The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23

for services rendered in the rebellion.
Few OF the pensioners were below the
rank % colonel The government OF Cuba
expended nearly S35 900, 600 paying the
alleged patriots. And within a year or
So after they got their money. probabaly
a majority Of them were in the bushes"
Annexation or an American protectorats
viii be the final outcome.
Nlth = stable government. with laws
administered Justly and fairly. and with
Cuba kept as clean as IL was when the
Island was turned over TO the Cubans
by the Americans IN 1902. the country
would become one of the richest on earth.
I have paid considerable attention to the
character OF the soil Everywhere 81 is
fertile Ia the majority Of places more
fertile than farmers of the temperate zone
can begin to appreciate. The country Is
perpetuauy green. The grass grows with
a luxuriance such as is unknown In the
states. and the sod is thicker and heav-
ier than the best Of our bluegrass sod
Even the shallow blowing given the land
by the Cuban farmers produce wonderful
results. Where American farmers have
introduced deep cultivation results are
twice as satisfactory as those obtained
under the Cuban method Of cutting the
sod with pillow fashioned from fOrkeG
tree. Three and four or even more crops
may be harvested from the same land in
a single twelve-month.
Louisiana sugar planters think they 60
well when they get four crops OF cane
from one Planting. I was told OF great
field OF cane near Santiago de Cuba which
was planted fOrty-seven years ago. has
never been replanted and is to-day one
OF the finest cane fields IN Cuba.
Tobacco Crops.
Cuban tobacco. from which the Havana
cigars are made IS the finest in the
world. il is believed that the Vuelta
AhajO district in the southwestern por-
ton OF the island. IN which grows the
finest Of Cuban tobacco. could be made
10 supply nearly the entire world with
tobacco for its cigars. at least 4 tnou-
sand dollars an acre is considered a rea-
sonable price for this land.
Havana tobacco imported into America
has 10 pay duty of thirty-five cents a
pound on filters and SlS5 pound on
wrappers. Manufactured cigars must pay
duty OF $3.50 "a pound and an additional
ad vOlorem duty Of 25 per cent Not
withdrawing these exorbitant duties mil
Hons of dollars worth Of Cuban tobacco
IS Imported into the United States by
American manufacturers every year.
But u is safe to say that when the
tobacco growers ot Virginia. and North
Carolina. and Kentucky. and Missouri
and Connecticut begin to study the pro-
position to annex Cuba to the United
states. they viii conclude with practical
unanimitv that a step which viii transfer
t1bacco-erowing to cuba would bee the
height Of follv
IL is also reasonable 10 conclude that
the sugar-beet growers Of Nebraska. Kan
sas. Wisconsin. Michigan and other states
Of the Northwest and Middle West will
oppose n step which would cause them
TO abandon "a hisH'y profitable industry.
PrOtectOrate.
An American protectorate over Cuba is
another matter. a movement 60 this end
was only within The past few days set
on foot in Havana. ard il is claimed tnat
it meets the hearty approval of large
portion Of .hc business population OF tire
city. without regard 90 nationality
American influence In Cuba to-day is
far greater than Cuban influence Not
only are Americans administering the gov
eminent. but they are competing for
supremacy in almost every line OF bust
ness. The hustle and push which char
acterize Americans in trade do not dis
appear Ga this part or the torrid zone. at
least and given stable and just gov
ernmcnt. the trade Of Cuba will oven
tually pass into American hands.
Cubans DO not like Americans IL Is
an astonishing fact that the Cubans have
much more love for the Spaniards. who
represent the race OF their oppressors.
than they have for Americans. their de-
livercrs. II Is curious but true II may
only Indicate that blood IS thicker than
water. - may he Indicative OF a phase
Of Cuban che ractcr which we Anglo
Saxons are incapable Of understanding.
said something about this republic OF
Cuba appearing as toy. The ubiquitous