16 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



I 



San Juan Battlefield — Monument to American Soldiers 



Banking Conditions — Cuslom House and Cily Receipts. 



The banks in Santiago, the Banco Espanol, the Banco Xacional de Cuba, the Royal 

 Bank of Canada, and the National City Bank of Xew York (estal)lished a few months ago), 

 are all branches of estaljlishmonts in Ilabana. With the agricultiu'al and commercial prosperity 

 of the district last year the banks all did a most satisfactory business and facilitated to an ap- 

 preciable extent the ])lanters and mill owners in extending their cane acreage and installing 

 new improvements. 



Banks here sell at J/g of 1 per cent premium and buy at J^ of 1 per cent discount, the rate 

 of interest varying from 8 to 10 per cent. Exchange on Paris, London, and Berlin during the 

 year was one-sixteenth to one-eight over Xew York rates. In July, 191fi, there was about 

 §6,000,000 on dejiosit in the banks of this city. 



The reccii)ts of the Santiago customhouse for 191.5 totaled $1,954,457, as against $1,7:U,154 

 for 1914, while for the 6 months endeil .lune :^0, 191ti, the amount was SI, 175,963 . 



The population of Santiago in June, 1916, was 63,115. During the fiscal year ended June 

 30, 1916, the city receipts were $329,972, an increase over th? preceding year of $69,032. 



Public and Private I tnprnvements — Visla Aelgre. 



The satisfactory economic condition in this Province (Oriento; during 1915 is shown bj' the 

 public and private improvements undertaken and the number of new buildings constructed. 

 During the year 281 building permits were issued, an increase of 45 over 1914. 



