CUBA

republic and largest of W. Indian islands (19° 50’-23° 10’ N., 74° 5/-84° 57’ W.), at entrance to Gulf of Mexico, 130 m:> S. of Florida, and separated from Key West by Florida Strait; 730 m. long; breadth, 20-90 m.; gerous for shipping owing to banks and reefs. There are numerous excellent harbors—notably Havana, the cap., one of finest in W. Indies. In the Sierra del Tarquino rises 8,300 ft. These mts. are densely wooded, and contain copper, iron, and other minerals. The largest river is the Cauto (250 m. long), The climate of Cuba is more temperate than other W. Indian islands, and healthy in highlands of the interior. During coldest months (Dec. and Jan.) the temp. ldom falls below 50° F., and during July and Aug. 83° is about the maximum. The rainy season lasts from May to Oct. Desolating hurricanes are frequent. The agouti or cavy and insectivores are the only indigenous animals, with the exception of the bat. Birds, including migrants from U.S., are very numerous. | \ ) Cuba abounds in luxuriant vegetation, the soil being: exceedingly fertile. Long tracts of forests (embracing an area of 1,250,000 ac.) are rich in mahogany, cedar, ebony, etc. A considerable portion of the island is devoted to cattle breeding. About half the center cultivated land consists of sugar plantations, sugar being the most important product. Tobacco, the second largest product, is grown chiefly in the Vuelta Abajo district. The principal cereal is maize; other products are rice, coffee, cotton, cacao, and tropical fruits. There are copper, manganese, and iron mines; gold is found in small quantities; also asphalt, which is not worked much. Only industries are cigar making and sugar milling. Chief tHe is with U.S. us WEN \ ste a SE: eee. akeey eanaias OEE ane TTT ae Sa ae Dt % 4 Roy I DPrskayees o8ie5 % %% ie C} em “AN e ong “oul S ydosbyay ‘Auedwog S37IN ouumagng esesinuds 2WOS © evousodg Pom OUL nyt t which has coaling stations in the bay of Guantanamo and Bahia Honda. Chief towns are Havana, Santiago, and Matanzas. Two-thirds of inhabitants are whites (mostly of Span. descent). History. — Cuba (sometimes called ‘Queen of the Antilles’) is divided into six provinces, and has been an independent republic since 1902. It was discovered by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, and in 1514 Spaniards settled at Baracoa. Tse natives were immediately subjected, and, under cruel tyranny, speedily exterminated, and negroes were brought in. In 1519 Havana was founded. In 1846 a hurricane swept away 1,872 houses and sank 216 ve els. Cuba progre ed favorably and, being open to the world, carried on a flourishing trade; but wars of| independence occurred in 1868-78, and fn 1895, owing to continued oppre ion by the Spaniards; the U.S. intervened, and as a result of the Span.-Amer. War the island was completely freed of Span. sovereignty in 1898, and held by Americans until 1902. In 1906 an insurrection broke out, and a U.S. Commi ion undertook provisional government till 1909, when a new president a umed office. There is a house of representatives with 114 members; the national congre has 24 members—4 from each of the states. There is a cabinet, consisting of secretaries of state, of justice, of the interior, of public works, of war and marine; of commerce, agriculture, and labor; of sanitation, of charity, of public instruction, and of finance. In January, 1923, the American ministry in Cuba was raised to an emba y, and Major General D. H. Crowder was appointed first American Amba ador. See Mar Cusa. IMG:map181.jpg: