Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-02

SUGAR.

W n. A. 14AAuCAys eu o&SAs A~s
American reiiners, who has the
reputation of guessing every year
within one, or two per cent what
the crop will be. This IL nearly
half million tons more sugar
than Cuba produced last year. Mr..
Himely admits, however, that the
crop may be reduced by labor
troubles, which are the bane OF
Cuban business just now. Except
insofar as it IL interrupted by
strikes and revolutions, . steady
increase in the Cuban sugar crop
is expected. Stimulated by high
prices. which promise, to last for
some time. Cuba will probably pro-
duce in the next few years so per
cent more sugar than it is now pro-
ducing. It is doubtful whether the
capacity Of the island will make II
possible for tho increase ev=r to 60
much beyond that.
The prosperity which sugar has
brought to the island is widespread
and much in evidence. Everyone
who raised any sugar cane, from
President Menocal who recently
sold one of his great sugar estates
for nine million dollars, to the lit.
tie fellow operating on . few acres
Of rented land. has made more
money than he ever dreamed Of
making. This prosperity has natur'
ally extended to the merchants
and to almost all other classes o.
business. Trade, especially in lux
uries, is very brisk. A manufac'
turer of high-grade walking sticks
down here from New York on
selling trip, reports that he is sell
ing a thousand dollars worth o.
goods to merchants who never be
fore took more than three hundred
dollars worth. And the demand Ii
| for ornate canes, with gold, silvel
and amber heads. A local mer
chant bought canes for SIS apiece
and Immediately placed them OF
sale at $35.
"You are a profiteer," the manu-
facturer told him.
II give them what they want" h
replied. III marked those cane
$50 they wouldn't look at them"
A thriving business is also penn
done in automobiles. with which
Havana is literally running over
| Big touring cars painted in yer!
bright coIors and jitneys elaborate
ly upholstered in stamped leatne
are the favorite types.
Much building is also going Tor
! ward, stimulated by very hlg'
| rents.
An especially prosperous clas
are the colonos. or countrymeu
who own sugar land but no mills
It should be explained that larg
part of, the sugar industry is con
trolled by a few great concern
which own the mills or central
and lands in addition. They ais
buy cane from the colonos. who ar
f.rmers solely. Hitherto the colon
las not made much money. Mos
" the profit on sugar cane at
/ low price went to the mills whicl
| ground it. But now the colono :
getting tremendous prices for hi
cane, and he is not the type OF mai
/ to conceal his prosperity. Thes
Cuban countrymen are emerginl
from the tall timber in crowds
building themselves houses Il
yedaldo, the fine residence section
riding about in the biggest car
they can buy, loading their womel
with the jewels which the Cuba
so loves. Never have the cafe
been so bright with flowers an
diamonds and the eyes of delighte
1 senoras and senoritas. Never ha
the Prado presented such a charm
ing spectacle of life and color as
does now every evening at tn
hour of the promenade.
Yet there are those who say thu
this prosperity is not destined t
last. In the first place, the labor
ing man is not sharing it fairl!
for here as everywhere else in tn
world, wages have not risen a
fast as the cost of living. Their
are strikes almost every day. An
besides. the politicians are begin
ming again to fall out among them
selves. There are two factions al
ready in each party. and thos
who know say that revolution
brewing.
| Prosperity has brought out tn
weakness Of the Cuban as we'll a
his strength. He knows how to er
Joy his prosperity, but not how t
hold it and organize 1t. He is
master of the art Of life, he car
lures more Of its elusive Joy tina
we do; but in the business of Lii
he is very apt to bungle.