Evening journal., 1906-09-26

nexation, II is not 20 be supposed. Ms some
press dispatches have lntlmated. that they
are actively supporting the insurrectlon-
aries With their knowledge OF the reck.
less characte; Of the lower class Cubans
and their destructive tendencies, cnplta-
lists must dread the effects OF any uprising
that shall get beyond the control OF the
government. They will hardly forget the
ruthless and indlscrlminate manner In
which the entire wealth OF the country
was destroyed In the recent rebellion. The
American property owners nre more dis
posed TO favor the plan Of bringing about
annexation by political methods as their
feilow-countrymen did In Hawaii
II is safe to say that nowhere In the
world can be found a section OF territory
Of the same extent with such great and
varied resources as Cuba. About the size
OF England and somewhat smaller than
the state Of Pennsylvania, It is capable OF
producing the best tobacco IN tho world.
sugar equal to any, coffee OF the highest
grade, n great variety Of fruits aud vege.
tables and several kinds OF commercial
nbers. Add to this splendid pasture lands.
an abundance Of valuable timber, and
mineral deposits which include gold, cop
per, iron, coal and manganese.
Although almost all the land is capable
OF producing marketable crops, only a
small proportion OF II is yet under cultl-
vaton The vast sugar output Is secured
from no more than 100000 acres Of cane,
Notwithstanding the plantations occupy a
very much greater area. Extensive sec
tions are occupied by unsurveyed virgin
forest, covering land that In tlith, would
yield sugar. tobacco or other profitable
products. Despite the astounding devcl-
opment Of recent years, It Is safe to say
that the country has not yet been exploit
ed 10 the extent Of one-fourth OF It's pos
slblltlcs.
The greatest Impetus TO the Industries
OF the island has been derived from the
Improvement and extension OF railroads,
OF which there are nj present 1900 miles
OF trunk line. One-third or more OF this
mileage has been constructed since the
war. great deal more Is either planned
or In process OF construction. with the
Intention Of creating a system which shall
anord INSTRUMENTATION by rail be-
tween all parts OF the Island. The most
Important OF the new lines Is the Cuba
Railroad, running from Santiago. az the
eastern extremity OF the island. to Santa
Clara, az the center. There Il connects
with the United Railway. operating a line
which extends 70 the capital and has
network OF branches in the province OF
Havana.
The Cuba Railroad. which Is better
known IN this country by the name OF its
promoter Sir William Van Horne. nc.
quired several hundred thousand acres Of
land In the process OF securing lis right
or way, II Is rapidly clearing this land
? OF timber aud converting II Into surn,
plantations. Il has already about 5000
acres under cultivation. and n mill IN on
Grafton with capacity OF grindln.
b 1000 bags day. Eighty or more similar
mills nre projected by the Cuha Compan,
: and other corporations along the route o
! this line What this development vii
, mean may, In some measure. be gathere
from the statement that each OF thes
mills viii establish. In country largeh
unoccupied hitherto, a settlement OF sO0
, or 10000 souls. Already the road run
through many miles OF sugar. tobacco an
pasture land. where few years ago
was wild backwoods
These Indications OF a splendid prospect
ity are 10 evidence In all parts OF the cour
try. Cuba's sugar industry which wa
practically wiped ont during the war wit
the destruction OF the various mills an
other buildings. has been revived In n
creased magnitude and efficacy. TheT
nre In the various provinces upward 4
200 plantations. with better equipmeu
than they ever had before New sugu
lands are being constantly redeemed frol
the woods aud additional capital Is n
vested In the industry every year Tn
great need now Is labor. The government