24 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



RAILROADS, FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL 



BRITISH INVESTMENTS URGED 



The London Financial Nezvs, in calling 

 attention to the Consular report on the 

 Cuban trade for 1911. says in regard to 

 sugar in Cuba that the area under cultiva- 

 tion continues to increase under the stim- 

 ulus given to the industry by the increased 

 demand and consequent high prices of the 

 past two or three years, and it is said that 

 there are still 10,000 square miles of sugar 

 land awaiting development. A very large 

 proportion of the mills is in the hands of 

 Americans, and it is probable that not more 

 than one-third of the mills remains in Cu- 

 ban hands. About £40,000.000 are already 

 invested in the industry, and large syndi- 

 cates are said to be seeking further invest- 

 ments in this sphere. According to the 

 latest information the sugar crop for 1911- 

 12 promises to be over 300.000 tons in ex- 

 cess of that for the preceding year. It is 

 pointed out that the large production and 

 the sale at a higher price than usual will 

 set free a very considerable sum of money 

 for re-investment in the sugar industry and 

 other purposes, a share of which should be 

 gained by the British merchant. 



Since January several propositions of a 

 promising character have been before finan- 

 cers in London, with what result we are un- 

 able to say ; but as in one instance those in 

 Cuba who were introducing the matter of- 

 fered to lay down £50.000, or 20 per cent 

 of the total amount necessary, we should 

 imagine that these proposals have been fa- 

 vorably received. The present disturbances 

 are, of course, disquieting, but, not being 

 deep-seated, should soon pass away ; and as 

 America now has such heavy stakes de- 

 pending on the good fortune and good be- 

 havior of the island, we do not think that 

 she will allow any prolonged and serious 

 disturbances, such as the burning of build- 

 ings and crops, to jeopardize the capital 

 invested. We hope, therefore, to hear that 

 this country has also increased her hold- 

 ings and investments in Cuba, as we be- 

 lieve the island has a bright future before 

 it. — Tropical Life. 



HIGHER DUTIES DESIRED 



Cuba purchases every year several mil- 

 lions of dollars worth of Paris millinery, 

 perfumes, soaps and wines, all of which 

 are classed as luxuries. France on the 

 other hand buys from Cuba only a few 

 hundred thousands of dollars worth of her 

 products, although she produces sugar and 

 tobacco, two products which France buys 

 in enormous quantities from other coun- 

 tries. 



President Gomez accordingly, to secure 



more equitable trade relations, is on the 

 point of sending a message to Congress 

 asking for higher duties on all importa- 

 tions from France. The same retaliation 

 may be exercised towards Spain. 



NEW ATTACHE AT HAVANA 



According to La LiicJia of September 5th 

 Lt. Col. Herbert J. Slocum will be the mili- 

 tary attache at the United States Legation 

 in Havana, succeeding Major Henry A. 

 Barber the present incumbent 



'Col. Slocum is well known in Cuba and 

 is popular. He organized the rural guard 

 in the hrst intervention and was ap- 

 pointed supervisor by provisional Governor 

 Alagoon. 



STREET CAR SERVICE IMPROVED 



Beginning September 3rd the Havana 

 Electric Railway Company placed twenty 

 more cars on every surface line, as the re- 

 sult of a demand made for more cars, which 

 gives Havana the finest street car service 

 of any city of its size. 



The Spanish-American Iron Company has 

 appealed against a fine imposed by the cus- 

 toms authorities of Santiago and desires 

 its remission. 



The company was accused of discharg- 

 ing a number of sailors from one of the 

 company's steamers, leaving them on Cuban 

 soil, but it claims a permission to discharge 

 the seamen was granted by the Nipe Bay 

 customs authorities. 



President Gomez signed September 1st a 

 decree granting one year more extension 

 to the Marconi Wireless Company, which 

 now controls the former DeForest System 

 Company at Vedado, Havana. The con- 

 cession will expire on August 1. 1913. 



The Cuban Government has 



Exemption given notice that coupons 



From which shall have been is- 



Duty sued, letters of exchange, 



checks, and other commer- 

 cial paper made out to a definite order, and 

 likewise diplomas, medals, and certificates 

 actually conferred by an exposition, acad- 

 emy, or similar institution, not specially 

 provided for in the customs tariff and not 

 imported as articles of commerce, will be 

 exempt from the payment of customs du- 

 ties. Similarly various other private docu- 

 ments, such as building plans, are exempt 

 from customs duties. 



