THE CUBA REVIEW, 



25 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



JACKSONVILLE WANTS CUBAN TRADE 



The Jacksonville (Fla.) Board of Trade has 

 invited United States Consul General, James 

 H. Rodgers, of Cuba to visit Jacksonville. On 

 the arrival here of this well known official of 

 the United States, a meeting will be held where 

 the business public will have a chance of 

 hearing his ideas on how this country may 

 exj^ect to get into closer trade relations with 

 the republic of Cuba. 



During his recent visit to Cuba, Mr. 

 Charles H. IVIann, President of the Board of 

 Trade, was much interested in the signs of 

 prosperity there. He had several conversa- 

 tions with Mr. Rodgers, and found him well 

 informed on the industrial and business feat- 

 ures of the island republic. President Mann 

 thought that the Jacksonville Board of Trade 

 should ask its representatives to Washington 

 to urge the state department to allow Consul 

 General Rodgers a leave of absence so as to 

 give business men of this state the benefit of 

 his knowledge on trade matters. 



CUBA GRAPE FRUIT PRICES 



Cuban and Isle of Pines receipts of grape 

 fruit at New York in the week of Xovemljer 

 ■27th Vv^ere light. Some Isle of Pines fruit 

 was very fine and brought good prices for 

 fancy stock, .$2.25 to $4.00 being the range. 

 ■Choice stock sold at $1.62^ to $2.00. No 

 Cuban stock was offered. 



For the week of Dec. 4th, Cuban receipts at 

 New York were very light and the stock gen- 

 'Crally showed up verv fine, the fancy stock 

 •oeling at $2,623^ to $3.75, the choiceat $2.12 

 si $2,873^, and the ordinary stock at $1 to 

 1.75. 



Isle of Pines fruit was in more liberal re- 

 ceipt but were light. In spite of this, the 

 fruit generally was of a fine quality and ordi- 

 nary stock among the shipments was not 

 noted. The fancy stock was sold at $2.12^ 

 to $3.25, and the choice brought $1.50 to $2,25" 



At Chicago, on the same date, grapefruit 

 was quiet, chiefly due to mild weather. 

 Cuban and Isle of Pines fruit sold for $1.75 

 to $2,25. 



At Buffalo Isle of Pine fruit was quoted at 

 $2 to $2.50. 



PATERSON SILKS FOR CUBA 



What may prove a new avenue for the ex- 

 portation of silk products from this city to 

 Cuba was opened through the receipt at the 

 headquarters of the Paterson, New Jersey, 

 Chamber of Commerce of a communication 

 fi'om Francisco Caula of 79 Obrapia Street, 

 Havana, on November 27th, which contained 

 a sample of French silk, and asking if the 

 same grade was manufactured in the city. 



The communication stated that the Euro- 

 pean war had resulted in almost a complete 

 cessation of the receipt of silk in Cuba, and 

 the wi'iter believed that a splendid market for 

 silk goods could be opened up there. The 

 Paterson Chamber of Commerce has sent 

 copies of the letters of the Cuban concerns to 

 fifty of the manufacturers, and no doubt they 

 have been communicated with in Paterson 

 and probably by this time they have made 

 arrangements for supplies. The Chamber 

 does not intend to make this a regular meet- 

 ing matter, but will continue to be whatever 

 service it can to the Cuban concerns and any 

 others who wish connections with silk con- 

 cerns or other manufacturers in the city 



THE PORTS COMPANY CLAIMS 



WiUiam E. Gonzales, United States Minister to Cuba, conferred on November 6th with 

 President Mario G. Menocal, J. R. Villalon, Secretary of Public Works, and C. de La Guardia, 

 Secretary of Justice, in regard to a settlement of the claims of the Ports Improvement Company. 



On December 8th the Diario de la Marina, an influential daily of Havana, stated "it is 

 believed that the Government will interest itself very soon in the prompt solution of the Ports 

 •Company affairs." 



"At the recent visit of the Minister of the United States, he recommended to General 

 Menocal that he try to solve the annoying question of the claims, as the bondholders of the 

 Ports Com.pany were constantly soliciting action on the part of the Government at Washington, 

 and that the United States was interested in the settlement as its protection had been de- 

 manded." 



It is said that a solution that will end the dispute that has caused so much disturbance will 

 be made promptly. 



The Ports Improvement Company had a concession for improving the harbors of Cuba, 

 in return for which it received a certain portion of the tonnage duties. The bond and stock 

 holders are mostly English, but several American contractors are interested in the work. 



The concession was cancelled by President Menocal some time ago on the ground the 

 Government could carry on the work to better advantage, and also because, as alleged, the 

 ■company had not lived up to its contract. 



The matter has been in the courts for more than a year. 



