visitations of 1844. We, therefore, in order to show more clearly our comparative advancement, have condensed the preceding table in periods of five years, viz: Yearly av. of imports Increase during and exports. $30,920,111 36,314,956 49,073,615 50,149,797 Per centage of increase. 5 years. $5,895,745 14.9 per cent. Thus there has been a constant increase for the last twenty years, in some of which it is particularly evident; and it would have been the most remarkable during the latter one but for the unfortunate causes above stated, as then some of our largest sugar estates were formed, and among others the "Alara" of Senor Fulueta, which we believe is not surpassed by any where the cane is cultivated. The internal administration of this colony is adapted to the peculiar wants of the country, as regards the social condition of its heterogeneous inhabitants. On the one hand, it seeks to maintain firmly that long peace to which Cuba owes her prosperity; while on the other, every possible improvement is introduced in the different branches of the public service. Our government is vigilant in enforcing the correct administration of justice, in increasing the means of education, in removing obstacles to the advancement of agriculture, industry, and commerce; and, moreover, in obtaining such desirable results, no recourse is had to greatly increased, disproportioned, and onerous taxes, which is shown by the following official statement of the public revenue for each of the twenty years above cited, namely, from 1827 to 1848: Let us also view this table, condensed in periods of five years each, viz:— In the table of imports and exports, condensed in periods of five years, we have shown that the increase was 14 per cent, 25, and 2; whereas, in this last table of the revenue for the same years, we see that the increased taxation has only been in the ratio of 1 per cent, 205, and a decrease of 4, thus clearly showing that instead of an augmentation of taxes, proportioned to the growth of our commerce, there has been a diminution, • This amount is not official, but the customs revenue for this year are official, which have served as a base on which to calculate the internal taxes. + Decrease of revenue. and the growing wealth of the country, far from being oppressed with burdensome imposts, has been comparatively relieved from them. Our government has especially in view the improvement of communications with the interior of the island, and to this end has dedicated a portion of the public revenue, appropriations have also been made for increasing the number of bridges, light-houses, &c. It is still, however, true, that our public roads are not yet as good as they might be wished; but it is not less true that perfection therein has only been reached, even in old settled countries, after long and continued study and practice. Our administration has done much in stimulating the spirit of association for the purpose of building railroads, and was the first to construct at its own expense the road to Guines, thus proving the possibility and utility of introducing among us this means of conveyance. That the example was not lost, let the following list of the present railroads of Cuba testify: When commenced. RAILROADS CONSTRUCTED IN THE ISLAND OF CUBA. Subscribed Miles Capital by the Junta constructed. invested. de Fomento. Names of the Roads. 1,000,000 102,000 1840.. 24 600,000 50,000 1843. St. Jago de Cuba to the copper mines 9 620,000 1848.... 20,000 1848.... Nuevitas to Puerto Principe... Remedios to Caibarien§..... In progress of While on this subject, we would remark that the greater part of these roads pass through those districts most cultivated with the sugar cane, the most important branch of the agricultural wealth of Cuba; that the rates of freight are moderate, and yet sufficient to yield good dividends to the stockholders; that the cost of transportation of our products has been reduced; that these roads, joined with the steamboats which connect our sea-ports with each other, enable planters who live in our cities to make more frequent visits to their estates, and thus take immediate advantage of the state of the markets for their crops; and, finally, that the prosperous result of these enterprises have produced others of a similar nature, to which our administration has cordially lent its approbation and the aid of the public funds. Let us review the progress of our roads during this year, and, as the most important, we advert to the union of the Havana with the Matanzas road (la Sabanilla) at "Tienda de Reyes;" this will soon be followed by a junction with the Cardenas road, and when this result is obtained, the three principal cities on the north side of the western department, namely, Havana, Matanzas, and Cardenas, will be united together by a quick mode of communication. The Havana road was bought from the government by a company (as before stated) under the obligation to finish it at a certain time. This year it This road was finished as far as Guines, 51 miles, by the Royal Junta de Fomento, and sold by them in 1842 to a company for $3,500,000. There is also a branch of this road to Guanajay, 14 miles in length, which will be completed in 1849. The "Junta de Fomento" has loaned to this road during the present year $146,500, at 5, 6, 7, and 8 per cent interest per annum, at a long credit. This company has been formed with a capital of $62,000. This last road is already partly laid out, and a great part of the stock already taken. was completed as far as contracted for, and within three years of the time stipulated. During this period, twenty-three miles were laid of the thirtyseven which comprised the prolongation of the road to where it meets the Sabanilla or Matanzas line, in the same year the Bermeja station was opened, and lastly the Union station was reached on the 24th of November, when we date the connection of Havana with Matanzas by railroad. During the last twelve months eight miles of the branch to Guanajay were graded, which reached Cuba del Agua, and it is probable that by the end of next April the road will be opened to this village, and finished to Guanajay about the end of June next. The company's material for transportation consists of thirteen locomotives, nine first class cars, six of the second class, twelve of third class, and 410 freight wagons. From the 1st October, 1847, to the end of September, 1848, 133,886 passengers were conveyed over this road and its branches, 175,678 boxes sugar, 371 hhds. sugar, 2,260 casks molasses, 4,312 pipes of rum, 5,018 bags coffee, 45,414 bales of tobacco, 1,588 wagon loads of corn, 2,770 wagon loads of plantains, 1,282 wagon loads of malojas, 3,470 hogs, besides various merchandise. There are 108 miles in operation, and by the middle of next year (1849) there will be 1223, including the Guanajay branch. This line and its branches traverse a rich country, consequently it must be very profitable; but what in our opinion will most benefit it is its union with the Matanzas road, and the junction of this latter with the Cardenas and Jucaro, in accomplishing which the directors have shown much intelligence and activity. THE SABANILLA ROAD. This enterprise has made some progress this year, both in effecting its juncture with the Havana line, and advancing to meet the Cardenas road. That part comprised between the village of Sabanilla and Tienda de Reyes has been put in operation; at this latter place is a station called "La Union," as it here unites with the Havana road. The work here presented many difficulties on account of the heavy grading to be done after leaving the village of Sabanilla; ravines had to be filled up in many places with masonry, and hills to be leveled or cut through. Bolondron is the next station beyond Reyes, and this also was reached during the year, as the formation of the land offered less impediments to the work, thus making eleven miles of the road completed this year. In March next (1849) it will be finished to the station of Guira, and it is thought that in May it will be in operation to Navajas, where it joins the Cardenas line. The gross earnings of the road for the year ending 31st October last were $151,780 Net earnings... . . . 65,295 $86,485 The freight transported amounted to 116,930 boxes sugar, 24,923 hhds. molasses, and 1,475 hhds. Muscovado sugar. 48,014 passengers passed over the road, and such has been the increase since its connection with Havana, that the number of passengers for the next year are estimated at 80,000. COLISEO RAILROAD. This road was completed this year as far as contemplated when first projected; a portion of it was opened on the 3d February, but the whole was not in operation until the month of June; consequently the company was not able this year to carry one-half the freight that will in future be conveyed over this road, which will be one of the most productive on the island, notwithstanding its heavy cost, owing to the unfavorable topography of the country. From February to November, the business of the road was as follows:-39,679 boxes sugar, 1,520 hhds. Muscovado sugar, 5,131 hhds. molasses, 2,198 bags coffee, 222 bags corn, 477 pipes rum, and 15,354 passengers, which yielded an income of $55,409. The capital invested for cost of the road, locomotives, cars, depots, &c., amounts to $1,000,000. JUCARO RAILROAD. The branch to Banaguises has been finished this year, a distance of nine miles, over which has been freighted a large quantity of the sugar produced on the colossal estates which line this road, to hold which a large depot, built of stone, has been constructed. The number of freight wagons on the whole road has been increased to 150, and the passenger cars in proportion. There was carried over the road this year 149,681 boxes sugar, 19,746 hhds. molasses, 13,921 passengers, which, with sundry merchandise besides, have yielded $242,699, and enabled the company to make a divided of ten per cent. NUEVITAS AND PUERTO PRINCIPE RAILROAD. According to the latest advices we have received of this important road, it was finished to within six leagues of the latter city, and a portion already is in operation. We look forward to its completion in a short time. STEAMERS. On the north side of the island four excellent steamers maintain an almost daily communication between Havana, Matanzas, Cardenas, and El Jucaro, and once a week one of them extends its trip to Sierra Morena and Sagua la Grande, while another visits Cabanas and Bahia Honda. On the south side two boats leave, periodically, Batabano for St. Jago de Cuba, touching at the intermediate ports, and another steamboat leaves for the Vuelta de Abajo, to the westward of Batabano. In regard to foreign countries, we have also periodical communications with Europe, New York, Charleston, New Orleans, the Antilles, Vera Cruz, La Guaira, Chagres, and with the Pacific via the latter port. AGRICULTURE. The production of our agriculture is yearly increasing. This is indisputably proved by the statistics of exports, though one of the branches which formerly constituted a good portion of our agricultural wealth has fallen into decay, and becoming daily more abandoned, especially in the western department. But this creates no surprise to us, for it was foreseen and announced years ago. Meanwhile the capital and labor formerly bestowed on this article (coffee) have been transferred to the sugar cane and tobacco, thus explaining, partly, the increased production of the latter staples, which will constantly increase as the formation of new plantations for them are constantly multiplying. It is thus we account for the great crop of 1847, of 1,274,811 boxes sugar, 9,309,506 pounds of tobacco, 244,812,000 segars. The uncertainty of our crops is sometimes considerable, as, for instance, the sugar crops of 1844 and '45. But that was owing to the great hurricane and drought, the effects of which were felt even in the following year. This, also, was the case with the tobacco crop of last year, as was apparent in the decreased exports of that staple during the present year. But these are accidental circumstances, which do not disprove what we have above advanced, and we invite, therefore, the reader's attention to the following table : And, as regards the present year, we refer to the following table, compris ing the total exports from the island for eleven months, ending with November last : STATEMENT OF THE EXPORTS OF THE CHIEF PRODUCTS OF THE ISLAND FROM ALL PORTS OF ENTRY, TAKEN FROM THE MONTHLY RETURNS OF THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. Total.... 1,210,917 708,491 205,559 11,909 4,647,787 146,239 571,826 NAVIGATION. Our foreign commerce has naturally suffered from the political convulsions of Europe, which, by checking the usual demand, have produced low prices during the last year. The following is a table of the arrival and departure of vessels from Cuba from January 1st to November 30, 1848: LIST OF VESSELS ENTERED AND CLEARED FROM ALL PORTS OF THE ISLAND, FROM JANUARY 1ST TO NOVEMBER 30, 1848. This statement, compared with the last year, shows an apparent falling off, although it does not include the month of December. In 1847, the arrivals at our ports amounted to 3,740, and there sailed thence 3,346; whereas, during the eleven months of 1848, the arrivals were only 2,751, and the departures 2,726, as by the table. But let it not be thought that this decreased number of vessels shows a diminution of our commerce; were it so, how could we explain the fact that our exports were so large in 1848, in fact, little short of the previous year; for although there was a falling off in coffee, |