THE CUBA REVIEW 11 



The only crop other than sugar that showed an increase of production last year was that of 

 citrus fruits. There are no statistics available to show the area under cultivation, but new 

 orchards are constantly being planted and the industry bids fair to become one of importance 

 as the facilities for distribution for local consumption and for shipment to tidewater for export 

 improve. This industry, howpver, is confined almost exclusively to foreigners, Americans and 

 Canadians who have migrated to Cuba since 1898. 



Some of the older orchards are 5aelding profitable crops, and the fruit from those planted 

 on suitable soil and properly cared for is as fine in quality and appearance as that grown any- 

 where in the world. The growth of production has been steady since 1907, when the first 

 shipments were made. In that year there were exported to the United States 5,750 boxes 

 valued at $11,882. The exports for 1915 amounted to 73,85i boxes, the declared value of which 

 was $138,529, an increase in vajue over the preceding year of $8, -501. 



The Iron Industry. 



The iron industry is the second in importance in the district, the mines in operation being 

 at Daiquiri or Firmezo , near Santiago, on the south coast and at Mayari on the north coast. About 

 20,000,000 tons of hard hematite and magnetite have been shipped to the United States since the 

 mines were opened, but the quantity is said to be inconsiderable in comparison with the tonnage 

 of the soft ores that have been discovered within the last few j^ears in the Mayari, Levisa Bay, 

 and Moataco districts. 



While the quantity of iron ore exported during 1915 (796,830 tons) was less than that in 

 1914 by 36,494 tons, the value ($2,378,635) was greater by $116,891. The output would have 

 been more than during any previous year had sufficient vessels been available for transporting 

 the ore. 



Shiptnenis of Iron and Copper Ores to the United States. 



The following table shows the niunber of tons and value of iron and copper ore shipped to 

 the United States from the Santiago consular district for the past seven years: 



Iron Ore Copper Ore — — 



Years: Tons Value Tons Value 



1909 960,880 $2,945,06.5 53,162 $586,890 



1910 . . 1,223,066 4,298,661 41,748 382,743 



1911 ' ' 1,145,135 3,184,088 66,323 490,007 



1912 1,429,763 3,872,078 63,885 679,143 



1913 . . 1,538,477 4,805,458 22,614 570,369 



1914 833,324 2,261,744 57,063 781,712 



1915. '.'.'. 796,830 2,378,635 28,488 1,004,344 



The Copper Mines. 



Copper was discovered in 1520 at El Cobre, near Santiago de Cuba, which has continued 

 to be Cuba's greatest copper producer. This industry w^as relatively most important between 

 1840 and 1860, when the El Cobre mines claimed the world's record production, but with the 

 beginning of the 10-year war all copper mining on the island was closed and practically no cop- 

 per was exported until the El Cobre mines were reopened in 1901 by an American company. 

 These mines are conveniently located, well managed, and employ abot 2,000 men, the majority 

 of whom are Spaniards. 



Xo smelting is done on the island, all copper being shipped as crude ore or concentrates, 

 and no treatment beyond hand picking is employed, except at El Cobre, where 600 tons per 

 day of 3 per cent ore are concentrated by the Minerals Separation Co.'s oil flotation process, 

 resulting in 16 per cent concentrates that are shipped to the United States to be smelted. 



The lack of transportation facilities on the island have greatly retarded the growth of the 

 copper industrjr and the opening up of new mines. The only successful mines have been located 

 near the coast and have had to provide their own transportation to the sea. 



Railroad freights are so high that only very valuable minerals can be handled over public 

 carriers. Once at the coast, however, water transportation is available to the Atlantic Coast 

 smelters in the United States during normal tim2S, at reasonable rates. 



Increased Production of Copper. 



The copper production of Cuba for 1915 was 200,000 tons, valued at $2,200,000, as com- 

 pared with 180,000 tons, worth $2,000,000, in 1914, the increased production being the result 



