30 



THE CUBA R !•: \ I I-: W 



SUGAR CENTRALS OF MATANZAS PRO\^INCE 



NEW MACHINERY TO BE INSTALLED IN MANY MILLS MORE ATTENTION 



GIVEN TO IMPROVING LIVE STOCK 



llie Mantanzas correspondent of La 

 Liiclia of Havana writes as follows of the 

 great sugar district of Alatanzas Province: 



A little wliile ago — along in the spring 

 of 1911 — w-e said the canefields were look- 

 ing good, the canes were growing fast, 

 and that we were to have a good zafra 

 this year. Along in the following fall we 

 ohserved that hecause heneficial rains had 

 not fallen as usual, or hecause the fields 

 themselves were not well cultivated, it 

 looked as though the cane had ceased to 

 grow, and we began to hear commentaries 

 on premature estimates and a lot more 

 about cane quedada to the very great 

 detriment of the present crop. 



This crop came on. The canes were 

 large, especially the spring canes, but their 

 density was low and a great bulk of cane 

 had to be ground to get sugar. Recurrent 

 rains made transportation difficult. Some 

 centrals had to stop frequently. More- 

 over, some did not grind at all — like Xueva 

 Luisa and Santa Rita in this district. 



This threw an extra lot of work on 

 other centrals like Tinguaro and Mercedes, 

 which, despite their great size have had to 

 ask help. They have had to pass on part 

 of their cane and every wheel of rolling- 

 stock is kept humming and yet they can't 

 get ahead of requirements. Colonos are 

 displeased because they fear some of their 

 cane will be left unground. 



It is rumored that the colossal Santa 

 Rita de Baro (.}S,000-bag mill at its best, 

 some years ago) will not remain idle 

 longer than this year. This estate com- 

 prises hundreds of caballerias of land of 

 its own to which must be added many 

 colonias well covered with cane, like Santa 

 Barbara, belonging to Sr. Zumalacarregui, 

 Sr. Peruvana's and Tadeo Brothers', to 

 a great number, all cultivated in modern 

 style with all kinds of fertilizers and yield- 

 ing millions of arrobas of cane. Santa 

 Rita's present owners, Messrs Guma & 

 Soler, see all this : they are young and 

 have money — and it wouldn't be strange 



if Santa Rita grinds next year in all her 

 old splendor. 



It ought to be so, for the factory stands 

 in fine location on the Colon plain, where, 

 with motor plows like Tinguaro's, much 

 and good land can be made to produce ; 

 there are many excellent means of commu- 

 nication and road transportation to every 

 possilde point. 



Central Mercedes is running two sets of 

 crushers, and turning out 1,.">"0 bags at 

 ;»G-degrees per diem. Production has so 

 increased, and tonnage, owing to the use 

 of fertilizers, that hereafter other mills 

 will have to pattern after this factory. 



Central Tinguaro is making plans to 

 place more machinery as Mercedes has 

 hers, and so be able to double the work 

 done. This duplicating of old centrals 

 is equivalent to the erection of new ones. 



San Ignacio and Union are grinding 

 well, doing monstrous days' work ; they 

 are forcing themselves to the utmost be- 

 cause of the immense quantity of cane 

 available. The latter, which was the first 

 mill to grind in all this region, has had 

 no mishaps. This estate owns a lot of 

 high-bred livestock, especially horses. 



Central Aranjo has gone in for thorough- 

 bred horned cattle. This factory is turn- 

 ing out a lot of sugar with fewest em- 

 ployees possible. Mr. Oscar Rissech is 

 owner here. 



Live stock e.xhibits at recurrent exposi- 

 tions is encouraging estates, like Santa 

 Gertrudis and that owned by Messrs. 

 Lezama, to improve their live stock and 

 they find the improved breed does good 

 work. 



Don Pedro .Arrieta, at Ceiba Sola 

 Perico, goes in for Jerseys : he has a model 

 stable and a spotless dairy and silo. His 

 cows are full bred, half and three quarters. 



Durham is a popular breed : there are 

 348 head around here and crossed they 

 have produced what is locally known as 

 Durham-Creole. There are also more 

 special plantings in the province of native 

 and foreign fruits. — Louisiana Planter. 



A NEW SUGAR CENTRAL IN TUNAS 



The initial purchase of lands for the new 

 sugar mill, which will be built within the 

 municipality of Victoria de las Tunas in 

 Oriente Province, was made a few days 

 ago, says La Liic/ia of Havana. One of 

 the principal pub?cribers is Sr. Marques de 

 San Miguel de .Arguayo. The extent of 



tlie initial purchase comprises 611 caballe- 

 rias, formerly owned by Sr. Pedro Gallo. 

 It is also stated that within a very short 

 time there will be a further purchase made 

 of l.;,000 additional caballerias. The new 

 mill is to bear the name of Dumanueco 

 and will cost $2. (100,000. 00 : this will be in- 

 creased if it is found necessary to enlarge 

 the actixities nt the mill. 



