The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-12-28
IN THE ISLE OF PINES
Resident Of Historic Spot Writes
Interesting Letter.


Through the courtesy Of j. Y. Plank
Of Fremont We are enabled 10 pub
llsh the following interesting letter
from his brother. who Is d resident
Of the Isle Of Pines, which has Just
reyolted from Cuban domination.
I'm my last mail I received q news
paper clipping which was written by
Or. vanderyort on the Isle OF Pine
question. In reply will say there
never was q threat Of any kind made
towards the Cuban government by
the Americans here. We have only
asked the United States TO do that
for us which lies In her power TO DO
for any United States colony, but We
have been ignored time and again,
hence the action taken at the terri.
torial convention held at Ncuya Go.
roma. ] have attended the meetings
Of the Americans and have never
heard n word intlmating a revolt.
We don't want blood. We want fair
treatment by the United States gov.
eminent We are taxed for every.
thing we have; We pay duty In and
out and all taxes and duties 70 TO
Cuba 10 return no more. THIS, 10 rs,
IN taxation without representation"
When we "sk for repairs on roads
and bridges our pleas arc ignored;
when We 80 20 repair them they re-.
fuse 20 let as DO II with our own
money. Furthermore, we have a 70.
minder Of the quarterly act" Of rev.
o%lutionary times whereby we are
compelled 70 entertain a rural guard,
Of which there arc twenty-five on tho
island, whenever they choose 70 ON
Would we have a drop OF patriotic
blood IN our veins II we did not no.
sent such treatment7
We are too patriotic 10 heap abuse
upon the head OF the United States
government and had his election de-
pended upon the residents OF the Isle
u Pines II would have been as IL u.s.
Politics have not entered into this
question.
The size Of the island n thirty by
forty miles, approximately, and near.
Iy every foot Of II a DO cultivated.
There are 300 inhabitants, nearly
one,half Of which are natives OF the
United States. We are not q lot OF
selfish landmarks, but most OF W.
cane 10 make this q permanent
home. ] feel safe Ia saying that
there wasn't q man In the convention
who ~ here 70 make money BY the
sale o. lands. The insinuation that
II IL a land grabbing scheme on the
part Of a few Americans ~ all NJ
farce.
Despite our grievance the island Is
booming. I am In the lumber bust
ness and in q position 10 know tho
business conditions, as I have been
all over the island looking up the
lumber resources. Az the present
time there are Ave sawmil1g here,
with q capacity OF from I'VE TO ff
teen thousand feet pcr day, and yet
many people are compelled 10 live In
tents because the mills cannot sup
ply the demand for lumber. some ma
tiyes uge thatch palm for roofing.
which has proven very satisfactory.
other native buildings have tile roof
ing. ~ baby crawls before IL
walkg." When we can make all the
shingles demanded and all tho Ium.
Der needed we will build houses more
pleasing 20 tho eye Of our American
callers the new villages, VIZ, Me-
Kinley, Los Indos and an English
town on the south coast r built az
ter the style Of American villages.
Any sensible man from MCLEAN
county knows the whole world does
not contain deep, rich, black corn
and oats soil, such Al sells for 800
acre. II IL necessary TO have dif
kinds Of soil 10 meet the de-
mandg OF diKesert kinds Of vcgeta.
tion. This island Is not all noun.
ana rock. Part OF the island rs
full Of gravel and small rock ana