The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-04-01

r.;lwsy over the island Of Cuba from
Havana to 8 Santiago, besides making
some observat ions on horseback and
yetting some "views'' afoot in the
n,oyince of Santa Clara.
Lam more than ever impressed with
the wonderful natural resources Of
the island; and I am thoroughly per
shaded that its future will be one Of
great prosperity.
saw stalks Of wild cotton Of extra
ordinary height, and white with ''the
aeecy staple" One stalk I took pains
TO measure, and J. was amazed to find
Il having q diameter Of over three
inches at the ground and q height Of
above fourteen feet. It was said to
be four years old and was still bear.
ing fruit, although the staple was
rather short. It had. not been Quilt
waited, but sprang up in o rich spot and
grew without attention from human
hands.
met q gentleman who has already
made a successful experiment on q
small scale with cotton growing, and
is so pleased with the results that he
has bought q large tract Of land and
will enter at once. into the business OF
cotton growing in Cuba.
He told me that on land which cost
him from three to six dollars an acre
he had gathered four bales from one
acre, and that the staple meaured two
inches. From observations of my
y I was prepared TO believe his
story, though to many people it will
doubtless Q incredible. This gem
tleman is now returning to the States
to supply himself with implements for
aaii7aGHs and ginning the product,
and to hire hands to make his next
crop. He is convinced that one plant
ing in FIVE years will make cotton Of
4 good staple and that then it will be
necessary to replant in order to pre-
/ vent deterioration. or this I am 1ot
80 sure. think two or three years
i will be as long as the plant will grow
and do we'll. But even IL it runs q
1 period Of only two years, producing,
as is does, 30 enormously this long
staple. lint, il will bring fabulous
profits. Again I say, as in my former
letter, that ootton-of superior quality
will be grown in Cuba Of an early
day, and it will be grown in large
! quantities.
Not far from the large cotton stalk
which l measured Isaw q coffee plant
growing. Many years ago q French
! colony grew coffee Gu large soaie in
the province Of Puerto Principe, but
the ravages Of var broke up the COL
Ony and destroyed the industry. But
now a few people are beginning to
grow coffee again, and with years Of
peace the planting will increase.
VI course the great industries of to-
bacco and sugar will continue, as in
former years, to engage much capital
and labor.
The grazing lands are the best I
ever saw. Before the war Cuba had
over $1,000, 600 head Of cattle. At it's
4olose there we're less than 400, 900 head.
Mr. Wilson told me that at the out
5set Of the year 1899, when he was in
10 charge Of the Mantanzas province,
there were not 800 cows in the entire
province. Riding yesterday from Ma
tanzas to Havana 7 counted from the
&aear window on nj side Of the rail-
1foad 943, and they were as fat az the
Ilchest pasturage could make them.
IA friend saw as many more in the
|lelds in sight on the other side Of the
galway. 1t is estimated that there
Pre- now about 1000, 600 head on the
fntire island. But not less than
Sf'oOO, 600 more are required, and tho
Pasturagei is sufficient to sustain 5,00O,-
sPOO to 1000, 600. Here is room for
another great industry.
Then there are the tropical fru,ts
nd the vegetables. Never bitten BY
Frost nor blighted by drought, they
La be shipped from Havana to. New
ork in four days. The railroad now
INNING from n end Of tho island TO
]ae other can carry them quickly TO
lae north ports for shipment. Look
lus Tor Cuban vegetables and fruits in
1aVannah, Macon and Atlanta next
inter. Do not expect Strawberries,
3o"ever, FOX, none are grown in Cuba.
ne people aay the strawberry does
Of do we'll here. I believe the rasp-
efry would flourish, however. or
lpst the natives seem TO know nothing.
The hard wood timbsrs viii dive
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