The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-13
labor and gives occupation to the work.
the


while tobacco can be raised in every
province in Cuba, the industry is prin-
cipally centered in Pinar del Rio, in the
'vuelta abajo,' or down country district,
where the leaf is produced that has made
Havana famous. Here the ground to be
planted is selected with great care, and
as that best suited to highs grade crop
does not lie. in large contiguous areas, but
is divided naturally into small separate
parcels, the character of the country IA
vors the creation Of small farms. More
over, the care of a tobacco crop demands
the solicitous attention Of an owner, or
of one who has direct interest in the
product.
Grades of skill are recognized among
agricultural laborers and influence the
scale of wages paid. The latter is more
especially true during the DUH season. At
blowing time in Pinar del Rio, good
plowman is worth 80 cents silver (56 cents
American) a day. His two assistants, or
the driver and leader-for it takes three
men to plow in Cuba with a yoke of oxen
receive 40 and 80 cents silver (28 and
81 cents American) a day, respectively.
Women are paid the same wages as men
in the cane fields. ,.,-s
The Working Day. |
"The working day upon the plantation
is from sunrise to sunset. with one or two
hours rest at midday. During the busiest
season the sugar mills run night and day,
and mill hands and train crews, including
leaders, work in two shifts, putting In
altogether a twelve-hour day. Ten OF
eleven hours effective work, however, is
all that is usually demanded except in
special emergencies. -
Most of the large mills are at Havana,
! They not only saw and plane lumber and
Iveneering but make molding, sash, doors
and boxes In all departments OF the es-
| Establishments at Havana between 1000 and
| 2, 900 men are employed. A good sawyer
cuts from 5000 to 10000 feet day, accord
ling to the kind of timber and whether he
| is saving boards or veneer. He receives
from $50 to 500 Spanish gold ($54 to $50
American) per month. The men listed
as carpenters are usually highly skilled
workmen employed in manufacturing
store fixtures, paneling, doors, blinds ane
furniture for the local market. This class
of work is usually done to order, no large
stock Of finished products being Kept II
store, and power machinery is less extern
tsiyely used than in similar establishments
/ in the United States. These carpenters
receive the equivalent of 81 and 80 a day
lin American currency. Carriers, pliers ant
other unskilled or partially skilled work
men receive from 81 silver to $3.50 Span
/ ish gold a day, or from n cents to $l.3
lin American currency. Wages are pait
in local money and their purchasing powe
is slightly greater than If paid in Amer1
can money at ruling rates of exchange.
Wages In Mills.
an what is probably the largest mill il
the island saving native timber, situate
at Manzanillo, in the province Of Santiago
and employing over 100 men in the plan
itself engineers are paid 500 q. month
head sawyers $3.50 q day, and planners an
helpers 81 so a day. These wages are i
American currency. The statesmen of thi
company in Havana and C1enfuegos re
ceive s10O and $50 a month respectively
Men are paid weekly and the working Ola
is ten hours.
Most sawmill machinery is importe
from the United States. Large ban
saws cutting through the log, are not use
successfully for want of sawyers suff1
GENTLY skilled to work them. Smalle
saws of this kind are found in many c
the Havana mills.
Wood choppers and charcoal burner
are paid from s12 to SIT silver ($s.40 t
s119O American) a month and board whe
employed at a regular salary. But til
method Of paying by contract is preferre
in this Industry. No fuel is used fc
house heating in Cuba, and only charco;
is employed for domestic purposes. Fire
wood cut into yard or four foot lengths
used in bakeries. For telling. chonnin