THE CUBA REVIEW 



HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 



H:iv:iiKi, .Inly (5, 1917. 



In our last report \vc referred to the rapid 

 suburban development of Havana. The same 

 thing holds true as regards the business dis- 

 trict of the town, there being a mwnber of 

 new buildings in course of construction and 

 others planned. 



One of the largest, now building, is the new 

 store of the Frank G Robins Co., dealers in 

 office furniture, typewriters and office ac- 

 cessories, at Habana and Obispo streets, the 

 building being about half completed, and that 

 portion now being occupied. The firm of J. Z. 

 Horter, large dealers in agricultural imi)le- 

 ments, etc., has nearly completed their war(>- 

 house and office building at Obisjjoand Officios 

 streets. It is reported that the Royal Bank 

 of Canada has sold its present Havana bank 

 building to the Havana "liolsa" or Stock Ex- 

 change, and that the bank will shortly start 

 erection of a much larger building at Obrapia 

 and Aguiar streets, across from their present 

 location. We also understand the Santa Cata- 

 lina Convent, occupying an entire block on 

 0'.Reilly street, has been sold, and it is the 

 intention to erect a large commercial building 

 upon the site. Among industrial concerns, the 

 plant of the Cuba Tire & Rubber Co. at Puen- 

 tes Grandes is rapidly nearing completion, we 

 having made mention of this company in a 

 previous report. Also a large warehouse and 

 office building is being built for Armour A: Co. 

 on Desamparados street, near the San Jose 

 warehouses, which will be finished about the 

 end of the year. 



Conditions in the Eastern provinces, 

 caused by the revolution last winter, have 

 practically become normal again. The rail- 

 roads have effected repairs to the bridges and 

 tracks which were destoyred by the rebels, 

 and freight and pas.senger traffic is now being 

 operated to all points without interruption. 

 Everything taken together, business in general 

 in Cuba may be considered as good, and sugar 

 quotations are climbing higher. 



The trial by court martial of the Cuban 

 army officers implicated in the revolution, 

 which began on June loth, is still in session. 

 The prosecuting attornej' has asked the death 

 penalty for a number of the leaders and long 

 terms of imprisonment for others, while some 

 will be acquitted. As the Liberal congress- 

 men have been unable to pass a bill granting 

 amnesty to the participants of this revolution, 

 they are now endeavoring to pass a bill abol- 

 ishing capital punishment. 



Havana has, since our last report, experi- 

 enced another strike; which took effect on 

 .lune 19; this time on the part of the cartmen. 

 This was caused by their di.s.satisfact ion with 

 the manner in which shipments destined to in- 

 terior points, were accejjted from them by the 

 railroad company. After the strike had been 

 in effect a few days, the Government placed 

 jKjlicemen on the carts and also furnished a 

 large number of trucks belonging to the 

 Government and the municipality, thus 

 breaking the strike, after which the cartmen 

 went back to their work. 



The i)ineai)ple shipi)ing season, usually at 

 its height during the months of May and 

 June, is now over for the present croj), the 

 movement amounting to approximately 950 - 

 000 crates. Generally about half the entire 

 movement goes via steamer to New York, 

 but this year, the stevedores strike, which pre- 

 vented the exportation of pineapples while it 

 lasted, worked a great hardship on the steam- 

 ship lines. The Cuban All Rail Route, how- 

 ever, were able to carry their northbound 

 shipments without interruption, due to the 

 fact that they brought down empty American 

 cars to be loaded with pineapples northbound 

 in addition to the loaded cars which were 

 returned them after being discharged here. 

 Therefore, the ferry carried by far the largest 

 quantity shipped by any one line. 



More interest than ever has lately been 

 taken in the development of the growing oil 

 industry in Cuba, and new companies are 

 being formed. The Union Oil Co. retains its 

 lead in the matter of actual production, and 

 this has been greatly increased by the "shoot- 

 ing" of one of their welLs. Practically their 

 entire output, we understand, is sold to the 

 West India Oil Refining Co. here, but they 

 are unable to secure from the railroad a suf- 

 ficient mmiber of tank cars to handle their 

 shipments promptly. On the other hand, 

 there is a bill pending in Congress to remove 

 the duty on crude oil, but it is yet too early to 

 say whether same will be passed and be ome 

 a law or not. 



As Cuba has declared herself on the side 

 of the Allies, it has become possible for Ameri- 

 cans living on the Island to organize for the 

 purpose of aiding their home country. All 

 Americans living in Havana liable to conscrip- 

 tive military service have been given an oppor- 

 tunity to register at the United States Con- 

 sulate-General here, and those who desire to 

 avail themselves of the opportunity are re- 

 ceiving military training and target practice 



