The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-01-05

stalks being tall, large In clreumfer.
"nec and of that bright green color
which tells Of the health Of the Cuban
cane.
Besides tho Van Homo 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 mile OF cane.
They have bought the ground and then
rented out to the Spanish Cuban farm.
or. taking their rent from tho product
Of the cane and loaning the farmer the
money to plant, cultivate and bring il
TO harvest. Besides these "colonos, -
as they are called, these companies have
themselves cultivated vast tracts and
all combined will make the eastern end
of the island factor in sugar produc.
tion such as it never has been before.
The Labor Quention.-The govern
ment has at last afforded some relief
in the labor question, which has been
such problem to the Cuban planter
Through the Cuban consuls in Spain,
immigration has been encouraged, ow.
ing to the promise that work will be
secured to all able-bodied men who
come here. The immigration of fami-
lies has especially been encouraged.
The government has taken up the mat.
- with the railroad and steamship
companies and has secured from them
special rates to transport laborers to
any part of the island. Special per-
mits have been granted to foreign YES
sells to land laborers at different parts,
of the island instead of compelling
them all to go through the port of Ha-
vana. One railroad, the Cuba Western,
has informed the government that il
will transport to the end of its lines, in
Pinar del Rio, any lot of $50 laborers
which the government sends to it.
Smaller lots will be carried at half
rate. Arrangements have been made
by the government so that if planter
wants to secure two or three hundred
laborers he notifies the Cuban depart
ment of agriculture. which files the re-
quest and then arranges for the send
ing of the laborers if they are in the
immigration station, and if they are
they are taken from the first boat ar
irving from Spain.
SUGAR ACREAGE IN CUBA.
The entire sugar crop of Cuba, con-
sisting of more than 100000 tons was
raised on good deal less than 1000, 900
acres, when the entire available acre
age is 2S,OOO,0OO. says the Cuba Review
and Bulletin. AS further illustrating
the enormous fertility OF Cuban soil,
the report of the United States de-
partment of commerce and labor
states that NEARLY the whole island
is well suited for the successful rails
ing of cane sugar of the best quality"
If not cane sugar, then other equally
profitable crops.
SUGAR BEETS IN MEXICO.
The Mexican Investor believes that
sugar beets can be successfully grown
in Mexico. 1t says in a recent issue:
THE soil In the desert lands of Mexico
is much the same as the alkali lands
of the West in the States. and If the
culture of the sugar beet is successful
there, there is no reason why It should
not be cultivated for the utilization of
the waste lands south of the Rio
Grande. 1t Is no longer in the expert
mental stage in the States and the
plains are blooming with sugar beets
and sugar mills in every direction,
while other experiments are in prog
ress. 1t seems that Mexico has even
greater opportunities for the success
full raising of the sugar beet than in
the North, and in face of the fact
that the price of sugar has an ever up
IN
cial attention from the experimental
colleges and individual agriculturists
here"
THE LOUISIANA CROP.
NEW ORLEANS, La, December g.
Conservative estimates of the crop
have altered their figures during the
past few days. This has been due to
the fact that planters are now har-
vesting plant cane and the yield has
not come up to expectations. AS a re-
suit per cent has been taken from
the former estimate of $4,000 tons,
making the present figure 100000 tons.
This Is the second reduction in the
estimate that has taken place In the
past two months. The first reduction
was Of per cent from a supposed
yield of 100000 tons. This reduction
was made because of the wind storms
which swept the entire sugar belt more
than two months ago. Warm weather
conditions also played some part in the
estimate, but not to the extent to
which they did later The present esti-
mate of 100000 tons. which is advanced
by Secretary ID. ID. Colcock of the
Louisiana Sugar Exchange may have
to be altered later. There is still
chance for cold, dry weather to i'm
prove the quality of the cane, and the
present indications are that cold
weather will prevail over the entire
belt for at least a few days. Rain,
however, is generally complained OF
and harvesting operations have been
seriously interfered with. In the event
Of freeze occurring the estimate
given out may have to be still further
Within the past week or two
weather conditions were reported somn-
what better as to temperature, but
worse as to rain. Labor conditions are
satisfactory.
The general feeling regarding prices
Is expressed in the Plcayune in a re-
cent editorial on the prospects of the I