THE CUBA REVIEW 



JAPANESE FOR CUBA 



The President recently gave permission to 

 the Constancia sugar estate to import 25 

 Japanese laborers for some new irrigation 

 work on the ])lantation cane fields. 



On inquiry at the Culjan Consul's office at 

 New 'i'ork City, it was ascertained that there 

 are no particular jjrohiljitions against Jajian- 

 ese coming to Cuba and that the innnigration 

 laws of the United States govern in the latter 

 Republic. The only condition that Cuba 

 makes to the coming of the Japanese is that 

 they secure papers of identifications in order 

 to avoid being confused with Chinese. 



The Japanese for Constancia were imported 

 into Cuba as skilled laborers, and they will be 

 permanently employed on the estate and will 

 also act as instructors to the Culjans in 

 methods of irrigation. An initiative of this 

 kind is important for Cuba where irrigation 

 is necessary owing to the droughty conditions 

 which exist from May to October each year. 



It might be added that a few weeks ago 

 The Cuba Review received a letter from one 

 of its subscribers in Hawaii who asked for in- 

 formation regarding the admission of Japan- 

 ese into Cuba as laborers on the plantations. 

 Our correspondent stated that there were 

 many Japanese in the Sandwich Islands who 

 would be glad to go to Cuba if assured of 

 steady work. 



Sr. Pedro Bustillo, Governor of Havana 

 Province, has recently issued a proclamation 

 to the agriculturists, colonos and cattlemen of 

 the province, calling attention to the injuries 

 the European war has inflicted upon the indus- 

 bries of Cuba, especially tobacco, and which has 

 trought high prices for food produrits im- 

 ported from abroad, but which are necessities 

 to the population. 



The Provincial Association of Agriculture, 

 Commerce and Labor deems it necessary to 

 give some wise counsel to the productive 

 classes mentioned above. 



Their first advice is to the tobacco growers 

 to reduce the acreage devoted to its cultiva- 

 tion on account of the closing of the European 

 markets, making it impossible to dispose of 

 their product. Figures have been given in 

 the Review showing the marked decrease of 

 cigar exports to Germany, France, England 

 and other countries. 



This condition of affairs involves the ruin 

 of the tobacco industry and of the growers. 



For the future the cultivation of cane and 

 minor fruits seems attractive. 



The association also calls their attention to 

 the fact that the tobacco growers, agricul- 

 turists and others utilize their ground in sow- 

 ing tobacco seed, tubers and sugar cane, from 

 which, in normal times, the return has been 

 sufficient that Cuba depends upon foreign 

 countries for its grain, forage, fowl, butter 

 and lard, eggs, meat, etc., for which it annually 

 pays millions. 



The imports for the fiscal year 1912-13 are 

 quoted in the governors proclamation and are 

 awe inspiring. 



An examination of the figures he says, 

 makes one think that we are inhabitants of 

 the most arid region in the earth and that our 

 soil is incapable of produceing the products 

 necessary for their luaintenance. 



The important amount of *2S, 908,148 rep- 

 resents the im])ortations referred to in the fis- 

 cal year and are divided as follows: 



Oats r)99,432 



Fowl 20,986 



Rice 7,694,381 



Peas 908,278 



Hay and bran 486,007 



Corn meal 90,038 



Eggs 1,218,905 



Beans 1,528,453 



Condensed milk 2,165,766 



Canned vegetables 498,416 



Lard 6,148,827 



Potatoes 1,897,066 



Corn 2,347,257 



Jerked beef 3,208,336 



As may be seen the major portion of these 

 products can be produced in Cuba. 



It is urged in conclusion that the classes 

 already mentioned get together and exchange 

 views, and adopt measures whereby these 

 things can be produced in Cuba. 



Commenting on the above, a correspondent 

 of the Avisador Comercial of Havana, says 

 that he has visited the markets of the country 

 many times in search of bananas, sweet 

 potatoes, beans and other vegetables and 

 fruits for the daily meal and has had to pay 

 very high prices. 



CUBAN COINAGE 



The Cuban government has awarded the 

 contract for the supervision and distribution 

 of the new currency to the National Bank of 

 Cuba. The coinage of the new money will 

 be done at the United States mint in Phila- 

 delphia and delivery of approximately $3,000,- 

 000 Cuban silver coins will shortly be made. 

 The gold coins will be minted afterwards. 



CUBA RAILROAD EQUIPMENT TRUST 

 CERTIFICATES 



The Philadelphia banking house, which 

 undertook the sale of these certificates, has 

 announced that it has been necessary to cancel 

 their sale. The issue was known as "Equip- 

 ment Trust Certificates of 1915." Their 

 sale when, if and as, issued, was conditional 

 upon legal approval. The question of legality 

 required considerable time for research as it 

 had to do with not only the laws of Pennsyl- 

 vania, but also those of Cul)a, in which 

 country the equipment was to be used. 

 Finally the counsel of the banking house 

 decided that they could not approve the 

 proposed issue. It is carefully explained that 

 the action of the lawyers was in no sense a 

 reflection on the high credit of the Cuba Rail- 

 road Company, but owing to the many 

 technical legal questions involved, it was 

 considered best to cancel the issue. 



