Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-05-23

as righ as $40 an acre. Almost every
colono lives from hand to mouth, and
always spends his income before he
gets 1t, as used to be the custom
among the cotton planters in the
southern states. In good year the
planter has surplus, which he spends
on trip to New York or Paris; in
poor year he runs behind and gets
in debt. Two or three bad years will
send him to the bankruptcy court and
unless his creditors are generous he
will lose his plantation.
"One man can work ten acres OF
cane" continued Mr.. Betancourt, "and
that Is about the ratio OF employees on
the big plantations. Chaparra, the
biggest sugar estate in the world,
owned by the Cuban-Amerlcan Sugar
company, has more than 1000 men
on its pay rolls, at wages of 81 to
s1.50 per day. On other plantations,
as rule. the men are employed for
seven month only, and for five months
are obliged to seek work elsewhere
or remain idle and get into mischief.
The Idle cane cutter is raw revolu-
tionary material. He has been a ha-
bitual insurrecto. II he had work all
the year round at living wages he
would settle down, instead of going to
the bosque. and become an industrl-
Gus, wealth producing citizen. On
| some of the plantations. like Chaparra,
the men are provided with work the
year around to keep them from becom-
| ing guefrillas, and they behave them
| selves very well. They are ignorant,
but honest and loyal to their friends,
| but they are credulous, and will fol
| low any leader who makes fair prom
! ises to improve their condition. The
| planters throughout the island are
very largely to blame for the insur'
| rections. because they do not want to
give permanent employment to their
men, but they are not educators or
philanthropists, and, like employers
everywhere, they try to get all the
work they can for the least amount OF
| money; and when the "zafra" or har-
vest Is over they turn the men loose
to take care of themselves. If they
would do differently | think 1t would
be to their interest. Every planter
Is continually exposed to the malice
and spite of discharged workmen, who
can easily destroy his property with
| out detection.
This will be very profitable year
to Cuba, Notwithstanding the politi-
| cal uncertainty and apprehension,
continued Mr.. Betancourt. I'VE are
harvesting the largest crop of sugar
ever known, although the prices are
low. We have had series of good
years, which has increased the acre
age of cane, and that naturally in
creased the supply and caused de
| preston of prices. Planters, however,
are in a very good condition. This
years crop will exceed a million and
half tons, and will be the biggest
on record, although there is not so
| much sap in the cane as usual because
| of the dry weather. The harvest is
going on all right. There have been
few disastrous fires and no political
disturbances of any account The peo-
pie generally are well satisfied with
the provisional government and ev
erybody except candidates for office
Indefinitely.
THE tobacco crop is very good this
year also. and is selling for fair prices.
The cigarmakers' strike in Havana
will have no perceptible effect. 1t in
wolves only the factories belonging to
the trust, and they are only about
half the entire number. AS IL rule
strikes in Cuba are due to political
manipulation or to spite. 1t has al
ways been So"
The drought is so severe that the
cisterns and wells throughout Cuba
are practically exhausted, AMI water is
being sold in the streets from house
&c house at 10 cents kerosene oil
can, which holds five gallons. The
standard Oil company has furnished
| water buckets for the entire world
| The square tine cans in which they
ship their product from the refinery
are used as substitutes Tor oathen
| Jars in every part of the universe-in
India, Arabia, Turkey, China and Ia
| fNh' ~ 'hS hihPpihCo' fhhSti hhp
,he East ard West indies.
| The Nazarenes go twice a day, as
they have done for 1000 years or
more. to fountain known as Mary's
well, to get the supply of water for
each household. In olden times they
used eathen jars of artistic shape,
which added much to the picturesque
ness of the scene. but of recent years
they have taken to using empty pc
| troleum cans, which are much lighter
and hold a great deal more, but are
not at all graceful or romantic. This
custom prevails throughout Palestine.
[ saw the women of Samaria carrying
Standard OH cans on their heads be-
tween their homes and the fountain
at which Christ once sat
| WISDOM OF AN EMPlRIClST,