20 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



between these two countries. Now if with all these advantages in our favor the American 

 manufacturer lets the European take business away from him like "taking candy from chil- 

 dren," what can we expect in countries like the Argentine, and others still further distant, 

 where the American has no handicap in his favor, and must get the business strictly on his own 

 merits? 



The Americans doubtless are getting a fair share of the office appliances and supplies 

 business in some countries, but I am sure that they would greatly increase their export business 

 by studying the methods of their European competitors and then face the issue squarely, 

 make the necessary reforms or concessions, and GET the BUSINESS. And right now is the 

 time to do it. — Office Appliances, Chicago. 



CUBA'S PURCHASES LARGE 



Exports to Cuba via Southern ports are 

 greatly in excess of those of any previous 

 period, which indicates that the island repub- 

 lic, unable longer to receive direct shipments 

 from Europe, is transferring her trade to the 

 United States. 



Cuba has always been a heavy buyer in the 

 markets of Euro])e, but now Europe is in a 

 very bad way, and it is difficult for any of the 

 countries, especially of the Continent, to 

 export goods. 



Cubans are buyers in large quantities of 

 burlap bags, machinery for their sugar houses, 

 and are securing more dry goods than ever 

 before. 



The United States always did a fairly good 

 shoe business with the Cubans, but the orders 

 for shoes have been increased, and the out- 

 look now is for heavy shipments of clothing to 

 the islands. — Interview with Mr. Joseph Lal- 

 lande, Assi-stant General freight agent of the 

 Southern Pacific Raikoad in the New Orleans 

 Picayune. 



COAL EXPORTS TO CUBA 



The coal exports of the United States to 

 Cuba in the last five years compare as fol- 

 lows: The figures were compiled for the 

 "Black Diamond" of New York by Theodore 

 Swann, of the Alabama Power Co. 



Long tons 



1909 688,991 



1910 818,173 



1911 983,506 



1912 1,151,397 



1913 1,316,472 



SHORT-PAID POSTAGE AND MISDIRECTED 

 LETTERS 



One cannot help being impressed on glanc- 

 ing over the reports from the United States 

 Consuls in foreign countries by the fact that 

 American exporters still give cause for 

 complaint in the matter of insufficient atten- 

 tion to the necessity of mailing letters with 

 sufficient postage and being careful that 

 their mail is properly addressed. Foreign 

 merchants are extremely sensitive on these 

 points, and we believe that the Ctiha Review 

 has on previous occasions brought this matter 

 to the attention of American exporters. 



One of the American Consuls writes that 

 the matter of providing letters with sufficient 

 postage is a question that should receive the 

 serious consideration of American business 

 houses if they expect to accomplish the best 

 results in conducting commercial relations by 

 means of correspondence. Recently this 

 consulate sent through the usual channels 

 notice of a trade opportunity to American 

 exporters in a given line of goods. Several 

 American firms wrote to the prospective 

 customer mentioned in the commercial 

 inquiry, l)ut it appeared that one of the firms 

 had its letter returned to it. An explanation 

 of the fact was asked at this office. The 

 consul interviewed the manager of the local 

 house to whom the letter was sent and it was 

 learned that several letters had been received 

 from American exporters who desired to 

 enter into business relations with him, and 

 it was also ascertained that he had refused to 

 accept delivery of five letters because of the 

 insufficient postage they bore. The infer- 

 ence from this sort of thing is too obvious for 

 words. 



HAVANA RACE MEETING OPENS 



The President and Senora Menocal and the 

 fashionable societj'' of Havana attended the 

 opening of the race meet on Jan. 14th. The 

 weather was perfect. Four thousand persons 

 were present at the opening. The evening 

 papers are not enthusiastic over the meet, 

 however; the Cubans not understanding the 

 betting system. 



DEATH OF GENERAL MONTEAGUDO 



General Jose F. Monteagudo died at his 

 home in Havana on December 14th, after a 

 long illness. 



In the Province of Pinar del Rio experi 

 ments have been carried on in the raising o- 

 tobacco and in the fertilizers used in that 

 industry. Analyses are made in tha labora- 

 tories at the experimental school, the results 

 of which are made known to the farmers and 

 a list of precautions distributed to prevent 

 their being deceived by worthless fertili.iers. 



The offices of the Cuban Commercial Asso- 

 ciation, an organization which has for its 

 object the attracting of visitors to that 

 Island and affording them a pleasant stay 

 there, have been opened in the Hotel Plaza, 

 Havana. 



