10 THE CUBA REVIEW 



The use of crude oil for fuel purposes is on the increase and it is stated that the 

 United Rys. will arrange to use crude oil instead of coal for their locomotives. The 

 Regla Coal Co., one of the largest importers of coal here, who have a conti-act for 

 supplying the railroads with coal, have recently changed their name to Regla Coal & 

 Oil Company of Cuba, and they are putting up storage tanks on their property for 

 the purpose of importing crude oil and supplying consumers here. 



NEW OIL REFINERY: The Cuban Motor Spirits Co. has been formed with a 

 capital of $1,000,000 for the purpose of erecting and operating a refinery for the 

 production of gasoline near the neighboring town of Marianao. It is stated that 

 crude petroleum will be brought here in tank cars belonging to the new company and 

 an output of 5,000 gallons daily is expected. The only other refinery of gasoline in 

 Havana is the plant of the West India Oil Refining Co. located at Belot in Havana 

 Bay, which is operated by the Standard Oil Co. They have been unable at various 

 times in the past to furnish a sufficient quantity to take care of the demands of this 

 locality. This new plant is now in course of construction but we have not learned 

 when it is expected to begin actual operation. 



PROPOSED ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL PARK: The newspapers report 

 an offer made by Senora Rosalia Abreu, who has a magnificent estate at Palatino, on 

 the outskirts of Havana, to set aside a large tract of her land for the city on condition 

 that they spend the necessary money in making improvements and agree to establish 

 a zoological and botanical park thereon. The City Council has not yet accepted the 

 offer but the matter is receiving consideration at their hands. 



STRIKES IN HAVANA: In our December letter we gave details regarding the 

 general strike which occurred in Havana the forepart of that month. We had re- 

 ported previous strikes on the part of various union labor organizations, and also 

 have since made mention of later strikes. As a matter of fact, during the past six 

 months, there has hardly been a time but what Havana has suffered from a strike 

 of some sort. 



The most serious one, however, was the general strike here which began at mid- 

 night on March 4th and lasted for an entire week, which strike later extended to 

 other ports in Cuba, although we understand they were not general strikes and did 

 not inconvenience the public in general as much as was the case in Havana. 



This general strike was again a sympathetic one on account of the lockout which 

 had been in effect for some time on the part of the builders and contractors of 

 Havana against the brick masons, carpenters, etc., due to the former being unable 

 to reach a satisfactory understanding with the latter in regard to hours of work, pay, 

 etc. It is not necessary to give details of how Havana lived during this week of 

 general strike as this would largely be a repetition of what we reported in connection 

 with the former one. The street car company was allowed to run one car each on 

 their different lines, but such a service could not accomplish much. While the public 

 automobiles and coaches were not operated, most of the private chauffeurs continued 

 to work and the strewing of large tacks over the streets, as was done during the last 

 strike, was repeated, although some ingenious owners attached brooms directly before 

 the front wheels of their cars which swept the ground, thus preventing punctures. 



Sunday, March 9th, was the second Carnival Sunday but the parade was called 

 off on account of the strike. There were no races held at the racetrack for eight days 

 as a result of the strike and the meet will, therefore, be extended accordingly, thus 

 running over into the month of April. Tourists were again greatly incommoded by 

 the strike and some returned by the following steamer while others made the best 

 of it. During the former general strike in December the absence of ice was not so 

 much felt, but during the present warm weather ice is practically a necessity in 

 Havana but there is none. The garbage collectors and street sweepers also struck, 

 with the result that there was no collection of garbage, and an endeavor to burn it 



