16 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



GENERAL NOTES 



CUBA FOR WINTER RESIDENTS FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT HIGHER 



FOOD PRICES IN THE REPUBLIC 



WINTER HOUSES IN CUBA 



Mr. S. S. Harvey of Havana while a 

 commissioner of the Cuban National Expo- 

 sitions was frequently asked by visitors 

 from the States as to the prospect for 

 securing a pleasant winter home in Cuba, 

 and the chances for engaging a good man 

 to look after their property during their 

 absence also if such a property could not 

 be handled profitably. Mr. Harvev writes 

 that there are many attractive sites on the 

 island, but in the letter he sends he espe- 

 cially alludes to the territory within an 

 hour by trolley or auto from Havana, where 

 there are fine roads as good for autos "as 

 any city street, where there are steam and 

 electric railroads and where there are beau- 

 tiful locations for homes and groves at a 

 reasonable price with titles that are good." 



He writes on these matters as follows : 



"One hundred acres of an al grove will 

 cost $75,000. Forty per cent of this capital 

 would be needed the first year and 20 per 

 cent each during the 2d, 3d and 4th years. 



"It would begin to pay the 5th year. It 

 would require about 130 acres of land 

 for a 100 acre citrus grove, 30 acres for 

 wind breaks, and spaces between them and 

 the fruit trees. 



"There should be expended for a water 

 plant, before anv trees were planted, 

 $8,000 to $10,000. While Cuba has a rainfall 

 of 53 inches annually, a water plant is a 

 necessity at times. The water plant is 

 estimated in the $73,000. 



"The grove, if well located, within wagon 

 reach of Havana's great market, should 

 pay a net income the 5th year of 5 per cent 

 on total investment ; the 6th year S to 12 

 per cent ; the 7th year 12 to IS per cent ; 

 the 8th year 18 to 25 per cent ; the 9th year 

 25 to 40 per cent; the 10th year 40 to 60 

 per cent. The property would then be 

 worth from $4,000 to $5,000 per acre. 



"Every dollar of the $75,000 can be 

 properly and economically spent on such 

 a property as is outlined above. And it 

 would make a splendid property." 



'As regards the care of the property dur- 

 ing the owner's absence, IVIr. Harvey writes 

 that a thoroughly competent man is too 

 expensive for a small place, but "as there 

 are some thousands of Americans here who 

 have had from six to twelve years expe- 

 rience in raising agriculture and horticul- 

 tural products, it is not at all difficult to 

 find competent men to care for orange 

 groves, gardens — both vegetable and flower 

 — animals, fowls, etc." 



HIGHER FOOD PRICES 



The department of statistics published 

 a pamphlet in which it shows that the cost 

 of living has increased in Cuba about 60 

 per cent since 1904. The following table 

 shows the prices per commercial unit in 

 1904, 1908 and 1912: 



Article — 1904 1908 1912 



Rice $3.00 $3.75 $4.70 



Lard 10.50 13.70 17.85 



Salt 1.94 2.23 2.63 



Flour 6.88 7.17 7.67 



Chick Peas 7.86 S.ll 8.60 



Beans 3.85 4.15 4.75 



Peas 4.80 5.00 5.55 



Olive Oil 8.00 9.51 12.50 



Bacon 10.00 11.00 13.00 



Cofifee 20.00 23.76 30.00 



Potatoes 2.65 3.00 3.25 



Vermicelli 4.50 4.87 5.25 



CUBA S BAND OF MERCY 



This organization was founded by Mrs. 

 Jeanette Ryder and maintains a refuge for 

 abandoned animals in the city of Havana 

 and is one of the most effective humane 

 societies in existence, says Our Dumb 

 A)ii)iials. Boston. This fearless and de- 

 termined woman has devoted her time, 

 strength and means to the suppression of 

 bull-fighting and other cruel customs that 

 characterized the Cuba of the past. The 

 influence of the Band of Mercy in pre- 

 venting cruelty is felt daily throughout the 

 republic. 



Mrs. Ryder's work is not confined to the 

 rescue of animals and the prevention of 

 cruelty to them ; it also includes the care 

 of children and sometimes of helpless 

 adults. To help the poor sick babies, she 

 has recently offered her house as a place 

 for a free clinic. 



When the bubonic plague struck Havana, 

 last July, thousands of cats and dogs were 

 thrown out by their owners for fear of 

 the fleas carried in the fur. Many of these 

 animals would have suffered starvation had 

 it not been for the merciful ministry of the 

 refuge. 



This institution often receives as many 

 as fifty animals a day. Its services have 

 recently been offered gratuitously to the 

 Sanitary Department of the city, whose 

 employees bring in diseased animals. 



Nicholas Perez Stable, Cuban consul to 

 Galveston, has been transferred to Halifax. 



