Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-10-03
Cuba and Her Resources

gar cane amounted to not more than
100000. There are said to be 5000,
900 acres of the island that might cas-
| lily and quickly be turned into sugar
| plantations. II this estimate be cor
rect, the imagination is dazzled b.
the contemplation Of what Cuba would
be capable of doing in the sugar pro-
duclng line if advantages were taken
to the full of natures gifts, The cul
tlvated area of Cuba is about l,OO0,00N
acres, and according to the last census
Il per cent OF this was desot to
sugar production and 10 per cent to
tobacco, Adding the areas of cities,
towns and very large tracts for pas
turagc purposes, il is found that only
about l4,OO00OO acres, or about one
half the island, has been developed
The remaining half awaits future ex
ploitation, and is claimed to be, fo
the most part. as capable of high de
velopmcnt as that which has brough'
great riches to the people of Cuba.
In 1908. according to official nd
vices from Consul General Steinhart,
SlOO,OOO,O0O of American capital wac
invested IN Cuba, as follows: Sugar
plantations, $25, 100000; tobacco lands
and factories, $45,O0O,OO0; fruit lands
$3,5OO,OOO; mining property, 5000
/
600; Cuba Railroad Company, $l2.-
100000, street railways, $S,0OO,0 1000
other real estate and commercial in
vestmonts. ~ 100000.
The figures for 1904, the latest OBJ
tainable, show that the value of the
principal products of the islam
amounted to $93,37l ,4O7, divided into
classes Sugar, including molasses, al
coho and rum, $52,52S, ,l07; tobacco,
30,OOO,0OO; pineappIes. Sl,25O,OOO;
other fruits and vegetables, $2,7l2
300; forest products, $3,26O, 900; skins,
horns, hoofs. etc, $l,6OO,000; sponge
and shells. 5000; minerals, $l,446
900. Ten years earlier, in 1894, or
year before the outbreak of the revo-
luton, the value of the principal crop,
of the island exceeded SlO0,0000 900
Sugar, $4,000. 900; tobacco, $25, ,000,-
600; molasses and rum. 81, 100000.
coffee, Sl,5lO,O0O, fruits and vegeI
bles, Sl,l50,000.
For the fiscal year ended June 30.
1904, the receipts from the custson''
amounted to $l7,33S,lSl; the total re-
Venue S20,ll2,24l, and the expendi
lures Sl7,22O,55S, including the sink
ing fund and interest on loan made
for the payment of the Cuban rcvolu
tionary army. Cuba has no currenc}
Of her own coinage. The official mon
ey Of the republic is United State
currency and all taxes and public
debts are payable in that money, eN
cept fees of registrars of property
which are payable in Spanish gold. liz
commercial circles Spanish gold is thu
basis of calculation, and in the retai
trade of the country, Spanish silver i.
almost entirely used. American eur.
rency is always At premium Over
Spanish gold. The $3,O00,00O bonA
issue sold in this country at 90l2, nd
Nanced to 80 within thirty days aftcr
the contract was signed, and is nov
quoted above par. The customs rev
enues are pledged as a guaranty Oh
this loan.
Rich as she is today, through IT,
prodigality of nature, the future a.
this island is golden, II the Unite,
States, 10th though il may be- to i.
tervene to stop civil war, is compele
to put forth strong hand, what vi
the result be! If the American llae
again goes up in Cuba, will it ev, d
come down. Should il come down
Would not Cuba make u most desil
able addition to Uncle Sans alreai ).
rich possessions?