THE CUBA REVIEW 



29 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



of Habana, 17 of which are dailies, including 

 one in the Chinese language. 



Electrotypes used here are generally im- 

 ported from the United States, but there are 

 a few local photo-engraving plants. In gen- 

 eral, the attitude of Cuba inclines towards 

 the American graphic arts. 



The quantities and values of various kinds 

 of paper imported into Cuba in 1914 were: 

 Paper in sheets, 5,488,283 pounds, $304,348; 

 wrapping paper, paper sacks, etc., 3,411,720 

 pounds, $105,102; wallpaper, 12,194 pounds, 

 $1,121; other paper, 17,813,973 poimds, 

 ^872,654; blank books, 306,030 pounds, 

 -$43,974; headed paper, 381,171 pounds, 

 $105,413; books and other printed matter, 

 $120,813; lithographs, stamps, maps, etc., 

 $116,278. The quantities and values from 

 the United States were: Paper in sheets, 

 4,570,808 pounds, $241,414; wrapping paper, 

 paper sacks, etc., 2,855,798 pounds, $91,309; 

 wall paper, 4,129 pounds, $462; other paper, 

 7,798,853 pounds, $408,779; blank books, 

 202,646 pounds, $27,840; headed paper, 

 267,650 pounds, $77,656; books and other 

 printed matter, $36,691; lithographs, stamps, 

 maps, etc., $12,162.— Consul H. M. Wolcott, 

 Habana. 



MARKET FOR LUMBER IN CUBA 



Cuba imports annually about 600,000,000 

 feet of lumber. This consists, for the most part, 

 of pine, spruce and fir, and is imported in the 

 form of inch boards, running from 6 to 12 

 inches in width; planks 2 and 3 inches thick 

 and of various widths, and deals sawn to 

 various dimensions to conform to orders 

 received 



The greater part of this lumber comes from 

 theUnited States, principally from the Gulf of 

 Mexico ports, but Canada supplies a large 

 •quantity. A large part of this liunber is 

 brought on schooners, but since the ferry ser- 

 vice between Cuba and Key West has been in 

 operation, considerable lumber from Florida 

 and Georgia is shipped by rail. This lumber, 

 on arrival in Cuba, is taken direct from the 

 ■docks to the mills, where it is planed and 

 made ready for building purposes. It is then 

 shipped to all parts of the island. 



The increasing prosperity of the island has 

 largely increased the demand for lumber of all 

 kinds, but lack of vessels has prevented the 

 necessary supply from being obtained, and 

 consequently has curtailed building opera- 

 tions. 



The laborers in the cane fields, now that 

 they are getting more pay for their work, are 

 not content to live in houses of palm leaves, 

 but are constructing more comfortable wooden 

 houses. The clerks in the business houses, 

 many of whom have been living in small, 

 poorly ventilated rooms in the crowded parts 

 of Habana, are now getting building lots out- 

 side the city and constructing houses, mostly 

 of wood, where their families can enjoy the 

 fresh air and sunshine. The business men 

 also are building residences in the suburbs, 

 mostly of brick or concrete, but even these 

 require large quantities of lumber for doors, 

 windows, staging, molds for concrete, etc. 

 Spruce, pine, fir, hemlock and cedar would be 

 suitable for all building purposes in Cuba. 



Besides this class of lumber, Cuba imports 

 quantities of shingles, thousands of crates for 

 fruit, shooks for packing cases, stave heads and 

 hoops for making barrels, and large quanti- 

 ties of broom handles. Pine, spruce and fir 

 would be suitable for making fruit crates and 

 packing cases. These are imported cut in 

 exact lengths ready to be nailed together and 

 are tied in bundles. Birch, maple and ash 

 would be suitable for barrel heads, staves and 

 hoops. These arrive tied in bundles, and when 

 put together are used for packing beer. Yel- 

 low birch and maple make the best broom 

 handles. — J. C. Manzer, special representa- 

 tive of the New Brunswick Government. 



CUBA SECOND IN IMPORTS, SIXTH IN 

 EXPORTS TO U.S.A. 



The Cuban consul in New York City has 

 reported to the State Department that data 

 recently published shows that Cuba holds 

 second place in imports and sixth in exports 

 to the United States. During the past 

 year there entered proceeding from Cuba 

 merchant vessels of various flags totalling 

 3,034,493 tons. 



