THE CUBA It E V I I D W 



HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 



October 28th, L919. 



CONGRESS: On a call from the President, the Cuban Congress mel on October 

 15th in special session Cor the sole purpose of considering the Treatj of Peace, and iiiis 

 subject is still under consideration a1 the presenl writing. 



CUBA'S FOREIGN TRADE: The newspapers publish figures given out by the 

 statistical section of the State Department, showing thai the foreign commerce of «'uba 

 for the fiscal year 1918-19 amounted to $794,242,578, of which sum imports were 

 valued al $315,587,167, exports $477,221,863, and re-exportations $1,433,548. 



The fiscal year mentioned showed a gain of $110,493,083 over that of 11 M 7-18, 

 which amounted to $683,748,895. 



Custom House collections for the past fiscal year were $39,546,650.90, as against 

 $39,489,004.55 for the previous year. 



Sugar was naturally the most important single item of Cuba's foreign com- 

 merce. During 1918-19 there were 37,000,000 tons of cane ground, which is equiva- 

 lent to 4,100,000 tons of sugar, as against 31,413,710 tons of cane, producing 3,533,000 

 tons of sugar, for the previous year. 



POSTAL RATES: Effective October 11th, the postal rates on first-class matter 

 were reduced from 3c to 2c per ounce, and on postal cards from 2c to lc, these being the 

 rates in effect formerly. 



SMALLPOX: The Health Department of Havana has ordered compulsory vaccina- 

 tion of all inhabitants, due to some thirty odd cases of smallpox which have broken 

 out in Havana during the present month, originating with immigrants from Spain. 

 The authorities state they have the situation well in hand and do not look for much 

 further spread of the disease. 



In Spanish times smallpox was considered endemic here, but since then Havana., 

 has been free from this plague, with the exception of occasional cases among Spanish, 

 immigrants, which are naturally promptly isolated to prevent further propagation. 

 of the disease. 



NEW PRESIDENTIAL PALACE: This building was not finished in time for its. 

 inauguration on October 10th, the anniversary of the "Grito de Yara," one of the- 

 Cuban national holidays, but it is now reported that the edifice will be dedicated; 

 on New Year's day. 



AIRPLANE SERVICE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA: Last 

 month mention was made of the formation of the Gompania Cubana Americana de 

 Aviacion, whose English name is given as "Cuban American Aircraft Corporation." 



About the same time a representative of the United States Post Office Depart- 

 ment made a short visit to Havana for the purpose, according to the papers, of in- 

 vestigating the question of establishing a mail aeroplane service between the two 

 Republics, but on his return north the newspapers reported that he had stated that 

 nothing definite would be done at present in this respect, but that he understood 

 private interests in Cuba were preparing to establish such a service. 



The latest development in connection with the airplane service is that Hannibal 

 J. Mesa, a wealthy Cuban resident of Havana, on his arrival from New York en route 

 from France to Cuba, reported that he had purchased several aeroplanes in France 

 which he intended to place in service between Havana and the United States. 



BASEBALL: The Pittsburgh National baseball team arrived here the fore part 

 of October and have been playing a series of games with the Cuban teams, the 

 majority of which they have been winning. 



OIL WELLS: There is nothing new to report in this connection since our last 

 advices other than that drilling is still going on to a certain extent, and also a very 

 small amount of oil is being produced by some of the wells. 



