THE CUBA REVIEW 9 
marked during the past six months in the North has not left Cuba untouched. There 
is a noticeable increase in the number of robberies which are occurring both in the 
city and outlying districts and recently several gruesome murders have been coni- 
mittéd in Havana, which cases are baffling the local police forces in their efforts to run 
down the perpetrators. The criminals are becoming bolder and much attention has 
been given -to their activities by the police forces of the city. 
FALSE RUMOR OF UPRISING IN CUBA: We have noticed from the American 
press that credence was given to the report that an uprising of the colored race in 
Cuba was imminent. That this uprising is not going to take place is absolutely sure, 
and as far as we can ascertain there is no discontent in Cuba among the colored race 
at this time, nor has there been for some years. 
NEW BANK ORGANIZED IN HAVANA: ‘The Mercantile Trust Company, located 
at No. 198 Monte St., Havana, has been granted a charter to engage actively in tke 
banking business in Cuba with a paid-up capital of $250,000. The officers of this 
bank are Bernard L. Barker, President; Sr. Manuel R. Alarcon, Vice-President and 
General Manager; the Secretary is Dr. Heliodoro Gil, and Sr. Luis Valladares will 
act as Treasurer. The list of officers is suggestive of strength, and we have every 
reason to believe that this bank will enjoy a signal success. 
BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA RETRENCHING: With the idea of effecting econ- 
omy until the present financial crisis has passed, the Banco Nacional de Cuba has 
closed practically all of its branches on the Island, which numbered one hundred 
and thirty, leaving only those open for business located in the largest cities of each 
province. In Havana only the central office of the Banco Nacional is open, all.of the 
many branches throughout the city having been closed. This action, of course, has 
thrown many out of employment. It is stated that this closing of branch houses is. 
only temporary and that they will be reopened as soon as conditions become normal, 
Just when this will be there is no telling. 
HARBOR NOTES: The United Fruit Company steamer ‘San Pablo,’ which: 
grounded at the entrance to Havana Harbor during December, was successfully 
floated by the Merritt & Chapman Wrecking & Dredging Company tug “Relief.” 
After slight repairs in Havana had been made to the “San Pablo” she was towed to 
Key West by the tug ‘Relief,’ from which port she will be taken to New York to 
undergo extensive repairs which are necessary. The Swedish steamship “Marmen,’” 
which arrived in Havana on January 12th, had a narrow escape from suffering the 
same fate as the United Fruit steamer “San Pablo,” in that when entering the harbor 
with a pilot aboard the steering gear of the ship failed to operate and for a time it 
was feared that she would surely go ashore. However, the engines were reversed 
and the pilot by clever manipulation finally managed to bring the ship safely into 
the port. 
' The port authorities are taking vigorous steps to safeguard health on the Island 
by insisting upon frequent fumigation of ships from Mexican ports and also by 
sending any suspect cases among immigrants arriving from Spain to Triscornia for 
observation. Recently, however, three members of the crew of the Italian steamer 
“Savoia” were found to have well developed cases of yellow fever and these were 
immediately given necessary attention by the harbor physician and the cases were 
isolated. Recently the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, was included among those against 
which Cuba maintains a quarantine. 
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: Although the Cuban courts are finding that some 
irregularities took place throughout the Island during the recent Presidential elec- 
tions, due in most instances to a misunderstanding of the new Crowder Electoral 
