Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-24
Good CROPS ARE
RAISED IN CUBA
JULIUS FEcHT, WHO is IN HA-
VANA BUYING TOBACCO WRITES
ABOUT THE ISLANDS.
RAPs LAND GRAFTERs
ottunwan Declares That They Are
Hun1husging Many American
People-WilI Return to
City About March 49,

5000 crops of sugar and tobacco
nave been raised in Cuba during the
past season despite the reports to the
contrary according to information i'm
parted in letter from Julius Fecht
the OttumWa cigar manufacturer who
Is in Havana buying tobacco for his
factory. He states that the quality OF
the tobacco is poor, however, and to
secure supply of good tobacco, it
must be purchased in small lots.
Mr.. Fecht in his letter tales anoth-
er rap at the grafters in Cuba who are
selling the land in the Isle of Pines at
a. nigh figure. He declares that they
charge exorbitant prices for the
land and that it Is not worth a very
high price. Mr.. Fecht has returned to
Havana from a. ten days journey of
the Isle of Pines and states that he
visited nearly the whole coast line in
a large steam launch. He says that he
Will be home about March Is. His let
ter follows:
Arrived at Havana after a ten days
journey in the Isle Of Pines we got Il
large launch there, and visited nearly
the whole coast line, and some Of the
interior. The Americans have about
taken complete possession of the is
land. They bought the land very cheap
IN tracts. and are now selling ito
whom, the Spainards or to the
Cubans? Certainly not. These fellows
know too much for that. They sell it
to their fellow citizens, under the
windy proposition that they can raise
oranges there
Raps Land Grafters.
And right here let me say, that men
that sell their fellow citizens and
friends land at $50 and $40 per acre.
must have their conscience chloro-
formal hn Pn11 hot ~,
but one chance; to find sucker big
ger than himself and sell aeain at
higher figure.
Orange land costs $50 per acre
Cost of maintenance, $50 per acre for
six years. This, with interest will
bring the cost of an acre OF orange
land in bearing time to about $425 per
acre and all fruit is shipped to Cuba
first, where oranges sell at S3.50@5.50
per 1000. 1t is not paying to any one
hardly. You might as we'll tell an Iowa
farmer to raise black walnut trees, be-
cause the wood Is costly. 1t takes lots
of time to do that but there is no let
up to the land agents, and the victims,
on these or lots Of Cuban lands. Under
these circumstances, tracts of land
that were never thought of any value,
have come into the market.
Climate, seashore. boating, fishing
all is forgotten IN the made race after
the dollar. However, the new corners
are very good class of nice people.
They have mostly settled on the Nc
Kinley tract, and something good is
bound to come out of this orange
grove humbug.
eve visited Tenguin Islands. Thou
sands of birds Of black color and
about five foot spread of wings are
nesting there. The eggs are plentiful,
and q club keeps the birds off.
Tobacco Is Poor.
Il am still buying tobacco here, most
ly in small lots. They would sell
stranger lots of worthless stuff, if he
let's them. Lots of very bad tobacco is
in Cuba. Nowhere in the world do you
get worse smelling and burning cigar
than here in Havana.
Il have priced lots Of other goods,
too, curios, etc. There's no use
This is the season. They see you COM
ing and charge fierce prices.
There has been very good crop
Of sugar and tobacco, all account to
the contrary Notwithstanding. They
get everybody's name from the hotel
registers, and land agents, tobacco
sellers, guides, storekeepers, women
and tract promoters all see to it that
we get a very mixed mail every day.
From all accounts, I missed lots of
cold weather this winter. Frost is re-
ported from Florida, and even here we
have cool nights. VIII be home about
the fifteenth of March.
Julius Fecht"