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T H E c r li A H !•: \' I v: w 



A Street Scene, Simtiago <le C'liba. 



SANTIAGO 



By Consul P. Merrill Griffith 



The year 191.5 was one of exceptional prosperity for the l-i'antiaRO consular district. The 

 sudden curtaihnent of supplies and restriction of L'uropean credits on account of tlie outbreak 

 of the war appreciably alTected the commercial and industrial activity of Cuba, yet perhaps 

 no country settled its temporary monetary derangement with greater dispatch and emerged 

 from the crisis with less difficulty and inconvenience. As a matter of fact, Cuba is one of the 

 countries that has benefited most from the increased demand and high prices for sugar, upon 

 the j)r()duction of which the prosperity of the people in the Santiago district almost wholly 

 depends. 



Increased Demand for Sugar Brinr/H Prosperity to the Island . 



It is a generally recognised fact that just before the war the indebtedness of many of the 

 owners of mills and i)lantations was so great, the operating expenses so heavy, and the price of 

 sugar so low, that an economic crisis was inevitable. The sudden advance in price, however, 

 relieved the depression; financial oljligations have been met, many needed improvements have 

 been made, several new mills have been erected, laborers are well paid and prosperity is in evi- 

 dence everyiiv'here. 



The acreage in cane was increased considerably during the year, on account of the unusu- 

 ally high prices for sugar. Of the island's total sugar production, 18,100,105 bags, last j-ear, 

 this district supplied 5,888,250 bags, or 32 per cent, an increase over 1914 of 664,555 bags, or 

 2.56 per cent. 



Ri(7)) and Alcohol — C'uUiiation of Citrus Fruits. 



Cuba's production of nun in 1915 was 696,067 gallons, in comiMirison with 420,517 gallons 

 in 1914, and of alcohol, 2,021,116 gallons against 649,722 gallons in 1914, the Santiago district 

 producing 23 per cent of the rum and 20 per cent of the alcohol during the year under review. 



