Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-21
AMERICANS BUSY In CUBA
United States Money Is Doing Much for the
Queen Of the Antilles
WRECK OF SPANISH WAR CLEARED AWAY
ysIand Never SO Prosperous as Now,
and All Due to Activity of
Yankee Investors and
Developers.

BOSTON, Oct. oO.-The Americanization
OF Cuba has gone on so quietly ana yet so
rapidly that II was not until the present
internal difficulties arose that most persons
came to realize the size of the American
stake in the island republic From finan-
cial point of view, II may be said that our
interests In Cuba are almost as great as
those of the Cubans themselves. American
trade American financial interests, the
American monetary system, American ma
chinery and American enterprise a II to
the fore in Cuba, and 1t is for Il d, .eason
that most of those familiar with actual
conditions In Cuba believe that the ulti-
mate acquisition OF the island by the United
States Is inevitable
When the war with Spain ended Cuba
was a commercial Industrial, financial and
political wreck. The output OF sugar, its
chief crop and the most important index
tof its prosperity. had fallen from 100000
tons In 1896 to the insignificant proportions
OF a7.o6l tons in 1887: while tobacco the
next most important crop, which had
: Esached value OF sli ,727, 900 in 1898, dropped
4 20 A2TT.OOO In the same two years, Two
months ASo. when the leaders OF the Cuban
liberal party were arrested at the instiga-
ton OF President Palma the island had
reached a state OF prosperity never before
{. known In its history. while Immigration
ana capital were setting to its shores in
9 strong and ever increasing tide. BY 1906
the sugar crop had reached $4,000 TONS.
the largest proportions ever known. valued
Z in its raw state at about 900; while
the production OF tobacco had reached n
value OF s26 75s. 0O0-more than double that
OF the record year 1898.
siAe and Importance of Cuba.
1t is doubtful II anywhere else in the
world there Is an equal extent of terri
tory with equally great and varied re-
sources About the same size as John
Bulls tight little island, somewhat smaller
than the state of Pennsylvania, and with
only small proportion OF land under cul-
tivation. Cuba has within this limited area
= natural monopoly OF the best tobacco
In the world; the greatest sugar supply,
produced from not more than 10000 acres
Of land, coffee of the highest grade. an
infinite variety OF fruits and vegetables.
q unexeelled pasture lands, an abundant sup
ply OF valuable timbers and a wealth OF
mineral resources
\. There is scarcely an enterprise or indus
try In Cuba today ia which American cap
ltal Is not heavily interested, II not In
actual control. In fact. many OF the en-
terprlses In which foreign capital has the
largest share are controlled in New York.
In many of these Canadians are interested
heavily. and herein England sees a line OF
cleavage which may widen to a gulf be-
tween her and her one important posses
sioR In North America.
In the three great agricultural industries
OF Cuba. sugar, tobacco and cattle lands
aud cattle. there are said to be nearly OF
quite ti0O.oo000o OF American capital In
vested. single tobacco estate in the