THECUBAREVIEW 21 



USEFUL COMMERCIAL FACTS ABOUT CUBA 



Cuba is far more highly developed tlian any of lier sister West Indian Republics, 

 although tlieir climates, in the main, are very similar to that of Cuba. 



LOCATION FOR AGENCIES 



Havana is generally selected as the city from which all points in the Island are 

 canvassed. It is within easy communication with all the rest of the Republic. At 

 the extreme other end, Santiago occasionally may be useful, particularly where 

 business is highly developed. 



BEST ROUTES 



Havana is easily accessible from the gulf ports, as well as from New York. In 

 Cuba a salesman practically may choose his own route when starting from Havana. 

 Direct rail connection may be had to Cienfuegos, also Matanzas, Santa Clara, Cama- 

 guey and Santiago. The cost of travelling in Cuba is high and the expenses vary 

 materially. They average from .$10.00 to $20.00 daily, including meals and hotel, 

 the first figure being based on a salesman who is careful in his expenses and carries 

 no trunks. The representative who is burdened with many trunks may have to pay 

 from $15.00 to $25.00 per diem. Hotel rates vary as widely as for the miscellaneous 

 accommodations to be found in the United States. For first-class hotels (the only 

 ones to which representatives should go) the rates are higher in the larger cities 

 than in those of less importance. They may be safely estimated at from $7.00 to 

 $18.00 per day, including meals. 



BEST TIME FOR VISIT 

 In any part of Cuba the winter season is the most desirable time for travel. 

 While the heat in the sunnner is great, it is not so oppressive as the heat in the 

 northern United States. As far as business is concerned, this is influenced largely 

 by the crops. While sugar is being ground merchants are usually busy and aim to 

 have well assorted stocks for that period. They also desire to provide themselves 

 with good assortments for their Easter business and Cliristmas holidays. Travellers 

 must arrange their trips in order to obtain the business sufficiently far- in advance in 

 order to insure shipments to meet these conditions. The sugar grinding season starts 

 about December 1st and is finished June 1st. 



RESOURCES OF WEALTH 



The chief resource of wealth in Cuba is agriculture, depending chiefly on sugar 

 and tobacco, although the raising of fruits and vegetables is growing in importance. 



INHABITANTS 



In Cuba a very considerable portion of the population is colored, mulattos and 

 blacks. The whites, however, are greatly in the majority. A recent census gives Cuba 

 a population of approximately 2,900,000. 



PER CAPITA IMPORTS 



Cuba is the largest buyer of American goods among the Latin American countries. 

 The market is excellent, although highly competitive, for all kinds of goods. 



CUSTOM DUTIES ON SAMPLES 



The regulations regarding custom duties should be carefully studied before the 

 salesman takes his departure. The regulations are particularly strict, and it is neces- 

 sary in most cases to advance the value of the duty on samples. If -the samples 

 are exported within a certain period, the money is returned. 



GOODS IN DEMAND 

 Cuba affords an excellent market for many lines of manufactures and can con- 

 sume practically everything of a staple or novelty nature. 



