The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-11-29
VESTED N. CUBA
l|Ilericans Have Vast Sum Of
Money at Stake There.


Washing ton. While the United
States has assumed responsibility for
Cuba before the civilized world the
immediate object Of this governments
activities In the island republic just
now Ii the protection Of American
owned properties amounting In value
20 something like s200,0o0,0OO.
a battleship feet with much more
hitting power than was possessed by
the entire American naval force sta
toned on the Cuban coast in the war
with Spain is now In Cuban waters for
the purpose of afeording protection
tor American property. More than q
Thousand United States marines are
encarnped on Cuban soil guarding
American property. Half score OF
auxiliary naval vessels are busy on
the same errand and thousands OF adj
ditdonal marines and bluejackets ara
ready to join their comrades already
& acting as guards. Behind this great
force is the rest Of the Atlantic bat.
fleship fleet, ready to sail for Cuba on
few hours' notice, while an expedi1
tionary force Of soldiers has been des-
fgnated BY the armysfor possible serv1
Ice In Cuba.
Accurate estimates Of the total val4
ne Of American interests in Cuba ara
difacult. It il believed that the Amer
lean Investments Of all classes In
HEuba today aggregate from $180;000,-
200 to 5000. 100000, This is probably
one-third OF the total amount Of forl
eign capital invested In Cuba. Span
ash holdings In Cuba are larger than
the American investments, while there
ID q great deal Of British, French and
German money invested there.
a recent estimate OF American ina
terests In Cuba made the following
classification Of Investments:
Railways and tramways. $40. 900. 900
Sugar and tobacco. 80, 000, 600
Rural and city projects.... 25,0o0,00O
Minor products .......... 100000
Commerce and manufac-
lures ................... 6,OOV,UUV
Banks 5000, 900
Steamships and mortgages. 100000
Mines 100000
It is diflcult to estimate many Of
these investments. For example, &c
would be next to impossible to trace
out the capital listed as being invest
ed In banks, mortgages and the like.
Loans. bond purchases and such forms
OF investment are likely to lose them
selves In the great maze Of commerce,
industry and finance. Yet the value
pf investments OF this sort rests, even.
more than mere tangible forms. upon
the stability and solvency OF the gov
ernment and the maintenance Of law
md order.
American capital owns the electric
{ railway system Of Cuba, the telephone
system and most Of the electric light
ing plants. These holdings are prin-
cipally in Havana. and have been lit.
tie menaced In the present troubled
state Of affairs ID Cuba.
Similarly the great tobacco COM
panies. the cigar and cigarette facto-
fies, require practically no attention
from either the United States governs
msAt OF that of Cuba. They are lo4
Z kfed principally In the cities. and the
bacco growing districts have not yet
been affected by the negro rebellion.
The real danger, and consequently
the real task. OF the American forces
\ operating iii Cuba fs associated with
the great productive enterprises. agri-
cultural and mineral. scattered
through the island.