Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1896 — A GLANCE AT CUBA. [ARTICLE]

A GLANCE AT CUBA.

THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND RAVAGED BY CIVIL WAR. Its Sugar Plantations the Chief Source of Wealth— Other Products—lnteresting Features of the City of Havana. Cuba is larger in area and population and richer in natural resources than is generally supposed. It has a total area of 43,319 square miles and a population of one and one half million souls. The distance from its eastern to its western extremity is nearly equal to the distance from New York to Chicago. To a soil of unusual fertility na ture has added a climate which is peculiarly favorable to the growth of certain special crops of great value. The country may be broadly divided into the region of plains, the rolling uplands and the forest lands. The lowlands form a practically continuous belt around the island; and in them are to be found the great sugar plantations. Above these, and on the lower slopes of the hills, are found the grazing and farm lands, upon which among other things, is raised the famous Havana tobacco. The balance of the island, especially the eastern portion, is covered with a dense forest growth. The sugar plantations form the chief source of wealth in Cuba. The cane grows best in the level bottom lands, which are cleared of all shrub and timber growth for this purpose. Some of the plantations are of vast extent, including as many as 10,000 acres, and they stretch away in unbroken monotony on all sides of the batey, which is the name by which the collection of sugar mills, dwellings, stables, etc., in the centre of the plantation is known. Roads or driveways are cut through the cane and radiate in all directions, and along these the teams drag the heavily laden carretas to the mills. The Cuban does not place a heavy yoke upon the shoulders of the oxen, as we do, but uses a lighter yoke, which he lashes across the horns of each pair, so that an ox pushes its load with the head. At the mill the cane is unloaded on to an endless belt, which carries it into the crushers. The crushed cane, which is known as bagasse. Is used for fuel, and the extracted juice is conveyed to large vats, where it is boiled. At a certain stage of the boiling it is transferred to pans, where it crystallizes to a brown sugar, which is then placed in long cylindrical moulds where the molasses is allowed to run off. The sugar is now of a light yellow color, and. to further cleanse it, it is placed in centrifugal separators, where the molasses that still remains is removed, and the sugar, which is now fairly white in appearance, is ready for export. The average production is about 2.000 pounds to one acre. In former days, when the work was done by slaves, they were housed in quarters known as the barracon, which were located within the inclosure of the batey. Although in some parts of the island the laborers occupy the old slave quarters, it is now a common thing for the laborers to live in separate homes, scattered in the neighborhood of the plantations. They are very primitive dwellings, and consist of a square frame of posts, upon which is nailed a layer of boards, the interstices being plastered up with adobe clay. The roofs are thatched with palm leaf, the wood of this tree,which grows in great abundance, being used for the posts and frame of the house. The celebrated Havana tobacco is grown on the western end of the island and the choicest quality is raised a little to the west of Havana, chiefly on the banks of the San Sebastian. It is known as the “vuelta abajo” tobacco, and nearly the whole of it finds its way to the royal courts of Europe, whose agents have for a long time past been in the habit of buying the whole crop many years in advance. Genuine vuelta abajo cigars will cost $1.25 apiece.

Although there is a certain monotony about the appearance of the lowlands, with th'eir miles of sugar plantation, there is no lack of beauty in the rolling uplands of the interior. The grasses are rich, and cattle raising forms one of the staple industries of the country. Coffee is raised in considerable quantities. and the land produces annually two crops of Indian corn, which is the chief cereal of Cuba. The principal fruits are oranges, pineapples, plantains, bananas and melons. The general agricultural industry, however, whether it takes the form of fruit or general farming, is in an undeveloped condition. The forests of Cuba form one of its most striking natural features. They are estimated to cover fully two-thirds of the total unreclaimed land, or some 12,000,000 acres in all; and they are so dense as to be almost impenetrable. They are made up largely of hard woods, such as mahogany ami the Cuban ebony, and a certain amount is cut down for export. The most valuable growth in the Cuban forests is the palm of which the most common species, the Palma real, is found throughout the whole island, but more particularly in the western half. The cities of Cuba are fully as picturesque in their way as the surrounding country. By far the most important of these is Havana, which is the capital and the chief seaport of the island. It is admirably situated, both for military and commercial purposes, on the shores of a land-locked harbor, the entrance to which Ls narrow’ and tortuous and defended by two forts, known as the Moro and the Punta castles. The most celebrated of these is Moro castle, which is situated on the northeastern side of the entrance. It is in the courtyard of this fortress that many a Cuban patriot has suffered death for liis country. The harbor is one of the finest in the world, a nd could float a thousand ships of the largest size. Unfortunately, it is bein contaminated by the discharge into it of the whole of the sewage of Havana, and. as there is not sufficient scour of the tide to carry it out to sea. the filth is constantly accumulating. The result will certainly be disastrous to the city, unless some system of direct drainage to the sea be carried out. Immediately upon landing the visitor is impressed by the strange novelty of the city and its inhabitants. There Is a romantic air of mediaevalism about the older quarters of the city; he is at times conscious of having taken a step backward in the march of civilization. and the romantic impression is

deepened by the soft, dreamy atmosphere of the tropics and the sweet odor of tropical vegetation. At the same time the more modern portion of the city is well built, and presents a dignified and harmonious appearance. The Spanish influence is everywhere apparent, and a modified classic architecture prevails. The houses are built chiefly of stone and then plastered,this latter work being of a good finish and durable quality. The business people live over their own stores, the two upper stories being used for domestic purposes. The entrance to the better class of homes is often freely decorated with Moorish colored tiles, and stenciling Is employed with good effect upon the outside walls. In the older quarters the streets are narrow and very tortuous and the houses only one story in height. There are no sidewalks to speak of, and as the great heat necessitates the windows being kept continually open,they are protected by prison-like iron gratings. The interior of a Cuban home, even among the better class, is very simple in its appointments. The excessive heat and the prevalence of insects necessitates the use of as little furniture as possible, and no hangings or darperies are to be seen. The street scenes are novel and ofteD ludicrous, as' when, for instance, the milk seller drives the cow and calf fthe latter muzzled) up to the door and milks the amount of his purchase In the presence of the customer and literally at his doorstep. The favorite luxury is “barquillo,” a thin cake made of flour spiced with cinnamon. The barqitilio vender goes through the streets beating a quick-step march on a musical triangle.. Travel is mainly carried on in “volantas,” which are hired at the rate of 20 cents for the trip. Whether the trip he for two or three blocks or the whole length of the city, the price is the same. The various promenades, drives and garden# are exceedingly fine, and no visitors should miss seeing the botanical gardens and palm tree avenues of Los Molinos. It is difficult to get an exact estimate of the population or the relative proportion of its different elements. It is broadly divided into the Insulares or native Cubans of Spanish descent, the Peninsulares or imported Spanish element. which is made up mainly of office holders, merchants and speculators, who do not and never intend to make Cuba their permanent home, and lastly the mixed races, such as the mulatto, negro and Chinese. It is roughly estimated that there are 1,000.000 residents of Spanish extraction. 500.000 colored people and 50,000 Chinese coolies. -