T H E C U B A R E V I E W H 



Administrator, and it is thought that the concentration of such matters in the hands of one 

 man will not only simphfy, but make more effective, the operation of the food laws here. He 

 has gone about his task in an energetic way and results have already been seen towards an 

 improvement of the situation. 



Mondays have been official wheatless days for some months past, although all days might 

 practically be considered as such. Recently, by presidential decree. Friday was made meatless 

 day, but while butchers of course are not allowed to sell meat on that day, yet it has not been 

 generally obser\-ed, as apparently they sell extra quantities on the pre\-ious day, by which 

 many are able to secure a supply for use on Friday. 



Owing to the fact that the -\merican Government has lately permitted hea\-\- importa- 

 tions on the part of the Cuban buyers of footlstuffs, such as lard, as well as dried salt meats, 

 of which there is a large consumption in Cuba; also condensed and evaporated milk, etc., the 

 exportation of which from the Umted States was entireh prohibited at one time, the mer- 

 chants have taken advantage of same and have laid in ven,- laige stocks. As a resul . notwith- 

 standing there have been many additional ships lately assigned to sen-ice between the United 

 States and Cuba, including several of the Dutch ships requisitioned by the American Crotem- 

 ment. import cargoes have arrived in such lots that the whar\-es and warehouses in Havana 

 have been overflowing, and it has been necessan." for the Government to take steps to insist 

 upon the importers promptly despatching and taking away their goods, work to this effect 

 being done on hoUdays and nights, which is ver\- imusual. As a result, however, of these 

 energetic steps the accumulation has been largely reduced. 



One of the products of Cuba, which is quite an important one, although we have not made 

 mention of it heretofore, is alcohol, large quantities of which have been shipped in direct 

 steamers to the Allies for war uses and they are purchasing about all that is offered in the mar- 

 ket. Some criticism has developed in connection with unnecessarj- use of this article here, and 

 the representative of the American Food Administration has pointed out ways in which 

 savings could be effected, one of them being to krgely curtail the manufacture of joerfume, and 

 it is stated he also recommends the bottle factories here be not furnished with coal. Xo re- 

 strictions have as yet been proposed in connection with the manufactuture of ccguac or similar 

 alcohohc beverages corresponding to whiskey in the United States, although there is likely to 

 be a considerable reduction in the native production of beer, as the United States has pro- 

 hibited the exportation of malt. Cuba is entirely dependent upon the neighoring republic for 

 this commodity since the war has shut off her supply from Europe, and as a result the price 

 of this beverage has increased throughout the republic. 



Sugar grinding goes on uninterruptedly and we do not hear so much about cane fires as 

 formerly. It is stated that in the eastern part of the Island heavy rains have interfered with 

 the grinding to some extent. As indicated in a previous rejwrt. the sugar mills are actively 

 agitating the question of being allowed more for their sugar the next crop, and it is confidently 

 beheved that the International Sugar Committee wDl allow same. It being rumored that the 

 increased amount will range fiom } 2c. to Ic. per 100 lbs. There seems no question but that the 

 sugar producers vnl[ not make the profit it was expected they would when the price was fixed. 

 pre\-ious to the grinding of the present crop, this because of the largely increased cost of labor 

 and machineri- and in fact every other factor concerned in the production of this commodity, 

 and as it is understoood that the beet sugai manufacturers in the Umted States will be allowed 

 a higher pnce, the Cuban mills fully believe they vdU. also receive an increase. Shipments 

 of sugai to Mexico, about which considerable discussion arose, as leported in pre\-ioas letters, 

 have since ceased, as the quantity allotted for shipment to the repubUc has been completed. 

 Two Cuban ships belonging to the Empiesa Xa^iera de Cuba, nameh, the "Chapaira" and 

 "Gibara," have been placed at the disposition of th.e United States Crovernment to be used 

 in loading this commodity for American ports. 



An important indiistrs" which has perhaps not received the pubhcit^ it deser^-es is the 

 plant of the Cuban Portland Cement Co. at Mariel. mention of the initial output of which we 

 made in our pre\ious report. This is an Ameiiean company which has built a large plant for 

 the production of cement at Maiiel, having their own whaives, decks, tug, lighters, etc., to 

 bring cement to Havana and other neaiby ports. They have at Mariel sufficiently deep 

 water to allow stesmers to deck and discharge imports or load outbound cargoes of cement. 



