THECUBAREVIEW 17 



1913-14 1912-13 



Delicias 492,662 Bags 327,438 Bags 



San Manuel 



Tinguaro 197,240 " 216,084 " 



Nueva Luisa 



Unidad 66,606 " 96,816 " 



Mercedita 88,447 " 104,836 " 



Constancia 162,861 " 120,365 " 



Gramercy, La 30,663 " 22,380 " 



Total 1,654,658 bags 1,363,292 bags 



or or 



264,745 tons 218,127 tons 



Refined Suga7' Production 



Cardenas Refinery, Cuba 13,043,392 lbs. 7,746,155 lbs. 



Gramercy Refinery, La 134,404,793 " 123,058,425 " 



The report says: 



"The increased production of sugar has been due in part to the greater quantity of cane 

 gi-ound and the higher sugar contents of the cane, also in part to the improved work of the 

 houses, and of the organization in charge of the details of the business. The year's operations 

 show lower manufacturing costs than those of any former season. 



Until August when our active campaign was completed, ruling prices were low and only a 

 remnant of the company's output remained to be sold at the high prices of August and Septem- 

 ber. The earnings of the companj- have been made and prices obtained for its product below 

 the average selling price for the past five years. The fullest provisions has been made for 

 doubtful Colonos accounts. The yearly productions of the original cost of plantings and all 

 expenditures of cane fields where renewed plantings were required have been written off. 



The profits are arrived at after charging $764,015 for depreciation of buildings, machinery 

 and equipment. By the annual addition to the reserve for appreciation a fund is being created 

 that is believed sufficient to meet any deterioration in the plant. Tliese together with all 

 other departments are maintained in a state of high efficiency and constantly strengthened by 

 the apphcation of the latest and most improved methods. 



"The capital outlaw's during the year on the properties amounted to $870,808, largely in 

 the purchase of lands, the construction of railroads and railroad equipment, the erection of 

 living houses and additions to factories. 



"While the season now entering is late in the beginning of active operations the outlook 

 is promising for a prosperous year." 



PACKING FAULTS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES 



Consul Walter F. Boyle. Ceiba, Honduras. 



The reputed failure of American exporters properly to pack goods for foreign shipment 

 has been forciblj^ brought home to the writer. On appointment to his present post he bought 

 from New York exporting houses much of his household furniture, etc., and in each instance 

 was particular to impress on the sellers the necessity of compact packing because of the 

 reckoning of ocean freights by cubic feet of displacement rather than by weight. 



Notwithstanding this admonition, the goods were packed without regard to size or weight 

 of packing, and it became necessary to pay about 150 per cent, more for freight than was 

 necessary; and had it not been for the fact that an American consul's goods are admitted 

 free of duty, the excess of customs charges would have been fully 75 per cent., as the customs 

 tariff in Honduras is based on the gross weight of importations. Not only were the goods 

 packed in cases far in excess of any necessity, but in one or two instances their size was 

 such as to render their landing from lighters on the open beach almost impossible. 

 Deductions for Excess Freight — Pack-Train Transport 



Business houses in this district state that they all have trouble with the packing of goods 

 from the LInited States, and that, to protect themselves, they stipulate in their orders 

 exac'tly how the shipments shall be packed, with the agreement that deductions may be 

 made for excessive freight or customs charges arising from failure to pack as prescribed. 

 They claim that in many instances they are forced to make these deductions. 



Exporters to Honduras should remember that ocean freights are based on cubic feet of 

 displacement (save where the freight would be greater on a weight basis), and that customs 

 duties are collected on the gross weight of the shipment; also that, while there are some 

 wharves in this district, the possibility of landing from a lighter on an open beach must be 

 contemplated. Articles in boxes about 1 b}' 1 by 3 feet in size, with a weight of 100 pounds 

 or less, may be transported to the interior readily bj' pack trains, and although there is 

 little commerce of that kind in this consular district, it is well to pack goods with ultimate 

 carriage by pack train in view. — From Commerce Reports. 



