10 



THE C r I' A H K \ I !•: \\ 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



PREPARATION OF SHIPPING DOCUMENTS 



In vimv of the cxi)iMionco of soveral large 

 iiniKirtiiifi firms in Hahana rocontly, it is 

 consiik-rcHl advisalilo again to call the atten- 

 tion of exporters in the I'nited States to the 

 importance of careful and painstaking prepar- 

 ation of invoices and shipi)ing documents 

 accompanj-ing export shipments. 



In two instances lately an American firm 

 in Hahana has been required by the customs 

 authorities to pay full duty at the general rate 

 (instead of the reduced rate applicable to im- 

 ports from the United States) because of 

 failure to attach the certificate of origin of the 

 merchandise to the consular invoice. It is 

 also within the knowledge of this office that 

 two other firms in Cuba are now experiencing 

 difficulties with the customs authorities on 

 account of blunders in the preparation of 

 shipping documents. 



These mistakes are invariably costly, and 

 it seems poor economj' on the part of the ex- 

 porters to employ any but the most capable 

 clerks for performing this work. It is sug- 

 ga.sted that it would be well to establish a 

 check system on all documents covering for- 

 eign shii)ments, which will eliminate to the 

 greatest degree possible the probabilitj' of 

 error. This is important not only because it 

 means a saving in customs duties and avoid- 

 ance of fines and penalties, but because it 

 also means satisfied customers and a contin- 

 uance of trade in the future. — Consul Henry 

 M. Wolcotl, Hahana. 



SPRUCE LUMBER FOR CUBA 



The steam schooner Kate is reported to 

 be loading at Tacoma, Washington, a cargo 

 of 6o0,0C0 feet of spruce box lumber for 

 Havana. It is stated that this is the second 

 cargo of spruce shipped from the North 

 Pacific to Cuba, and is the first cargo of 

 box material of spruce. 



SOUTHERN STEEL FOR CUBAN MILLS 



Among recent contracts received bj' the 

 Virginia Bridge & Iron Co., Roanoke, Va., 

 is an order for 400 tons of steel. This mater- 

 ial is to be shipped to the Central Palma Sugar 

 factory, Central Palma, Cuba, for building 

 an addition to that sugar manufacturing 

 plant. 



OPENS CUBAN OFFICE 



The Cram Fngineering Co., Inc., of Haiti- 

 more, Aid., announce the estal)lishment of a 

 West Indies branch at IK) Aguiar Street, 

 Havana, with A. Columbus Smith as manager. 

 In addition to carrying on the regular busi- 

 ness of the company in this territory, the Cu- 

 ban oflfice will serve as an agency for American 

 machinerv manufacturers. 



DRUG STORES 



According to the Boston Transcript, a 

 large drug company of Massachusetts will 

 establish a chain of twelve retail drug stores 

 in Cuba. It is proposed that wholesale 

 distributing stations be established at Havana 

 and Santiago, while retail stores will be 

 opened at Havana, Camaguey, Cardenas, 

 Cienfuegos, Guanabacoa, Matanzas, Santiago, 

 Santa Clara, Marianao and other places in 

 Cuba. 



MOTOR-SHIP SERVICE TO MFJ<ICO AND CUBA 



The scarcity of steam tonnage is bringing 

 about a good man}- innovations in transporta- 

 tion from Gulf ports to ISIexico, Central 

 America, and the West Indies. The latest 

 development is the formation in this city of 

 a company that proposes to establish a 

 service of large schooners equipped with 

 gasoline engines. The new company has 

 already secured two four-masted schooners 

 that are now in Cuban ports bound for New 

 Orleans, and is said to have options on two 

 others. These vessels will be equipped here 

 with 100 horsepower gasoline engines on 

 their arrival and will he ready early in July 

 to load outbound general cargo either for Cuba 

 or Mexico, according to the best inducements. 



The promoters of the new enterprise 

 expect to secure return cargoes of various 

 tropical products and become an important 

 factor in the relief of the present freight 

 congestion in Frontera, Mexico. 



The new company' is incorporated under 

 the name, "Mexican Fruit & Steamship Co.," 

 with offices in the Whitnej' Building here,, 

 having selected Mr. John Beninato as vice- 

 president and general manager. All of the 

 company's vessels will be operated under 

 the American flag. — Commercial Agent Jas^ 

 F. Ferguson, New Orleans. 



