THE CUBA REVIEW 27 
Cuba’s Mineral Production 
Mr. Hugh A. Chisholm, Canadian Trade 
Commissioner at Havana, reports that the 
Inspecting Engineer of Mines for the 
Cuban Government has now compiled a 
survey of the mineral resources and pro- 
duction of the Island, which shows that 
Cuba has been producing valuable min- 
erals over a period of many years, and, 
moreover, that comparatively few of her 
deposits have been in any way exploited. 
Iron Ore.—Although there are important 
deposits of iron ore in nearly every prov- 
ince, those in the province of Oriente, in 
the eastern end of the Island, are the only 
ones that have as yet been exploited. Of 
these, the Juragudé mines have been pro- 
ducing over a period of thirty-six years an 
average output of 200,000 tons annually; 
the Daiquiri mines an average of 350,000 
tons annually over a period of twenty-five 
years; the Cuero mines an average of 
83,000 tons annually over a period of ten 
years; and the Mayari mines an annual 
average of 450 tons over a period of eleven 
years. 
Manganese Ore.—Of several deposits, 
only those in the province of Oriente have 
been worked. These have produced an 
annual average of 13,000 tons. The great- 
est production was in 1918, when 97,600 
tons were extracted. 
Chromium.—The working of chromium 
deposits was commenced in 1918 in the 
eastern end of the Island, the output in 
that year totaling 7,000 tons. 
Copper Ore.—Copper ore crops out in 
numerous localities all over the Island. 
Three deposits have been worked for sev- 
eral years, one of which—in the province 
of Oriente—has been producing since the 
year 1830. This mine reached its greatest 
production in 1911, with 94,000 tons. The 
two other mines in the province of Pina 
del Rio have been producing an average 
total of 130,000 tons annually. 
Asphalt.—Operations have been recently 
commenced on the asphalt deposits in the 
province of Santa Clara, and it is expected 
that this year’s production will reach 
10,000 tons. 
Petroleum.—Many sporadic attempts 
have been made to work the petroleum 
deposits, but without any marked success. 
One well produced 8,000 barrels in 1919, 
and two others are now producing 100 to 
180 barrels daily of naphtha. 
With regard to the metal contents of 
Cuban ores, the iron ore in the east of the 
Island shows 54% of iron, manganese ore 
40%, and chromium ore 35 to 45% of oxide 
of chromium. Copper ores show 10 to 
17% copper extraction. Scarcity of labor 
has reduced the mineral output of 1919, 
the mines finding it difficult to compete 
with the high wages offered on the cane 
plantations. The value of Cuba’s mineral 
production in 1918 was $12,000,000.00, but 
1919 will probably not show more than 
60% of this figure. 
National Congress of Chambers of 
Commerce 
The First National Congress of Cham- 
bers of Commerce and business interests of 
Cuba will be held on November 28, 29, 30, 
and December 1, 1921, in Havana, to 
consider measures for developing internal 
and international business. 
Passengers Entering the Port of Havana 
From July, 1920, to February, 1921, 
116,723 passengers from foreign ports 
entered at Havana, an increase of 38,358 
over the same period of the previous year; 
71,672 were classified as residents against 
39,077 the previous year. 
Cuban Exports to the United States 
The declared exports from Cuba to the 
United States during the first half of 1921 
amounted to $55,430,120, as compared 
with $151,899,820 for the corresponding 
period of 1920. The explanation for this 
reduction in exports is that during the 
present year prices in some cases were 
below the cost of production and exports 
were less, whereas in 1920 prices were high 
and exports were heavy and regular. The 
chief commodity exported in each case was 
sugar, $127,691,599 worth being shipped in 
1920 and $38,124,296 worth in 1921. 
Pineapples and tobacco were other leading 
articles of export. 
