New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-13
AFFAIRS In CUBA.
Preparations for the Census-Sugar
Crop Breaks Record.

Havana May 12-The preparations now being
made for the taking of the Cuban census are con-
sidered of far more importance than the pre-
lininary skirmishing of General Gomez and Dr.
Alfredo Zayas for the Presidential nomination
The primary purpose of the census is to make pos
stble a fair and square election and start the new
Cuban republic under president who has an an
questioned right 10 the title.
The will not be merely an enumeration
OF the population. with such other statistical and
Gco I inl9rnation as is usually complied hut
ton. Long before this list is complete the com,
2. II. Crowder is chairman. will have prepared
the new election law, and. should the island stu
reason TO doubt. there Will be obstacle IN the
holding the municipal elections rst in order thQr
oughy to test the electoral machinery, this to he
mined by the general eiecton which is to precede
the esta bshment of the republic
Victor II. CImsted director of the census. who
has the great advantage Of experience gained in
the taking of the last in 1884, declines for
the present to discuss his work in any way. Inn
mediately after a consultation with Governor Ma
COON which followed the directors landing here
Mr. Olmsted plunged into the preparation or the
draft of a decree setting forth fully the plan and
scope Of the census This will be submitted to
Governor Magoon. who will then discuss every
feature with prominent Cubans and listen to their
suggestions. In this way probably some weeks Will
he consumed before the programme is complies
signature.
In the mean time Mr.. Omsted will begin the
pare To take the field. Already he is being deIused
with applications many OF which are from men
who enumerated in the last census. and tie ser ser
vices of these persons will be most accep'a1ec,
Just the directors entire force consists OF
How long it viii take to complete the census it ia
impossible to make even an approximate eS.i Ha
IN ISS9 seven months eLapsen Oetwfei nm tnrs
lists to Washington. and after that much time was
consumed in the work of tabulatlon In the pres
ent instance II may take even more IlHn seven
months before the general results are known ana
the registration lists completed for the rainy sea
son is about setting in, and with the deluSe pre-
dcted to follow the present ProtracteId droufh,
thiny settled districts Of tho island is likely
10 be seriously hampcred.
What the population Of Cuba will be shown 10 be
is the subject Of much speculation- Preceding cen
suses afford rather unsatisfactory standards OF
comparison, but 1t reasonable to predict that
it Will not be far under the two million mark. or
gain of nearly half a million In seven years In
1899 the population was shown to be l,57@,0oo but
IT is probable that this did not show the fun popu
try districts the peasants regarded the cnumera-
tors with suspicion and often concealed the num-
that the census being taken for the purpose Of
There VIII be no such misunderstanding about
the present and the fact that II constitutes
registry Of voters will make all who are eligible
for the franchise anxious to be enrolled The cen
sus Of 1877 showed population Of l,6&2 So the
the devastation wrought by The revolution which
preceded the tlrSt American intervention.
Cuba's great twin crops sugar and tobacco. have
both been record breakers this year sugar for the
size Of the crop and tobacco for tho scarcity OF all
except the choicest grades Of the leaf
While the fun amount Of the sugar crop is not yet
accllra telv determined. the last Of tho grinding
being IN progress, there is little doubt that.it will
reach a total OF 100000 tons agains, goo 600
last year Against this there strong indications
Of serous shortage IN tn" crop next year. due to
the fact that there has been practically replant-
ing for two years and that the drouth and
sequent frequency Of cane fires have done serious
damage, not much To the crop just hurVes Ell.
but TO the sources OF the crop TO
The shortage Of tn" tobacco crop owing 20 the
lack Of rain. has been in Il measure compensated
for by the excellence OF the quality Not since 1902.
X is said. has the quality OF the wrappers been
good this While the drouth has not az
fected the tobacco of this class. which s grown
under shelter and artifcially irrigated il has
played havoc with the lower grades and created
scarcity OF iller material. which Of the
reasons that determined The Independent factories
70 close down rather than comply with the de-
mands Of the olga TmakeTs for payment in Amer-
can instead Of Spanish money.