30 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



AMERICAN SHOES IN CUBA 



Although about 80 per cent, of the shoes 

 used in Santiago de Cuba and tiu-oughout 

 this consular district is of American manu- 

 facture, the demand, on account of their 

 superior quality and style in comparison 

 with those of Spanish, Austrian, or Frene^h 

 make, is constantly increasing. 



During the fis(!al year etuling June 30, 

 1914, there were imported into Cuba -1,010,116 

 pairs of shoes, the valuation of which was 

 $4,249,681. Of this quality 3,259,690 pairs 

 came from the United States, which were 

 valued at $3,398,940. 



The rate of duty on shoes from countries 

 other than the United States is 13 per cent, 

 ad valorem, and in addition, per pair, 19.5 

 cents for men's shoes, 13 cents for women's 

 shoes, and 6.5 cents for children's shoes; 

 imports from the United States are entitled 

 to a reduction of 30 per cent of the duty, 

 which will make the rate 9.1 per cent ad 

 valorem plus 13.65 cents, 9.1 cents, and 4.55 

 cents per pair, respectively. 



The older inhabitants still cling to the old 

 Spanish style, but the younger people in 

 particular prefer the American styles. 



The demand is for both high and low tan, 

 patent-leather, kid, and white shoes. The 

 high shoe is used more extensively through- 

 out the sugar districts, and the low shoes are 

 popular in the cities. There is practically 

 no demand for rubber overshoes. 



There are three shoe factories on the 

 island, in which only styles for Cuba are 

 made, and these exclusively for women and 

 children. In these factories Goodyear welt- 

 ing machinery is not used. All of the sole 

 leather used in Cuba is of domestic manu- 

 facture, but all of the uppers are imported, 

 principally from the United States. There 

 are several wholesale and retail shoe stores in 

 Santiago. The retail stores are attractive 

 and compare favorably with similar stores 

 in the United States. No one-price system 

 is employed, however, and the prices of 

 shoes vary solely according to appearance. 

 American manufacturers interested in 

 extending their trade in Cuba should send 

 out representatives who are familiar with 

 the social and business customs of the people 

 and thoroughly conversant in the Spanish 

 language. 



Seventy-five })er cent of the duty ])are 

 on samples is returned when the goods aid 

 removed from the country and the salesman 

 has a right to keep them as samjjles three 

 months. These samples are not nuitilated 

 in any way, as they are in some other 

 countries. — Consul P. Merrill Griffith, San- 

 tiago. 



REDUCTION ON FUEL OIL 



A Cuban customs circular of February 22, 

 1915, provides that petroleiun or its products 

 for use as fuel, the distillation point of which 

 is between 270 degrees and 280 degrees C, 

 shall be dutiable under tariff No. 6 (a) and 

 shall be exempt from the surtax of 25 per 

 cent, of the original duty imposed by Decree 

 No. 44, of February 1, 1904. Under the new 

 provision the duty on such products imported 

 from the United States amoimts to $0.56 

 per 100 kilos (gross weight). The reduction 

 is made in order to encourage the importa- 

 tion of petroleum for fuel by industrial 

 establishments in general, and particularly 

 by sugar refineries. 



PACIFIC COAST TIMBER FOR CUBA 



A contract has been closed by a merchant 

 in Habana for the importation from the State 

 of Washington of about 750,000 feet of 

 western spruce timber. This undoubtedly 

 will be the first consignment of Pacific coast 

 timber to Habana by way of the Panama 

 Ctoal. It will imquestionablyalso be the fore- 

 runner of an extensive trade in that line, in- 

 asmuch as a great many of the lumbermen of 

 Habana have been making inquiries concern- 

 ing the importation of west coast timber and 

 lumber. The only thing in the present in- 

 stance which is unfavorable is the high-freight 

 charges which obtain. — Consul General James 

 L. Rogers, Havana. 



UNITED CANDLE FACTORY 



A corporation has been formed under the 

 name of "Fabricas Unidad de Velas" (United 

 Candle Factory), and is now operating in 

 Havana with offices at 191 Calzada del 

 Monte. 



