New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-07
CANE FIRES IN CUBA.
Due to Severe DrOutk and Careless
ness More than to Incsndiarism.

Havana, April s (speciaD.-The other day
a couple OF thieves appeared at farmhouse in
a country district not far from this city and
demanded arms from the humble jewellers there
in, declaring that they had started the new
revolution and were the advance guard Of an
army. commanded by Tomas Estrada Palma
himself. which then advancing on the ma
ttonaI capital. burning cane as it went.
And because we saw several cane fires glar-
ing in different directions at the time" the
country people confessed to the rural guards
who ran down the robbers shortly afterward.
I'VE believed what they said to us"
II is true that cane fires are devastating the
island Of Cuba from one end to the other. But
il is a mistaken idea that these cane fires ure
set by would-be revolutiOnists incendiaries
who wish TO destroy the property Of the Iabori-
Gus. just on general principles.
Cuba is at present suffering from the worst
drouth that has afflicted the island since 1874
Wells have gone dry; the relentless sun has
burned and Drowned the pasture lands until
the stocknen In desperation have herded their
animals into the woods where they could. In
hopes to save their lives; tobacco. while it prof
tied at first from the dryness. has begun 70
suffer: minor crops are lost. and the country
people face hunger. While in the cities the prices
OF fresh vegetables are high and the demand
has raised che cost Of canned goods. Even
banana groves have begun 10 dry up (and this
IS unprecedented). Finally even the sugar
cane has begun TO wIthe- Ordinarily. dry
weather at this season favors the sugar manu-
factuTers. for IT keeps the roads free from mud
and enables them To cart the cane to the mills:
but this year, dust lies so deep on the highways
that it chokes the draft animals, and more
over. when they get the cane to mill II is found
to have suffered notable deterioration by rea-
son Of the drOUJh-
Therefore. with the country from San Anton
10 Fo-nJ Aiaysl as dry as finder. il Is not eX-
traordinary that cane fires shoufd occur Cane
at any time is inhammabIe; when dry il burns
ike ceiluloid \ spark from passing loco
motive may start fire anywhere along the
line; a lighted cigarette idly cast aside by a
Aeld manu- may work untold damage.
Cane fires have been exceptionally numerous
ms year Al the beginning of the season there
was general suspicion that many Of them
were set by the men employed to cut the c1la
IN order 10 hasten their labor These men "A
PAID by the amount of ground they clear,
Burned cane is not ruined for sugar ulsEinsr
provided Il IS ground immediately. Hence n
happens frequently that the cane cutters de-
string TO hniSh up a job quickly. set fire to
their fields and burn them over: then thew sir
down and weep aloud that dire disaster has
befalen them As they weep their neighbors
gather around take pity them. turn all hands
70 the work rush the burned cane to the mills
where IL IS ground at a double quick TO save it,
ana mus they have the desired result work all
done IN snort order and money payable in haste.
The owner whose cane the men FASTENED to
hllI IN thIS iaShlon would not be apt 20 register
strong objections, for Il is true that when the
grinding season first began this year there was
a general feeling that II would not be finished
before trouble broke out anew, and II trouble
did break out the fields would. of course be,
the first property destroyed Therefore the
grower who was lucky enough 10 have his cane
an ground would be a winner compared with
the man who slow and got caught before
the season was over by the putative revolution.
This feeling which it is useless 10 deny does
exist fastened the grinding season this year
IN Cuba The work began early. was rushed
pellmeI to its finish. though the mills made no
profit for time, the cane they worked up hav-
ing been cut too soon. Cuban planters sold the
sugar quickly at a loss. owing to the anxiety
70 finish up the business and now, one by one,
the mills are closing down weeks ahead of time.
THESE fires. however, are not confined 20 the
fields; fire destroyed liquor factory a school,
house and some adjoining buildings IN Guam
laHarno on March q, the loss being estimated at
SlOtOO. which is large for a Cuban town the
size OF Guantanamo; IRE burned out block IN
Matanzas on March -. all of which strengthens
the superstition that materials are as dry in
town as out and leads 70 the conclusion that
after ALL prevailing weather conditions which
have made the country like a finder box. are
more to blame for the continuous losses reported
than any amount OF unrest In the minds OF tho
people.