THECUBA REVIEW n 



flyrocls and fly tackle, states that the virtues of mahoe for fishing rods are an attractive appear- 

 ance, promptness of action, liohtaess and indifference to moisture. The wood makes good 

 fuel and excellent charcoal. 



Excepting cigar box cedar and mahogany, no other wood has been exploited more in Cuba 

 than the bHie mahoe, and the demand for it has always been equal to the supply. The quanti- 

 ty available is at present somewhat Ihnited though it is always obtainable in moderate amounts 

 in the Cuban m:^rkets. There is always a fair demand for this material among furniture 

 makers in the United States and in England, but the local requirements and uses to which it is 

 put together with the limited supply of the timber make the amount availeWe for export 

 rather doubtful. Owing to the valuable character of the wood, trees of large size have become 

 comparatively scarce, and at the present time such trees are to be found only in remote dis- 

 tricts beyond the reach of roads and railroads. The best grades of tim.ber obtained fron- large 

 and mature trees often bring a higher price than mahogany, especially in the United States. 

 In Cuba, the prices range from $75 to $150 per thousand board feet, and in this country it has 

 l)een sold for as high as $200. To procure the best grade wood of the characteristic color, tex- 

 ture and weight, the trees must be allowed to attain considerable age and size. The \alue of 

 the timber is unquestioned, and in any system for the conservation of forests, and repla.iting 

 denuded areas that may be adopted in Cuba, the majagua will no doul;)t receive, as it de,serves, 

 special consideration. 



The wood of the majagua tree is not the only important product it yields; the inner bark 

 of this tree yields exceedingly tough fiber used by the Cubans for many purposes. The ma- 

 jagua fiber, which is commonly known as Cuban bast, possesses unusual durability, which is 

 a point of great importance. It is well adapted for making rope, twine, sacking and mats. 

 At oae time it was used for tying bundles of the genuine Havana cigars, but afterwards im- 

 ported as substitute for the Russian biist used by the gardeners for tying up plants. It has 

 also been used in making cigarette wrappers, and it is emploj-ed in many regions for making 

 fishing nets. The native country store-keepers use it instead of twine, and the rural jiopula- 

 ticn generall} uses it for making lassos, halters and ropes and wherever strength and durability 

 are required. The majority of boatmen in some part of tropical America depend upon it for 

 making theii* tie-lines and anchor ropes. The only expense incurred is the time required for 

 making the ropes, while imported ropes are too expensive for the average boatman to buy. 



In order to prepare the fiber, the hard, outer, corky bark is first removed by chopping it 

 off with a sharp ax, taking care not to cut too deep into the inner living bark, which may be 

 easily removed by hand after it is once started. This operation must take place during the 

 active growing period of the tree while the trunks and branches are still green. 



It is this inner portion of the bark that fm-nishes the strong and flexible fiber comparable 

 to jute. Upon long maceration in water it becomes much stronger and acqunes properties 

 which render it of exceptional value for paper making. By treating the bark with hot diluted 

 solution of soda, a mass of fibers will be obtained, which vary in length from one-half to one 

 centimeter. They are as thin as those of our hemlock or red fii-, but have strongly thickened 

 w^alls and very small cell cavities. According to Roxburgh investigations, the breaking strength 

 of these fibers is much greater than that of a majority of other textile plants. It is en account 

 of its great strength that the inner bark of this tree is used for so many purposes. It might 

 be gathered in immense quanddesand brought into the United States for the]>urpose of paper- 

 making, but the possible commercial application of this fiber at present seems imprcbable, 

 si ce the material could not be produced as cheaply as wood and other paper materials. 



C. H. PEARSON. 



CUBA'S GROWING POSTAL SERVICE i^gj. gp^j i,^ ^qq- ^|>i,p muni^er of registered 



Cuba's postal service is developing at an letters and packages increased from 748,260 



extraordinary rate. The number of post '" ^^^^ *« 1,856,462 in 1914. In the de- 



ee- u ■ J J- ori • innp i pre partmcut of foreign mails the number of 



offices has increased from 361 in 1906 to 658 ' .... 



^ ,, , . . r ,^,- 11.1 1 packages sent and received in 1907 was 



at the beginning of 191o, and the telegraph ^^^^^^ ^^^ .^^ ^^^^ ^^2_^_^, j^ .^ ^^p^^^^^ 



offices from 77 in 1902 to 226 in 1915. The ^j^^^ ^ ^^^^. convention with England will 



number of telegrams dispatched m 1914 was shortly be concluded which wiU permit the 



1,341,831, an increase of 3007c over the num- transmission of packages by parcel post. 



