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CUBA [recent history. There are no statistics of manufactures available, but it is well a policy of conciliation towards the insurgents was deterknown that, aside from sugar mills and cigar factories, this branch mined upon by the Spanish Government, and General of industry is of little importance. Martinez Campos was despatched to Cuba to Agriculture.—In 1899 there were 60,711 farms and plantations comprising an area of 8,761,600 acres. Of this, 901,100 acres were carry this new policy into effect. Martinez Jf™™' under cultivation, or only 3'2 per cent, of the area of Cuba. The Campos commanded general respect, and found leading up average size of farm was 144 acres, a little larger than in the United little difficulty in opening negotiations with the to the in~ States ; and the average area cultivated per farm was 15 acres. Of surrectloB the cultivated area 43 '5 per cent, was owned by the occupants, and insurgents. Reforms in the administration and 56'5 percent, rented or worked on shares. Again, 84 9 percent, a free pardon for all who had taken part in the revolt was occupied by whites, and only 15 d per cent, by coloured, or in were among the stipulations agreed upon, and the mixed occupancy of white and coloured. The following table shows the proportion of the cultivated area abolition of slavery was decreed, although this measure which was planted in each of the principal crops, this being the only took full effect in 1886. In the autumn of 1878 only measure of products which the census furnishes : General Campos met the leaders of the insurrection at Zanjon; a treaty was signed embodying the various promPer cent, of ises and conditions. It was the non-fulfilment of the Cultivated Area Sugar cane ....... 47-3 terms of this convention (commonly called “ El Facto de Sweet potatoes H-3 Zanjon ) which paved the way for the insurrection Tobacco ....... 9-3 organized by Jose Marti in 1895. For all practical Bananas ....... 8'6 purposes there was no reform in administrative methods Indian corn ...... 7-3 Malangas ....... 3-4 after the Convention of Zanjon. The island continued, Yucca. ....... 3-9 as formerly, to be a rich field reserved for Spanish officialCoffee. ....... 1’6 dom. Corruption became more pronounced. Cubans, Cocoanuts ....... 1 -4 unless entirely pro-Spanish, were given no share in the Cocoa........ 1.4 Government, although their standard of intelligence was Sugar, which is by fai the most important crop, was produced in quite, equal to, if not higher than, that of the majority of all parts of the island, but chiefly in Santa Clara and Matanzas Spaniards in similar conditions of life. In these circumprovinces. Tobacco also was widely distributed over the island, but nearly three-fourths of the area devoted to it was in Pinar stances the natives bitterly resented the attitude of the del Rio. Spaniards, and the estrangement between the two peoples Live stock on farms is summarized as follows :— became more marked as time went on. In 1886 a number of young students were accused of writing some derogatory Horses 88,001 verses on the tombstone of a high Spanish official. The Mules and asses 20,316 Cattle supposed ringleaders were arrested, and three of them 753,300 Hogs. 358,868 were condemned to death and shot. It is difficult to find Sheep and goats 28,546 any excuse for this act, and it served to deepen into Fowls 1,517,892 hatred and fear the hostility of a large section of the The sugar mills of Cuba numbered 207, with a total capacity of population to Spanish authority. Attempts at revolt 8,754,192 arrobas of cane, and a daily output of 61,407 bags of 200 were occasionally made, but without success, owing to pounds each of sugar. In connexion with these mills were 85 prompt and drastic measures taken by the Government stills, with a daily capacity of 161,751 gallons of rum. Rail and Road.—Means of transportation are scanty. Outside and to the lack of organization on the part of the Cubans. of the three smallest western provinces and the neighbourhood of Meanwhile the economic condition of the island was large cities there is not a good road in Cuba, and many of the good undergoing great changes. The crisis in the sugar trade roads are impassable in wet weather. There are about 1100 miles in 1883, and the fall in prices in consequence of overof railway, most of which are in Havana, Matanzas, and the western part of Santa Clara provinces. These railways are for the most production, seriously threatened the main industry. The situation was further complicated by the abolition of part poorly constructed and scantily equipped. Commerce.—The following figures epitomize the commerce of the slavery, which involved severe pecuniary losses to the island in 1899 and 1900 :— slave-owners. The energy shown by the people of Cuba Total exports. (1899) $46,301,929 ; (1900) $49,014,962. at this crisis in their affairs is deserving of the highest Total imports. (1899) 66,783,111 ; (1900) 66,658,589. praise. The old factories were abandoned and great central sugar-houses erected where the process of convertLeading Articles of Export. ing, the cane juice into sugar could be more cheaply Sugar. . . . (1899) $19,876,749 ; (1900) $16,886,693 effected. The newest machinery was imported and Tobacco (1899) 21,084,750; (1900) 26,087,968 immense areas of new cane fields were planted. The Fruit and nuts (1899) 355,579; (1900) 729,719 Wood (unmanufactured) (1899) 166,313; (1600) 1,050,322 estates were mortgaged to obtain the money for these changes, and so by hard work and intelligent application Countries. Exports. Imports. the principal source of wealth was saved from annihilation United States $33,356,889 and brought round to a comparatively flourishing condi$29,176,002 United Kingdom 5,427,749 10,463,325 tion. During this critical period the Spanish Government Spain 830,349 9,755,693 gave no helping hand. Heavy duties were levied upon Germany 5,545,827 2,982,779 Cuban products, although Spanish goods entering the France. 1,267,241 3,267,570 island were allowed important reductions as compared During the year 1900, 12,350 vessels, with a net tonnage of 4,928,814, entered the ports of Cuba, and 11,954 vessels, with a with merchandise from other countries. Cuba was saddled with a gold debt of $162,849,625 for bonds issued in net tonnage of 4,367,246, cleared. Spain to defray military expenses and other charges from (h. Ct*.) which the island derived no benefit. The population of 1,500,000 souls was called upon to find a revenue of II. Recent History. £5,240,000 sterling to meet the service of the bonds issued The insurrection in Cuba from 1868 to 1878 was only in Spain and to cover the expense of the Spanish administhe prelude to the stronger movement which began in tration of the island. In reality they paid much more than 1895, and which was destined eventually to involve the this amount, on account of the extortions systematically United States in war with Spain, with the result of bring- practised by the officials. The Cubans bitterly resented ing to an end Spanish sovereignty in the island. In 1878 the attitude of Spain, but their protests were un-