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CUBA Rich mineral resources, especially in the province of Oriente, iron, copper, zinc, lead, gold, and petroleum, are found there in abundance. In other districts in the island there were also valuable mineral deposits. In 1919 there were about 4,000 workmen employed in the iron mines. Iron was exported to the United States averaging 50,000 tons a month. In 1918-1919 the sugar crop was 4,446,220 tons.

Commerce.—The total imports in 1919 were $315,587,167, and the exports, $447,221,963. The exports in the order of their importance were sugar, unmanufactured tobacco, iron, gold, copper ores, manufactured tobacco, molasses, hides and skins. The total imports from the United States in the fiscal year 1920 amounted to $396,565,049. The total exports to the United States amounted to $235,469,608.

Transportation.—There were in 1920 3,200 miles of railway in Cuba. The roads having the longest mileage were the United Railways of Havana, 705; Cuba Railroad, 589; Cuban Central Railroad, 389; and the Western Railroad of Havana, 147. All the important towns and seaports are connected by rail. Many large sugar estates have private lines connecting them with the main lines. Nearly 2,500 vessels enter the port of Havana annually. There are about 230 telegraph offices, and 9 wireless stations, operated by the government.

Finance.—The total revenue for 1918-1919 was £12,982,000 and the expenditures amounted to £10,878,973. The principal items of income are customs revenue and the tax on sugar. The chief items of expenditure were war and marine, and instruction. The foreign debt in 1819 amounted to 52,874,500 pesos, and the internal debt to 30,731,900 pesos, or a total debt of 83,606,400 pesos.

Education.—Secondary and higher education is given by the government in accordance with the constitution. Six secondary schools are maintained, one in each of the six provinces. The total number of students in these schools was 2,087. In 1919 there were 334,671 pupils in the public schools and 5,877 teachers. University instruction is given at the University of Havana, which has faculties of liberal arts and science, medicine and pharmacy, and law.

Population, Etc.—The total population, in 1919, was 2,898,905; Havana, 697,583.

Government.—The government of Cuba is that of a republic, under a constitution adopted February 21, 1901. The executive officers include a President and Vice-President, and the legislative branch includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. The first election took place in 1902 and the control of the island was formally transferred to the National Government on May 20 of that year. The cabinet consists of secretaries of State, Justice, War, Marine, Interior, Finance, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Public Instruction, Public Works, Sanitation, and Charity. The Senate includes 24 members, four from each province, and the House of Representatives, 114, one for each 25,000 inhabitants.

History.—Cuba, spoken of as the , was discovered by Columbus in 1492, the discoverer calling it “the most beautiful land that eyes ever beheld.” It was first settled by Spaniards at Baracoa in 1511. Havana, first settled in 1519, was reduced to ashes by the French in 1538, and again in 1554. For about one and a half centuries Cuba was in constant danger from French, Dutch, English, and West Indian filibusters. In 1762 the English, under Lord Albemarle, took Havana, which, however, was by the treaty of Paris next year restored to Spain. From 1789 to 1845 the island was a vast slave-trading center. Negro insurrections occured in 1845 and 1848. In the latter year the United States offered $100,000,000 to Spain for the island. Rebellions against Spanish rule broke out in 1849 and 1868. They were put down after long campaigns ; but in 1895 another insurrection attained by 1898 formidable proportions. The United States battleship “Maine,” while on a friendly visit, was blown up in Havana harbor, Feb. 15, 1898, and on April 19, the Congress of the United States adopted resolutions declaring Cuba independent. War with Spain began at once. Cervera's Spanish fleet was destroyed at Santiago de Cuba, July 3, and Santiago and its large army were surrendered on July 17. The leading military events of the war, so far as Cuba was concerned, were the fight at El Caney and San Juan, the battle at Santiago, and the struggle before Las Guasimas. Under the treaty of peace the island was evacuated Jan. 1, 1899, the United States then formally assuming the government, till the Cubans had adopted a written constitution and installed a satisfactory native government.

A Constitutional Convention assembled in Havana in Nov., 1900, when a constitution providing for a republican form of government was adopted. Thereupon the United States Congress authorized the transfer of the government, under certain conditions, which were confirmed in permanent treaty between Cuba