Produced by Chuck Greif, Broward County Library and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net The etext replicates the original book. Some obvious typographical errors have been corrected; a list follows this etext. The author’s incorrect and varied spellings of Spanish has not been corrected, modernized or normalized. [Illustration: FRANCISCO DE FRIAS One of the foremost agricultural and economic scientists of his time, Francisco de Frias y Jacott, Count of Pozos Dulces, was born in Havana on September 24, 1809, and died in Paris, France, on October 24, 1877. He studied in the United States and Europe, specializing in physics and chemistry, and then sought to devote his genius to the economic welfare of Cuba. He wrote notable works on Cattle Breeding, on Chemical Research, and on Labor and Population. His patriotic spirit provoked Captain-General Canedo to banish him for a time, but on his return as editor of _El Siglo_ he conducted so powerful a campaign for social, economic, political and administrative reforms that the Spanish government was constrained to heed him and to plan new legislation for Cuba. For this purpose it formed a Junta of Information, of which he was a member representing Santa Clara. Upon the failure of that body he wrote a memorable protest against the policy which had compelled that result, and a year later removed to Paris.] THE HISTORY OF CUBA BY WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON A.M., L.H.D. Author of “A Century of Expansion,” “Four Centuries of the Panama Canal,” “America’s Foreign Relations” Honorary Professor of the History of American Foreign Relations in New York University _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS_ VOLUME FIVE [Illustration] NEW YORK B. F. BUCK & COMPANY, INC. 156 FIFTH AVENUE 1920 Copyright, 1920, BY CENTURY HISTORY CO. _All rights reserved_ ENTERED AT STATIONERS HALL LONDON, ENGLAND. PRINTED IN U. S. A. REPUBLICA DE CUBA SECRETARIA DE AGRICULTURA, COMERCIO Y TRABAJO Habana, Cuba, July 11, 1919. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The information in this volume pertaining to Cuba and her natural resources, climate, soil, mines, forests, fisheries, agricultural products, lands, rivers, harbors, mountains, mineral zones, quarries, foreign and domestic commerce, business opportunities, etc., has been compiled under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, and has been verified by the Bureau of Information. It is intended to acquaint the world with the truth and actual facts in regard to Cuba, and for the guidance of those who may be interested. Respectfully, [Illustration: signature] SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE COMMERCE & LABOR. PREFACE