THECUBAREVIEW 15 



The Western Union Telegraph Company lias secured permission from the Presi- 

 dent of Cuba for the laying of a cable between Havana and the Barbados Islands. 

 This company has also secvired permission to lay a cable direct to Miami, Fla., from 

 Havana. Permission was granted and the manifesto signed by the President on 

 June 1, 1920. 



SUGAR: Several more sugar centrals have changed hands during the month, 

 no small number of which were purchased by American capital. Rumor has it that 

 the Hershey interests will acquire Central "Socorro" in the near future. 



Considerable quantities of cane have been planted on new gTound which is ex- 

 pected to be ready for the coming grinding. Although the Cuban sugar crop for 

 this year was considerably short of the estimated outturn, good prospects are held 

 out for the coming season, as the amount of rainfall throughout the Island has been 

 very satisfactory up to date. Several centrals are installing additional machinery 

 and increasing their capacities. Three new centrals in Oriente Province have been 

 projected to grind during the season after this one, and every indication points to a 

 tremendous production of sugar next year and the year after. The question of price 

 regulation does not seem to dampen the ardor of the capitalists interested, and rumor 

 has it that purchases are based on an estimated price of from 6 to 8 cents per pound. 



According to Sr. Stefano Calceavechia, the acquisition of the savings habit will 

 be the salvation of the sugar industry in the future. This authority on sugar esti- 

 mates that the price to prevail for the coming grinding will average between 15 and 

 20 cents. 



Italian immigration is being encouraged for relief to the "Hacendados," as it is 

 frankly admitted that the labor question is a serious one for the cane growers. Italian 

 laborers are peculiarly adapted to the climatic conditions of Cuba and it is thought 

 that if quantities of this class of labor are brought to Cuba it will be a great step 

 in the way of assisting in the harvesting of the coming crop. These laborers are 

 law-abiding, hard-working people and their efficiency is high. They rated third in 

 efficiency on the Panama Canal. 



STRIKES: During the first week of Jime the harbor workers became discon- 

 tented by reason of the fact that the organizations which represent the steamship 

 lines that ply between United States ports and Cuba would not accede to their demand 

 that the "walking delegate" be recognized, and for the time it seemed that a general 

 strike was imminent. The association maintained its position and upon being en- 

 couraged by President Menocal in its stand towards labor, the unions became dis- 

 couraged and decided that the time was inopportune for the calling of a general 

 strike. The men went back to work, having failed to make their point. Work in 

 the bay is now progressing and steamers are being discharged. 



The congestion in the harbor is still acute and immediate relief is not expected, 

 on account of the congested condition of the warehouses in the City of Havana, the 

 very narrow streets which do not permit of a free passage of vehicles, and the 

 inability of the difCerent business houses to despatch their goods through the Custom 

 House under the present Custom regulations. 



The congestion became so acute that a committee composed of representatives of 

 business houses and also of the Rotary Club and the American Chamber of Commerce 

 of Cuba called upon the President with a view to adjusting Custom House regulations 

 to present conditions and facilitating the despatch of merchandise through the Custom 

 House. President Menocal has promised to issue the necessary instructions to the 

 Treasury Department, which will endeavor to eliminate some of the red tape and 

 relieve the situation here. 



