Evening journal., 1906-10-03

that OF the 100,000-acre plantation 10 the
neighborhood Of Antila. the new port OF
Nlpe Bay. This plantation will be In
every respect the largest in the world.
Its equipment Is to be as complete rs
possible and to include every useful de-
vice known to the industry II will cost
S20O0,OO0 TO establish. and will have a
daily capacity Of 1900 bags-that is
quantity not far short Of 1.000.OOO pounds.
Those are not wanting who see in this
boom n presage OF overproduction ana
disaster. which can hardly fail to ruin
the smaller concerns. Prices are now at
highly profitable figures, but sugar is a
very unstable commodity. Only as re-
Gently rs 1902 and 1903 the Cuban
plnn'er could not market his product at a
profit despite the low cost OF production.
During those seasons the price OF sugar
never reached two cents. AS an illustra-
ton Of the fluctuations to which this
article is liable ] will quote the prices
obtained during the first six months Of
1904 pen 100 pounds: January. SLIT;
February, SLIT; March. S2O4; April,
s2.ls; May s2.3s; June, s2.43; average
for the six months. 500. Even at the
average price many Cuban shippers could
not secure a margin Of profit. In August
OF the same year the price OF sugar went
as high as So. And yet It is advanced
rs an argument for the certainty Of
profit derivable from the Cuban industry
that beet sugar cannot be sold at less
than Sh cents with profit But beet
sugar. as well as cane, Is only too often
disposed Of at loss, the former some
times deliberately so, in order to choke
the latter. There is reason to believe
that the beet interests win institute a
price war in the next few years, when Il
will go hard with the Cuban plantations
that cannot command an ample capital
to tide over the period Of stress. Cuba
might lay surer. though perhaps less
Immediately attractive. foundation for
her future prosperity by devoting more
OF the energy and capital available TO
the development OF others OF her many
promising resources.
Though OF less immediate Importance
than sugar. Cuba's tobacco may easily
prove in the future to be a more valuable
asset than the former staple. Like the
Manila hemp OF the Philippines, "Hav-
ana" tobacco is a practical monopoly. All
attempts TO produce a similar leaf, or one
with equally desirable qualities, else
where have proved futile. and the tobacco
planters OF the Island are in the com
Portable situation OF being assured Of a
demand for their product during all time.
Aside from the Pinar del Rio fields. the
| plant is produced in large quantities. and
| OF a good quality in the central and east
/ ern portions Of the island. In recent
years experiments have been made, with
promising results, in the direction OF
growing under cover. The primary object
was the production OF a light, elastic
wrapper leaf to compete with the
sumatra. It has been found. however.
that the plants raised under cheese cloth
repay the extra cost OF that method Of
\ cultivation Irrespective OF the desired re-
suit The protection from excessive heat
and from insects insures a better leaf
and experienced planters OF Pinar del Rio
claim that under such conditions the
plants will yield double the usual guam
tity. II is only by such or other methods
of improved culture that the crop Of the
best grades OF Cuban tobacco can ever be
increased, for every rood in the land
adapted to its production is occupied.
The tobacco business, like every other
! OF Importance in Cuba, is now largely
| cOntFoueu oy Amellcan cdplldis ne
American Tobacco Company has a $50.
100000 branch in Havana. through which
It operates a large portion OF the best
vegas In the vuelta Abajo district There
arc in all about 100000 acres in tobacco
plants throughout the island. The maxi
mum output is rather more than 200,-
100000 pounds OF which the United States
consumes about s10,OOO,0OO worth annual
ly. The really good tobacco lands are not to
be bought at any price Very heavy ex-
penses are incurred In cultivation. Some
planters spend as much as $500 an acre
IN fertilizlng and screening their beds.
The manufacture Of the leaf into cigars
and cigarettes is one OF the chief Indus
tries Of Havann. and affords employment
to 10000 persons.
c. II. FoRBEs-LINDsAY.