THE CUBA REVIEW 



RAILROAD AND COMMERCIAL NEWS 



(Contiiuu'dy 



RATES ON WATERPROOF FOOTWEAR 



During the preparation of Tariff Series 

 No. 27, Customs Tariff of Cuba, the ques- 

 tion arose whether waterproof fabrics, 

 when originating- in the United States, 

 were entitled, by virtue of the reciprocity 

 treaty of December 11, 1902, to the reduction 

 provided for manufactures of the component 

 fibers (.30 per cent in the case of cotton and 

 40 per cent in the case of sill-c and wool), or 

 to the general reduction of 20 per cent 

 provided for articles not specifically named 

 in the treaty. An inquiry whs accordingly 

 instituted, through diplomatic channels, as 

 to which treatment was actually applied. 



In reply, it is pointed out by the Treasury 

 Department of Cuba, under date of Xo 

 vember 23, 1911, that heretofore, by virtue 

 of a precedent established in the custom- 

 house of Havana, a reduction of 20 per cent 

 was applied, but that in the future a re- 

 duction of 30 per cent will be accorded to 

 waterproof fabrics of cotton, and of 40 per 

 cent to waterproof fabrics of wool or silk. 

 The reduction applies to all articles coated 

 with rubber on one or both sides, as well 

 a3 to those with an interior lining of rubber. 



MORE SPANISH FOOTWEAR IMPORTED 



Francisco Pons, of Pons & Co., well- 

 known shoe wholesalers, of Havana, re- 

 cently made his annual visit to Boston. 



In the course of a statement made to 

 the secretary of the New England Shoe 

 and Leather Association, says a Boston 

 contemporary, Mr. Pons said that business 

 conditions in Cuba are somewhat unsettled 

 just at present on account of the approach- 

 ing elections next year, but that the plant- 

 ers have been quite encouraged over the 

 size of the sugar crop this season and the 

 relatively high prices obtained for their 

 product. 



He said that American boots and shoes 

 are about holding their own in Cuba, but 

 that there is a noticeable increase in the 

 importations of hand-made Spanish foot- 

 wear. There has been no recent revival of 

 the talk of changing the tariff on shoes or 

 the establishment of additional shoe fac- 

 tories in the island. 



The Royal Bank of Canada has opened 

 a new branch at Ciego de Avila, Camaguey 

 Province. 



ALL AFTER CUBAN TRADE 



Richmond, \'a., proposes to reach out for 

 trade beyond the waters. For the past two 

 years or more business people have been 

 watching the development of Cuba. 



The Richmond Chamber of Commerce 

 for at least two years has been looking for 

 an outlet for Riclimond to this rich tropical 

 region. 



Urging Memphis, Tenn.. merchants to 

 establish closer trade relations with Cuba, 

 Antonio M. Rivero, Cuban envoy to the 

 United States, has written a letter to James 

 S. Warren, industrial commissioner, on the 

 matter. 



Sehor Rivero wrote that owing to the 

 fact that river navigation would naturally 

 increase and facilities for shipping by 

 water be improved when the Panama Canal 

 was opened, it was now time for Mem- 

 phis business men to investigate trade con- 

 ditions in Cuba with a view of establish- 

 ing closer relations. 



The Chattanooga (Tenn.) Manufac- 

 turers' Association will send about 200 

 representatives on January 27th to Cuba 

 on the invitation of the president and vice- 

 president of Cuba, Governor of Havana 

 Province and Mayor of Havana. 



There are about twenty-five firms in the 

 Manufacturers' Association which do an 

 export business. The exact volume is not 

 known, but Chairman J. W. Rawlings, 

 Cuban consul, of the export committee, is 

 of the opinion that it amounts to three- 

 quarters of a milHon dollars yearly. Many 

 thousands of dollars in Chattanooga 

 go to Cuba every month. 



Indiana manufacturers, numbering 130, 

 will include Havana in the trade extension 

 trip to be made through the Southern 

 States under the auspices of the Indiana- 

 polis Trade Association next February. 



Three days will be spent in Cuba investi- 

 gating trade conditions and developing ex- 

 port isusiness. D. A. Skinner, a representa- 

 tive of the Bureau of Manufacturers of the 

 Department of Commerce and Labor at 

 Washington may accompany the Indiana 

 party to Cuba. 



The Cuba Railroad Company has declared 

 an annual dividend of 2 per cent on its 

 non-cumulative 6 per cent preferred stock. 

 This is the same as a vear ago. 



WILL USE THE NEW STATION 



All of the railroads entering Havana are 

 to come into the magnificent new Union 

 Station, which is being built by the United 

 Railways of Havana. This has been made 

 possible by the purchase in London of the 

 Western Railway of Havana by the LTnited 

 Railways of Havana. 



