er of normal
increase, plus the 58,842 actual decrease, may be taken as representing
the loss through the war. It will also be observed that the loss of
population was in the three western provinces, where the Spanish most
held sway during the war, and that there was no loss but a considerable
increase in the three eastern provinces, which were largely controlled
by the Cubans. The population by sexes and race was as follows:

Male 815,205
Female 757,592

Native white 910,299
Foreign white 142,098

Negro 234,738
Mixed 270,805

Chinese 14,857

The report of citizenship was:

Cuban 1,296,367
Spanish 20,478
In suspense 175,811
Other aliens 79,525
Unknown 616

The total number of illegitimate children, of all ages, was 185,030; a
discreditably high number, attributed largely to the former expensive
marriage system. The statistics of education were distressing. The
number of children under ten years of age who were attending or had
attended school was only 40,559, and the number who had not attended was
316,428. The number of persons ten years old and over who could read and
write was only 443,670; those who could neither read nor write were
690,565--an appalling proportion of illiteracy, reflecting most
discreditably upon the Spanish government of the island. The number of
persons of "superior education" in the whole island was only 19,158.

Nor were the statistics of industry much more satisfactory. The
following were the totals for the island:

Agriculture, fisheries and mining 299,197
Trade and transportation 79,427
Manufactures and mechanics 93,074
Professional 8,736
Domestic and personal 141,936
No gainful occupation 950,467

Another supremely important measure which was adopted during the closing
weeks of General Brooke's administration, though its complete working
out was reserved for his successor, was suggested by some of the census
figures which we have just quoted. It was realized that the need of
education was of all Cuban popular needs the most urgent. Accordingly on
November 2, 1899, General Brooke ordered the organization of a new
bureau in the Department of Just