THE CUBA REVIEW 



The automatic service in Cuba has proven 

 to be economical, secret, swift and convenient 

 — in every way making for the highest possible 

 efficiency in service. 



PROSPEROUS YEAR FOR CUBA FRUIT 

 EXCHANGE 



The Cuba Fruit Exchange is a cooperative 

 association of growers and shippers of fruits 

 and vegetables, the majority of the members 

 being American colonists resident in Western 

 Cuba. It has just closed a very successful 

 year, the reports of the secretary and treas- 

 urer presented at the annual meeting held 

 July 17 showing the exchange to be in excell- 

 ent financial condition and to have clone an 

 imexpectedly heavy business diu-ing the 

 twelvemonth. Beginning the year with a 

 deficit of nearly $1,000, it ended with a surplus 

 on hand of almost $2,000, thus indicating a 

 profit of some $3,000. As the exchange is a 

 cooperative institution, seeking not profits 

 but merely the good of its members and great- 

 er economy in the handling of their wares, the 

 surplus will be applied toward the formation of 

 a $5,000 working fund and will, after this is 

 amassed, be distributed among the ship- 

 pers. 



The statement of business handled during 

 the year shows shipments totaling 81,120 

 boxes, these coming from as far east as Omaja, 

 in Oriente Province, and from as far west as 

 San Juan y Martinez, in Pinar del Rio. This 

 quantity contrasts more than favorably with 

 the 21,000 and 27,000 crates of produce hand- 

 led for members in the two preceding years. 

 Throughout the year there was apparent 

 a growing desire on the part of the Cuban 

 vegetable shipper to become associated with 

 an organization of this character. 



Amalgamation Effected — Scope of Work. 



The exchange was founded in lr)ll as a 

 stock company (its organization being duly 

 reported in Daily Consular and Trade Re- 

 ports for Oct. 10 of that year), with the object 

 of uniting the growers, principally of citrus 

 fruits, and of introducing more economical 

 methods of marketing the produce of its 

 members. In August of last year an amal- 

 gamation was efi'ected wath the Cuba Grow- 

 ers' and Shippers' Association, a cooperative 

 body organized for the same purpose as was 

 the old exchange. Upon amalgamation, the 

 Cuba Fruit Exchange surrendered its charter 



as a stock corporation, taking on a coopera- 

 tive character. Concerning the past year's 

 work the secretary's report saj's: 



"The exchange has utilized during the sea- 

 son just ended fom- main points of entry into 

 the United States through w^hich to distribute 

 its products. These have been Boston, New 

 York, Key West and New Orleans. By far 

 the largest quantity of products has been sent 

 to Xew York, where the exchange has had a 

 representative whose work has been truly 

 effective. Very prompt and complete cable 

 reports have been received, showing the con- 

 dition upon arrival and the selling price of 

 the products of the various exchange members, 

 and returns have been received, with only a 

 few^ exceptions, in 12 to 14 days after the ship- 

 ment from Habana. It has frequently hap- 

 pened that information concerning goods ar- 

 riving one afternoon and selling the following 

 morning, would be in oiu- hands by noon of 

 the day of sale, this information giving details 

 of prices received, condition of goods and 

 state of the market. This information was 

 then passed along to our members by mail, 

 telephone, telegraph or market letter, as 

 seemed most desirable." 



The exchange is doing splendid work in 

 uniting the agriculturists in this Republic, and 

 in pointing the way to greater prosperity and 

 general betterment. — Consul H. M. Wolcott, 

 Hahana. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN IRON COMPANY 



It is announced in the press that the Beth- 

 lehem Steel Company, which some time ago 

 acquired the control of the Spanish- American 

 Company, has decided to enlarge the nodul- 

 izing plant at Felton, Nipe Bay. It is pro- 

 posed to expend the sum of $1,000,000 for this 

 new construction. 



ELECTRIC CABS 



It is announced that the Havana Electric 

 Light & Power Company has applied for 

 a building license for a garage in Havana 

 to be used for the operation of electric cabs. 



HAVANA ELECTRIC RAILWAY. LIGHT AND 

 POWER COMPANY 



Reports are current in Havana that the 

 Havana Electric Railway, Light & Power 

 Company will absorb the Cuban Telephone 

 Company. 



