88 COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



SANTIAGO DE CUBA. 

 REPORT J5F CONSUL REIMER. 



In making a report on cotton textiles in this consular district I only 

 refer to this port of Santiago de Cuba and the consular agency of 

 Guantanamo. The Manzanillo and Santa Cruz agencies derive all their 

 supplies of cotton goods from Havana. 



I inclose a translation of the Spanish customs tariff now in force in 

 this island and comprising the whole section of cotton textiles. I also 

 add to this translation the imports into this port during the current years 

 of 1887 and 1888. These statistics I obtained from the local custom- 

 house, which vouches for their correctness with the view of answering 

 question No. 2 of circular. I attempted to acertain the weight per 

 yard of each lot imported, but found this an absolute impossibility, ow- 

 ing to the fact of so many different weights being imported under one 

 Rubric. This is owing to the mode of valuation adopted by the Spanish 

 custom-house. Importations are classed by the number of threads 

 they contain in the space of six millimeters. They are also classed by 

 the weave of the fabric. I have translated the terms " mano y liso" 

 as straight threads ; this means an even weave of perpendicular and hor- 

 izontal threads. The terms " cruzado," which I translate as " crossed," 

 means an irregular weave, the differences of flag being obliterated by 

 our treaty with Spain, which other nations under the most favored 

 nation clause have also claimed and obtained. The tariff is narrowed 

 down to the two columns of "Spanish manufactures" and u foreign 

 manufactures." Notwithstanding the undeniable intention and pur- 

 port of article 5 of the treaty of January 2, 1884, and the memorandum 

 of agreement of September 21, 1887, to place our manufactures and 

 products exactly on the same footing here in the island of Cuba as Span- 

 ish products and manufactures, our imports of cotton textiles are forced 

 to pay under the column of foreign manufactures. This has given, and 

 is giving more and more (vide statistics of exports herewith) an impetus 

 to Spanish manufactures, which no doubt will eventually drive En- 

 glish, French, and German goods out of this market. The duties on for- 

 eign manufactures are calculated on a basis of 29 per cent, ad valorem, 

 with the additional 20 per cent, for certain classes of goods, bringing 

 the duties up to very nearly 36 per cent, ad valorem. Duties on 

 Spanish manufactures are calculated on the basis of 10 per cent., with 

 the additional 20 per cent., as explained above. 



The only cotton textile imported in quantities into this country from 

 the United States is cotton canvas. All numbers from 1 to 12 are 

 imported. The ordinary width is 22 inches, and the selling price 

 here is : No. 1, 45 cents ; No. 2, 43 cents ; No. 3, 42 cents ; No. 4, 40 cents, 

 etc., down to No. 12, with the difference of 2 cents between each num- 

 ber. These quotations are in Spanish gold. The weights it is unneces- 

 sary to give ; suffice it to say No. 4 weighs 34 kilograms per 100 yards. 



