'IHE AMERICAN COLONIAL HANDBOOK 31S,J cm im^stL COPELAND UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARY a./ii 9 P//0 V American Colonial Handbook A READY RKHERENCH HOOK OK FACTS AND FIGURES, HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPH- ICAL, AND COMMERCIAL, ABOUT . CUBA, PUERTO RICO, THE PHILIPPINES, HAW^^AND GUAM TEE BY OF THOMAS CAMPBELL-COPELAND 0/ l/^ standard D^tioiinru Sta^ I M MARIA SOLTERA AND MA'URICE MAGNUS SECOND EDITION' FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK AND LONDON 1899 3 as: 3 Copyright, 1S99, by FUNK & WAGNAI,I,S COMPANY [Regfistered at Stationers' Hall, England] PRINTED IN THK UNITED STATES ya I'RHFACE, The object of the xVmekican Colonial Handbook is to present, interestingly, on an original plan, and within a convenient limit of size and space, a bird's- eye view of territory ceded or annexed to the United States during 18!J8, or at present in the safe keep- ing of the United States military and naval forces. The most reliable of the world's authorities have been consulted and compared for historical, geo- graphical, and general data. There is a responsible authority behind every statement made, every an- swer given. Random or hearsay assertions find no j)Iace, knowingly, within any of the sections. Numerous historical facts appear now, for the first time, in English. This is also true of much informa- tion under various other headings. The best cyclo- pedic works of continental p]urope yield important historical and geographical data unobtainable from any other source. A list of authorities in English and other langnaages will be found at the end of each section. To Maria Soltera (Miss Mary Lester), and Mr, Maurice Magnus, whose heai-ty cooperation has been continuous during the preparation of this book, great credit is due for skilful, conscientious, thorough labor in the several branches of investigation. Their invaluable aid as translators and compilers, and their good judgment in all matters pertaining to general research and classification, have contributed largely toward securing what, it is hoped, will prove to be satisfactory results. T. C.-C. Neio York, March, 1809. / -C^/O / THE PEA(!E TREATY. SYNOPSIS OF ITS PROVISIONS AVITH REFERENCE TO RELINQUISHMENT AND CESSION OF TERRITORY. 1. Spain renounces all right of sovereignty ovt-r Cuba. 2. Spain cedes to the United States the island of Puerto Rico, and the other islands now vmder her sovereignty in the West Indies, also the island of Guam, in the archipelago of the Marianas or Ladi'ones. 3. Spain cedes to the United States the archipel- ago known as the Philippine Islands, which comprise the islands situated between the following lines: A line which runs west to east near the 20th par- allel of north latitude, across the center of the navi- gable canal of Bachi, from the 118th to the 127th degrees of longitude east of Greenwich. From here to the width of the 127th degree of lon- gitude east to parallel 4 degrees 45 minutes of north latitude. From here following the parallel of north latitude 4 degrees 45 minutes to its intersection with the meridian of longitude 119 degrees :i> minutes east from Greenwich. From here following the meridian of 119 degrees 35 minutes east to the parallel of latitude 7 degrees 40 minutes north. From here following the parallel of 7 degrees 40 minutes north to its intersection with 116 degrees longitude east. From here along a straight line to the intersection of the 10th parallel of latitude north with the 118th meridian east. From here following the 118th meridian to the points whence began this demarcation. American Colonial Handbook SECTION 1. CUBA. HISTORICAL. The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus < )ctober 27, 1492. The natives called it Cuba, but Colum- bus named it Juana, in honor of Don Juan, the son of DISCOVERY Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Altho he visited the OF CUBA island on several occasions, Columbus to the last believed that it formed a part of a large continent. In 1508, Nicolasof Ovando, governorof the island, com- missioned Sebastian of Ocampo, by special mandate from the court of Spain, to survey the coasts of Cuba. This being effected, it was conceded that the island was worthy of being made a colony by reason of its excellent situation and the safety of its ports. A desirable harbor was selected as a repairing dock, and called Carenas, from the Spanish carencir, to repair. This is now known as the port of Havana. In 1511, Don Diego Columbus, son of the discoverer, undertook the conquest of the island and the establish- ment of a colony within it. He gave the command of CONQUEST the expedition and of the troops to Diego Velasquez, one BY SPAIN of the fellow-voyagers of his father. This invading force exceeded three hundred men. An occupation was eflfected, as the natives were unable to resist firearms. Many Indians, refusing to live under Spanish rule, fled to the western extremity of the island. Among these was the Cacique Hatuey, almost the only opjionent of the Spanish expedition, when it disembarked in the port of Palmas, close to Cape Maysi. Hatuey attacked the invaders. Ills forces were defeated and dispersed, and he was taken prisoner. Velasquez, following the custom of the time, regarded his captive as a rebellious slave and condemned him to the flames. CUBA. Apart from this deed, the administratiuu of Velasquez produced satisfactory results in Cuba. Historians agree in recognizing liis great administrative ability. It was under his orders that the island was explored by EXPLORA- Panfllodp Narvaez and Bartolome de las Casas, after- TION OF THE vvard bishop of Chiapas. These commissioners esti- ISLAND mated the population at that time to be 200,000. They reported that nine of the provinces were governed by caciques, and that the majority of the dwellings were composed of guano. In 1514, with the object of peopling the country, Velas- quez created the towns of Santiago, Trinidad, Puerto FOUNDING Principe, and Sancti Spiritus, and, a year later, the port OF CITIES yf gjjn Cristobal de Habana. In 1534—the year in which Velasquez died—Africans were imported into Cuba. It was not, however, until 1547 that extensive busi- ness was transacted in Cuba. With the object of employing negro labor, the exploitation of the copper mines of Escambray and others was imdertaken. The natural indolence of the natives, however, to- gether with the invasion of pirates attracted by the reputation of the excellent copper—which, for a while, was exported to Spain at the rate of 2.000 quintals yearly —entirely closed this industry. In 15.35, the first sugar refinery was established at Havana; another in Guaicanamii (now Regla) in 1598, and others in Cidra and Canemar in 1046. The provinces of the island were, at this time, organ- ized partly by means of grants made to the colonists by FOUNDING OF ^°^^''°°''^ ^^^ Casas, Vasco-Porcays, and others; but PROVINCES *^^® majority were gifts of land which, under the name of Mercedes, were accorded to settlers by municipal councils. The profits of the land were at that time conceded to the colonists as a sole privilege; but in 1819 the holders of these Mercedes became entire proprietors of the soil they occupied. The estate hacienda Guanamon, in 1552, and those of Jumento and JIanicaraga, in 1556, were the first lands acquired by tlie Mercedes grants. In 1729 such grants where entirely prohibited. In 1538, the island suffered greatly from invasions of buccaneers, who, incited by greed, overran with fire and swordtheSpanish possessions in America. The majority DESTRUC- of these were Dutch, French, and English. Their plan TION OF was to seize territory and place it under the protection HAVANA of the country to which they belonged. They made a concerted movement on Havana, invaded the city, and reduced it to ashes. The governor of Cuba, Don Hernando Soto, left the HISTOKICAL. city, placiiif? Don Bartolome Ortiz in command. Tlif blossom of the island suffered severely under Hernando Soto's rule, and by 1500, all Indians were exterminated. De Soto, in 1530, left tlie province on an expedition to Florida, appointing his wife, Inez de Bobadilla, as hi.>; lieutenant, and associating with her as colleague. Juan de Rojas. The con.st ruction of the castle of La Fuerza wa.s l)egun during the same year. It was completed in 1544. In 1589. Don Juan de Tejeda, the first captain general of the island, was installed, with residence at Havana. About thi.s time tlie planting of sugar and tobacco became an important industry in the neighborhood of SUGAR AND Havana. Tobacco, however, had been much cultivated TOBACCO in the middle of the previous cent\iry at Santiago de las PLANTING Vegas. The islanil was still disturbed by tlie invasion of pirates, and although, in 1G04, the aggressive buccaneer C{ir6n had been apprehended and slain by the inhabi- tants of the little town of Yara. this by no means put an end to the depredations of ailventurers. The French pirate, L'Olonois, in 10.58, decapitated ninety-six men who had been sent in a boat to capture him. Morgan, on another occasion, sacked Puerto Principe. Lord Windsor, in 1062, attacked Santiago de Cuba, de.stroying the edifice know as '" Alto de Asuno.'" In 1693, Matan/.as was founded, and was peopled at first by families from the Canary Islands. During the BUILDING OF same year, in 1098. tht; construction of vessels of war WAR was commenced, and in 1772. 125 were completed, two of VESSELS which moimted 120 guns. In 1711, Vernon diseml)arked in the bay of Guantanamo (to which he gave the name of Cumberland); but this invader, in the attempt to capture Cuba, was compelled to re-embark with great loss.