miles, the largest of the provinces, has a population of 272,379 (157,980 white and 114,399 black), and not only possesses all the agricultural products found in the other provinces, but also has deposits of gold, iron, copper, zinc, asphalt, manganese, mercury, marble and alabaster, rock crystal, and gems, and its commerce is most extensive. There are 115 cities and towns in the Island having an estimated population of 200 and upwards named as follows: In addition to these are 132 places with less than 200 population, including railroad stations, bathing and health resorts, and farm hamlets. As will be observed by the student of municipal nomenclature, the Spanish were liberal to Cuba in christening the towns in the Island, however parsimonious the mother country was in respect of all other things; and many Cuban towns have more name than anything else. The oldest town is Baracoa, in the province of Santiago de Cuba. It was laid out in 1512. Its chief products are bananas, cocoa, and cocoa oil, and there are some remarkable caves near by, noted for beautiful stalactites and well preserved fossil human remains. The largest city in the Island is Havana, the capital, to which a chapter is devoted elsewhere in this volume. |