Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-21

famous vuelto Abajo district of Pinar del
Rio embraces 225,000 acres under the con-
troll of Americans, and In the eastern end
of the island the Chaparra Sugar COM
pany, another American corporation, con-
trolls a sugar estate of almost equal ex-
tent. The thirty American sugar planta-
lions in the island are capable of pro-
ducing one-third OF the total output of the
republic. There are also hundreds of Amer
leans who have deserted our own farm
lands and gone to Cuba as fruit and cocoa
nut farmers Nothing like a satisfactory
estimate OF the value OF these small hold
ings can be obtained. but they are believed
to very nearly or quite equal In the aggre-
gate the larger individual investments in
the railroad, tobacco and sugar corpora
tons
American Interests in Island.
American capital controls absolutely the
electric traction of the island, the tee
phone ana telegraph service. practically all
of the railroads in the eastern half OF
Cuba, about half of the tobacco industry
and a quarter Of the sugar output besides
having something over 100000 inves cd
In real estate and unimproved lands. with
total holding Of over 100000 acres.
Twenty-nin American colonies have bsen
war. In the extreme western province of
Pinar del Rio there are eight OF these colo
MES; in Havana province. one; in Matan-
zas. two; in Santa Clara one; in Puerto
Principe. FIVE; in Santiago de Cuba, ten;
in the Isle Of Pines. one.
The most important single enterprise,
however, Ia that OF the Cuba company, a
New Jersey corporation. at the head OF
which Is Sir William Van Horne. a native
OF Illinois, who was knighted by Queen
Victoria in recognition of his work in
building the Canadian Pacific railroad. This
company alone owns about 10000 acres OF
land and has invested some s1S,O0o,0O in a
trunk line railroad, which, with its various
connections, extends from one end OF the
island to the other, The road affords com
munication between Havana, the chie'
northwestern port, and Santiago the chisf
southwestern port. in thirteen hours In
stead OF the many days formerly required
to make the Journey half around the island
by steamer.
Financial Influences.
The entire eastern end Of Cuba is con-
trolled industFially by Americans, but II
is in Havana that the results OF American
influence are most Immediately and con-
spicuousiy apparent to the casual tourist,
and 1t was in Havana, naturally, that these
influences were first felt. First and most
important among them was the reform In
the financial and currency systems OF the
country. which made It possible for foreign
capital to and a safe and profitable In
Vestment there. When the American oc-
! cupation began. the currency of the island
in addition to some S20oo0.0O0 in Spanish
paper, only very inadequately secured by
deposits OF silver. consisted of Spanish
American and Mexican coins. which cir
culated with equal freedom and to the
| great confusion OF strangers.
American and British gold and paper
were at a premium above Spanish gold
and at a still greater premium above the
silver, while paper money had a different
and still lower value. There were only
two chartered banking institutions in the
island. one OF them. the Spanish Bank OF
Cuba. an agency OF the Bank of Spain IL
Madrid, which had headquarters in Ha.
vana and branches in all the larger citles
had also the exclusive right 10 issue public
notes, and was collecting agent for tbs
| Spanish government for all internal reve-
nue.. for which service It received a com.