THE CUBA REVIEW 



Footwear.— la order to decide upon standard types of shoes to be adopted by the Cuban 

 Food Administration, as referred to in a recent letter, representatives of that bureau, together 

 with Cuban shoe manufacturers and dealers, forming a mixed commission, went to the United 

 States to decide upon same. As a result of the trip it is stated that contracts have been made 

 for standardized footwear amounting to 140,000 pairs for men, 80,000 for youths, 70,000 for 

 women and 140,000 for children, but as yet none of this stock has arrived here. 



Flour.^ — -For several weeks past there has been a great scarcity of flour in Havana and as 

 a result there has been a corresponding shortage of bread. Witliin the last few days, however, 

 considerable shipments of flour have arrived here and the bakers are again being supplied with 

 flour. 



Benef icencia Asylum.— We are \mable to learn of any further action having been taken 

 since our last letter in connection with the sale of this hospital to private parties and its transfer 

 to another location in the country, although the board of directors still has under consideration 

 various offers to purchase the property. 



Sale of Hotel Sevilla. — -This hotel was sold last month to a Cuban insurance company 

 called "La Cubana, Compania Nacional de Seguros," the price being given as $630,000. The 

 Hotel Sevilla is one of the best in Havana and, in fact, is the only first-class hotel built exclu- 

 sively for that purpose. Possession of the building is to be given to the new owners in De- 

 cember and they -nill then establish their offices in the edifice and rent the remaining space 

 for office purposes. 



"Palacio de Balboa."— Another Cuban insurance company called the "Compania 

 Internacional de Seguros" has purchased the building known as the "Palacio de Balboa,' 

 being the ancient home of the Marqueses de Balboa, consisting of an entire block bounded 

 by Egido, Gloria, Apodaca and Zulueta Streets. The price paid is stated to be $340,000 and 

 it is said that the insurance company purposes erecting an edifice of 8 or 10 stories in which 

 their office will be located, and they will rent the balance. 



Baseball.— Baseball is an all- year-round sport in Cuba. Mter the sale of the Almendares 

 Baseball grounds, to be divided up into suburban lots, the games were generally held at the race 

 track at Oriental Park, Marianao, but as this was rather distant a new baseball park has 

 been completed near the end of the Principe car fine and games are now being held there. The 

 Cuban players who were members of the American teams during the past summer, together 

 with an all-Cuban team which toured the States, having returned after the close of the American 

 season, are playing a series of games on these new grounds. 



Financial.— Due to the high rate of exchange charged by the banks here when issuing 

 checks on New York banks, which rate ordinarily ranges from H to J^%, but recently has gone 

 as high as 2%, many merchants have been making payments in the North by means of postal 

 money orders instead of New York exchange, as at the rate mentioned it woidd cost $2.00 to 

 buy New York exchange for $100, whereas a postal money order only costs 30c. Due to this, 

 a presidential decree has been promulgated increasing the rates charged for money orders, the 

 greatest increase being charged for quantities over $75 and not exceeding $100, which latter 

 is the maximum amount, from the present rate of 30c. to $1.15 and also no person may pur- 

 chase more than $300 in postal money orders in a single day. Domestic money order rates, 

 however, remain unchanged. 



Strike of Harbor Workmen.- — This strike was originally scheduled for last month as 

 neither the workmen nor the steamship fines and warehouse companies, against whom the 

 strike was to be directed, would give in. However, the strike has not yet taken place as it 

 was finally agreed to submit the matter to President Menocal as arbitrator. Both sides have 

 submitted their arguments to him and he still has the matter under consideration. 



The Allies Black List.— In our August letter we gave the Enemy Trading List for Cuba 

 corrected up to July r2th. The War Trade Board here has just issued another list, which is 

 as follows : 



