16 THECUBAREVIEW 



consumption of 1,0(10,000 barrels. Notwithstanding that this company's plant is dis- 

 advantageously located — being several miles from its supply of raw material, which is 

 carted to the river, loaded on scows and floated down to the plant, thereby greatly 

 increasing the cost of its raw material — it has proved very prolitable on account of 

 the protection afforded its product by the high customs tariff and the freight rate on 

 cement from producing countries to Cuba. The factory turns out a very good grade 

 of Portland cement, which finds a ready market at prices equal or slightly below those 

 of the imported article. 



Havana prices and freight and duty charges are given by Consul Starrett as follows : 



The price ranges from $2.40 to $2.80 United States currency per barrel, delivered, in 

 large quantities up to about $3 per barrel in small lots, the New York export price 

 governing at all times. 



The Cuban duty on cement from the United States is 30 cents per 100 kilos. There 

 being ISO kilos (39G pounds) per barrel, the duty is therefore 54 cents per barrel; the 

 port-improvement tax on each barrel is 16 cents, and the freight rate from New York 

 to Havana is 35 cents ; to Matanzas, 40 cents ; to Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos, 

 50 cents ; and to Manzanillo and Guantanamo, 63 cents per barrel. In the production 

 of cement in Cuba coal is more expensive than in the United States, while wages for 

 certain classes of labor are much lower. 



As to the relative merits of the different cements used in Cuba, it can be said that 

 the Almendares cement is considered to be nearly equal in grade to the American 

 product, and the price is about the same, or in some periods slightly less. The European 

 cement is not considered to be as good as the American, lAit the lower price at which 

 it is sold enables it to find a limited market. 



A list of the cement importers of Havana and other Cuban cities appears in the 

 World Trade Directory, issued by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce at 

 Washington. 



Cubas' Imports of Brick and Roof Tiles 



Baldosas (square tile) — 1909-10 1910-11 



United States, P. C 13,139 8,468 



Germanv, P. C 97 7,661 



Belgium, P. C 6,313 5,016 



Spain, P. C 683,705 658,606 



France, P. C 1,248 16 



Great Britain, P. C. 2,374 



Ladrillos (brick tile) — 



United States, kilos 1,244,838 140,844 



Germanv, kilos 14,316 



Spain, kilos 1,844,317 3,457,341 



France, kilos 36,586 



Great Britain, kilos 12,700 



Tejas (roof tiles) — 



United States, P. C 8,095 3,524 



Germany, P. C 31,438 



Belgium, P. C 148,766 8,614 



Spain, P. C 633,475 464,311 



France, P. C 4,244,818 2,568,069 



latly, P. C 358,890 



Cubas' Cement Imports 



During the fiscal years 1909-1910 and 1910-11 the latest available official statistics re- 

 garding Cuba's importation of cement show a total of 649,766 barrels in the former year 

 and 854,806 in the last named period. The countries which supply the republic's needs are 



herewith given : 



1909-10 1910-11 



United States 576,391 756,920 



Germanv 1,954 8,811 



Austria 834 



Belgium 43,233 52,96] 



Spain 1,645 307 



France 18,505 33,666 



Great Britain 7,088 1,289 



