The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-04
THE CUBAN SITUATION.

HAVANA. Cuba, November 29.-Ev-
erything Is hustle and hustle now upon
the Cuban sugar plantations. because
the harvest Is near at hand From all
appearances the crop this year VIII be
the largest the island has produced IN
many years, and some people even go
so lar as 10 predict that all records
VIII be broken. The calculations are
rather difficult, owing to the great
many thousands OF acres Of new cane
which have never before produced.
Some of this cane Is being grown IN
sections Of the island where cane was
never planted before, and while there
IS every reason 10 believe that II VIII
be as successful as that in other parts,
or even more so, because in many
cases the land Is practically virgin, one
can never tell The latter Is especially
true OF the great. apparently endless
tracts Of cane planted along the track
OF the new Van Horne railroad, which
has paralleled its line through what has
always before been practically an IN
explored forest. The cane along this
road appears to be as fine as one cares
70 see. II IS beautiful to look upon, the
stalks being tail, large in eircumfer-
enee and of that bright green color
which tells of the health of the Cuban
cane.
Besides the Van Horne railroad
another road has opened up vast tracts
of heretofore unexpected soil. This Is
the Cuban Eastern which runs from
Guantanamo north through some Of the
richest soil of the island, soil little of
which has heretofore been cultivated.
Along the line Of this railroad branch
companies OF the Cuba Eastern Railroad
have planted mile after nile Of cane.
They have bought the ground and then
rented out TO the Spanish-Cuban farm
er. taking their rent from the product
OF the cane and loaning the farmer the
money TO plant. cultivate and bring II
to a harvest. Besides these 'colOnos-
As they are called. these companies have
themselves cultivated vast tracts and
all combined viii make the eastern end
Of the island a factor in sugar prodnc-
ton such as IT never has been before.
The Labor Quen1ion.-The govern
uent has at last afforded some relief
n the labor question, which has been
such problem 10 the Cuban planter
Through the Cuban consuls in Spain,
migration has been encourag el. ow-
ne To the promise that work VIII be
secured 70 all able-hodied men wao
-ome here The immigration OF faLni-
les has especially been encouraged.
The government has taken up the mat
ter with the railroad and steamship
companies and has secured from them
special rates to transport Iaborers 70
any part Of the island Special Per
uits have been granted 70 foreign YES
;eIs TO land Iaborers at different parts.
II the island instead Of compelling
hem al 10 90 through the port Of Ha-
-ana. One railroad, the Cuba Western,
las Informed the government that i
viu transport 70 the end OF its lines, N
9inar del BIO. any lot OF 100 laborer>
which the government sends 70 Il.
Smaller lots VIII he carried az a half
are. geTnents have been made
" the government so thar II planter
wants 10 secure two OF three hundred :
aborers he notifies the Cuban depart !
aent Of agriculture. which files the re- 7
.uest and then arTanges for the send ]
no of the Iab0rers II they are IN the Z
mini grafton station. and If they are :
.ot on hand when the request comes {
hey are taken from the first boat ar :
living from Spain :
SUGAR ACREAGE IN CUBA
The entire sugar. crop Of Cuba. con- 4
- - -,,r--a han I 100 fafa tons was