch of
not more than an acre and half, and
probably would not alarm the cotton grow
ers enough to carry them into the beet
sugar camp:
Further on in the journey, when we took
advantage Of another stop and walked
along the bank of little stream to a wild
cotton tree. which was almost as fieccy as a
merino sheep, and which looked more like
small magnolia tree, this travellers eyes
opened wider.
Does it grow that way here?' ne asked.
l told him that II he looked sharp he
might see dozen wild cotton trees before
he reached the journeys end. Then he was
sure that it wouldn't do to say anything
about Cuban cotton in the United States,
for II 1t grew on trees he saw in his i'm
agfnatlon whole forests Of 1t. and at once
the demand for anti-Cuban legislation. IN
stead of the petty tariff concessions that
are now promised
plant, Is going ahead in this part of the
island much faster than that Of cotton.
Not having been over the line for couple
of years l was surprised to see how the
yucca fields had spread. They were an
other evidence of the capacity for diversi-
fed agricultural industry.
Revival Of Coffee Groves.
Something of a revival is also noticeable
in the abandoned coffee groves. Some new
planting seems to have been done under the
shelter OF the banana trees, and I noticed
that an effort had been made to trim up
one wild grove where three or four years
ago only a tangle Of weeds and coffee trees
existed. Perhaps in the western part Of
this province the coffee plantations viii be-
come what they were forty or fifty years
ago. when they were abandoned for the Gull
tivation OF cane.
On one Of the sugar plantations small
mill was grinding and some Of the cane
area was being cleared But the sugar in
dustry IN this section. where the conditions
are not specially favorable, is dropping.
Everything around the sugar plantations
has discouraged look. even the oxen. A
twenty per cent reduction will hardly bring
these estates back to prosperity.
A merchant of Pinar del Rio. who was
returning home, told me good deal about
the country as we travelled together. He
under the American military authority, and
which now makes real means of commu-
nication between the villages where former
ly there was none; but he shook his head
about sugar cane and said it's prospects
were not encouraging In this part of the
island. He also talked guardedy about po-
litical and industrial conditions, which in
Cuba now are interviewer topics.
At every station there were smart young
fellows in khaki and riding boots. with
their horses tethered near They were
lice. which is controlled from the central
headquarters at Havana. That is one Of
the experiments which have worked very
well: The morale of the rural guard Is
good influence. Enough of military disci-
pline Is maintained to secure uniform re-
suits. and there is much competition on the
part of young Cubans OF good families to
get into the rural guard. They do not have
much to do. because the country people are
very peaceful, and about the only crimes
are cattle stealing and similar thieving,
which are inherent.
In the Tobacco Country.
~Here is the Vuelta Abajo." said my COM
panion, as we rolled into the dlstinctively
tobacco country. with Its range of hills, its
stretches Of level plains. dominated by the
royal palms, and it's valleys green with the
growing tobacco The American who had
headed out into the tobacco country with
out knowing where he was going had been
giving suppressed whoops of delight at
the shifting landscape and now he got up
and wanted to know why he hadn't been
told ABOUT IL sooner. he was ready to buy
a tobacco farm before he left the train,
and wanted to know If there were any for
sale.
He will get over his eagerness in a day
or two. Plenty Of tobacco farms are for
sale in the Vuelta Abajo region, but 1t
takes pretty keen man to get ahead of
the natives in making bargain. They
like to sell the poor lands and keep the
good ones themselves. And when they find
stranger roaming around with money in
his pocket, and with only vague notions as
to values they are likely to obiige him by
taking his money and letting him have
some sou which grows tobacco of a sort,
but not Of the sort that fetches high prices
Pinar itself Is going ahead. despite the
existing depression. Driving uphill along
the dusty street which Is now named
"Marti." In honor Of the Cuban patriot who
made independence possible. and which is
lined with blue-front houses. fenced in with
portales. saw many evidences of growth.
The best signs were the new dwellings and
stores which were being erected.
The growth Of a Cuban town or city is
so slow that the slightest advance is easily
marked. The towns. as a rule seem to
have gotten certain growth all at once
and then TO have stopped. When dozen
new buildings may be seen going up that
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