The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-12
THE NEW CUBA.

HAVANA, June At ia now little more
than six years since student OF the CUBAN
situation Of that period rode for many
miles through the district lying from ten
to fifty miles west and southwest OF havana
In no other area of similar dimensions IN
the whole island were the evidences OF
destructive warfare 80 marked. Inc spa
cious and costly homes of wealthy planters
we're ruined. and over them weeds ana vines
we're already growing in rank prolusioH,
The huts and cabins Of the peasantry hao
been reduced to ashes. Only few cat'le
could be found throughout the region
1t was land OF pitiful desolation. IL was
the scene Of Maceos famous raids. ana
1t was there that Maceo met his death
The Spaniards destroyed what the Cubans
LETT untouched, and the Cubans applied the
torch to that which the Spaniards spared
journey through that section to-day
discovers a widely different condition.
The palatial homes have not been REBUILT
but the land is dotted with comfortaDie
little houses; the fields are under extensive
cultivation, and there is no lack OF cattle.
The people are busy, and their activity IL
bearing it's legitimate fruitage. Perhaps
the most notable change appears In the
general character of the forms OF industry.
The produ cton Of tobacco shows no de-
cadence from the earlier days, and It Is
from that section that the choicest graues
of the leaf are obtained But the sugar
industry has not revived. It's place mas
been taken by some diversity of industry,
with special attention to fruit culture.
Just now the highway which runs through
the heart of the district is traversed daily
by scores Of huge wagons loaded with
pineapples for shipment to the United
States The old conditions of the famous
Vuelta Abajo district have not been and
perhaps never will be, restored, but it is
to-day the home of busy people, fairly
prosperous peasantry, Il people whose
industry is making a new Cuba.
Subject to modification by local condi-
tions, this Is the story Of the entire island.
The Spanish system of statistical records
makes exact compa ison unsafe If not I'M
possible. but it Is exceedingly doubtful
II any earlier year in Cuba's entire history
came within several millions OF dollars
in the value Of total production Of the
figures which will be shown for the fiscal
year 1905. Many would perhaps be highly
| gratified if they could be told that Cubas
progress and development were due to
| American influence and American activity.
| But no such statement can be made
with proper regard for truth and accuracy.
| 1t IL true that there have been both Ameri-
can investment and American settlement
in the island. That feature Of the new
| Cuba will be considered in later letter.
But tie economic achievements Of the last
six years in the island CT Cuba are, pri-
marily and principally, the results of Cuban
energy.
1t is also proposed to treat. in later letters.
! of the political and the tinancia! features of
Cubas new life. Unhappiy, there is little
! to be said in commentator of those i'm
portant interests. The virtues Of the island
appear in its people. The special evils
are manifested in the domain of politics and
the departments allied thereto. Yet, with
all its political faults and follies its dalliance
along the edge of dangerous pit of national
debt into which it now shows tendency to
plunge, Cuban officialdom has not been
unnindfu of the need OF works of public
utility. In that branch Of national life
much more has been done during the three
years of self-government than was done
during three years Of the Intervention.
New roads and bridges are not provided
with bronze tablets to show under which
partic lar administration they were b lit
Gen. Wood seems to have been afraid that
his work would not be known of men unless
he p t his name on it. The Cubans content
themselves with simple date. But their
new roads are quite as smooth as his. and
their new bridges are a tie as we'll b lit
and the Cubans have b lit more of both
! than did the Americans.
SO far "a its physical conditions are con
cerned, the state of the new Cuba is both
commendable and encouraging.
! Butch Srr.!vals in the American Language
To THE EDITOR OF TnE SUN-.Sir; "Bcnnykiil
! should Judge 10 be derived from "bnncn" inside
Kill In opposition TO "bultcn" or outsid" XIII II a
| person Is inside OF houS" he Is "bnncn" II out
, side. "buten." Again. "blnncn" may br binding
| | don't think the LOW Dutcn would tSr 1t In th
| torn.
Along the borders OF the %Stth Sea ono has t.
| pass a number OF hnncn dicks before hc r"achc
tho buitcn outside dick. the one facing the ocean