12 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



for Cuba, this being the point on which pressure is being brought to bear by the interests at 

 this end. 



Building operations in Havana and its suburbs show somewhat of a let up of late, one of 

 the principal reasons being the very serious shortage of local brick. This is caused both by 

 the high price and scarcity of American coal. Two out of three of the largest local brick fac- 

 tories have been closed down for this reason. The operations on the site for the new Royal 

 Bank of Canada bank building are going on rapidly, and it is understood that the National 

 Bank of Cuba will shortly start work on the large addition to their present building previously 

 reported. Armour & Co.'s large warehouse and cold storage plant is fast nearing completion 

 and is expected to be ready for occupancy during January. It is reported another bank building 

 will be erected on Obispo Street on the corner of Aguiar St., which is to house the banking in- 

 terests of Pedro Gomez Mena, who is now located on Muralla Street. 



A number of the wholesale dealers in foodstuffs in Havana have organized an automobile 

 trucking company called the Cia. Nacionalde Camiones (National Auto Truck Co.), and have 

 in operation a fleet of about 50 auto trucks of various sizes made by an American manufacturer 

 of the highest grade cars of this class. The operation of these cars is naturally a great deal more 

 expensive than in the North as both gasoline and lubricating oil are very high here, the former 

 selling at retail at 47c. a gallon. However, these auto trucks are giving good satisfaction, and it 

 is expected that their use will be largely increased. The merchants interested in this new 

 trucking company have suffered at various times recently from strikes of the cart drivers. In 

 many cases they did not own their own wagons, but contracted to have their carting done for 

 them. Now, having formed this new company and controlling their own auto trucks, they will 

 not suffer in this manner again and present indications are that horse-drawn trucking will be 

 largely done away with in Havana, at least on the part of the principal concerns referred to 

 above. There are also private auto trucking companies in operation, doing business not only 

 in Havana locally, but also between Havana and nearby cities which do not have railroad con- 

 nection, and also some that have, in the latter case thereby coming in direct competition with 

 the steam and electric lines radiating from Havana. 



An idea of the amount of fish and sea food consumed in the Havana market in a single 

 week can be gained from a statement made by the Junta Nacional de Pesca (National Fishing 

 Committee), that for the second week in October the total consumption of all class such as 

 fish, lobsters, crabs, oysters, shrimps, etc., amounted to 225,614 lbs., for which the public 

 paid $35,881. 



The Waterfront, Vedacio, 



