THE CUBA RE VI E W 



25 



THE LATE JAMES M. DODGE 



Mr. James Mapes Dodge, Chairman of the 

 Board of the Link-Belt Company, died at his 

 home in Philadelphia, December 4th, 1915. 



He was born June 30, 1852, at Waverly, 

 N.J. 



Mr. Dodge spent three years at Cornell 

 University and a year at Rutgers. At the 

 latter institution he took a special course in 

 chemistry under the late Professor George H. 

 Cook, State Geologist of New Jersey. After 

 spending a short time at the Morgan Iron 

 Works in New York City, he entered the 

 shops of John Roach, the sliipbuilder, at 

 Chester, Pa., where his marked mechanical 

 ability and ingenuity brought him rapid 

 advancement. During the three years at the 

 Chester establishment he was successively 

 journeyman, foreman, and superintendent of 

 erection. 



Shortly after the Centennial at Phila- 

 delphia, in 1876, he left the shipyard, and 

 after several years of experience in the East, 

 went to Chicago. It was here that he formed 

 the acquaintance of Wilham D. Ewart, the 

 inventor of the Ewart Link-Belting, and 

 soon after he joined hands with Mr. Ewart 

 and his associates in the development of the 

 chain business. 



At that time, about 35 years ago, the ap- 

 plication of chains to power transmission was 

 exceedingly limited, and their use in elevating 

 and conveying machinery was practically 

 unknown. The Ewart chain blazed the way 

 for a new industry, and Mr. Dodge and his 

 associates were quick to seize the oppor- 

 tunity. Mr. Dodge's early work was con- 

 fined principally to development and manu- 

 facture, and here his genius had full play. 

 New chains, new methods of manufacture, 

 and new conveying and elevating appliances 

 were brought out in rapid succession. 



Machines grew from capacities of 30 tons 

 per hour to capacities of 1,000 tons per hour, 

 and from simple problems solved by detached 

 machines, the company expanded its field 

 to the planning and arranging of works to 

 secure the most economical and efficient 

 handling of both raw and finished product 

 under guarantees of accomplishment. In 

 all this development Mr. Dodge was the 

 creative and guiding spirit. 



Though for many years a large employer 

 of men, Mr. Dodge never met with any 

 strikes or other labor difficulties. He was 

 deeply interested in the personal welfare and 



advancement of his associates, and he was a 

 conspicuous leader in the general introduction 

 of the best elements in "scientific manage- 

 ment," having the double purpose of pro- 

 ducing greater efficiency in the mechanical 

 and human equipment, and greater pay with 

 shorter hours and improved conditions for 

 the men. 



FINLAY PRIZE 



It has been proposed to establish a fund 

 yielding an annual income of $500, and at the 

 end of every four years to give a prize of 

 $2,000 to the physician who has done the most 

 for medical work in the tropics. It is planned 

 to have this take the place of the proposed 

 monument to the distinguished Cuban physi- 

 cian, Dr. Carlos J. Finlay. 



RAPID GROWTH OF CUBAN PROSPERITY 



Figures just given out by the Bureau of In- 

 formation of the Cuban Department of Com- 

 m.erce reveal an astonishing increase in busi- 

 ness and prosperity in Cuba in the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1915. Exports amounted to 

 $219,447,322, or $88 per capita, an increase 

 of $22 per capita in one year. Strange to re- 

 late, imports fell off appreciably, the total be- 

 ing $8,000,000 less than in the year before, 

 leaving a balance of trade in Cuba's favor in 

 the neighborhood of $91,000,000— a gratify- 

 ing result as all will admit, for a Republic 

 with little over two and a half million popula- 

 tion. It figures out $36.40 per capita, which is 

 a per capita increase of $5 for the fiscal year 

 and illustrates the all-pervading prosperity of 

 Cuba at this time. 



The falling off in imports was not confined 

 to any one line ; it was a general, individual, 

 and commercial retrenchment in the early 

 part of the year. The necessity for this has 

 seemingly vanished, and buying is brisk in all 

 lines. One more year of good sugar prices — ■ 

 which now appears likely — -will put Cuba in 

 magnificent shape. The crop this year is 

 worth $205,000,000 in roimd numbers. The 

 time is opportune to extend all lines in Cuba 

 and press sales.— Special Agent Garrard 

 Harris. 



GRANTS TELEPHONE PERMIT 



The President of the Republic has signed 

 a decree authorizing Srs. Nadal and Menocal 

 to install a private telephone line between 

 their estates, Los Castias and Guamajal, in 

 Majagua of Ciego de Avila. 



