THE CUBA REVIEW 



27 



ithey would take a rapid start toward a more 

 widespread popular favor. 



There are two factories in Havana mak- 

 ing fancy biscuit, that of Vilaplana B. Calvo 

 being the largest. It is equipped with modern 

 machinery and appliances in every way and 

 turns out a remarkably fine product, which is 

 in great favor locally. The output is shipped 

 all over the island of Cuba, and some exporta- 

 tions are made to South America. Chocolate 

 of a superior quality is made in all forms, the 

 Taw material coming mainly from Venezuela. 

 The other factory is that of Maestro y Mar- 

 tinique. It turns out fancy biscuit, cakes, and 

 the like, manufactures some chocolate, and 

 •also makes a specialty of guava jelly and 

 pastes of native fruit. — Special Agent Garrard 

 Harris. 



GROWING USE OF AUTOMOBILES IN CUBA 



There is a constantly increasing demand for 

 automobiles in Santiago and throughout this 

 consular district. Most of the city and subur- 

 ban roads are macadamized and, although 

 made several yeais ago, are in excellent con- 

 dition for either business or pleasure. 



Ninety per cent of the cars already in use 

 are of American manufacture, the remainder 

 being chiefly ItaUan and French. While a 

 fair nvmaber of high-priced automobiles are 

 owned here the greatest demand in this sec- 

 tion is for a low or medium price, strongly 

 built car with a serviceable hood for protec- 

 tion against the heavy rains as well as the 

 sun. 



On account of the excellent concUtion of the 

 roads in this city and vicinity, the low freight 

 rates, the popularity of American cars, and 

 the excellent local financial conditions, now is 

 the time for American manufactiu'ers to 

 make arrangements for the extension of their 

 trade in this section of Cuba. Of course, the 

 most satisfactory way to do this is to send 

 out competent representatives who are ac- 

 quainted with trade conditions and the cus- 

 toms of the people and thoroughly conversant 

 with the Spanish language. 



(Official American statistics show the follow- 

 ing shipments of motor vehicles from the 

 United States to all Cuba in the last two fiscal 

 years: Commercial automobiles — ^1914, 19 

 vehicles, value $33,500; 1915, 21 vehicles, 

 value, $34,607. Passenger automobiles— 1914 

 297 cars, value $254,428; 1915, 1,359 cars, 

 value $745,695. Auto parts— 1914, value, 

 $48,217; 1915, value, $101,429.— Consw? P. 

 Merrill Griffith, Santiago de Cuba. 



AN AUTOMOBILE FOR CUBA 



A recent shipment to Havana, Cuba, was 

 an automobile of which the following de- 

 scription shows its luxmy: 



The car is a "38" seven-passenger locomo- 

 bile limousine, the exterior of which has been 

 enameled pure white. This porcelain effect 

 was obtained through the use of a special 

 imported enamel containing no varnish, 

 thereby eliminating the yellowish cast which 

 appears in most white cars. The only touch 

 of color on the car is afforded bj' two very 

 fine stripes around the edge of the panels in a 

 light green. 



The entire interior, including the driver's 

 compartment, is upholstered in pigskin. 

 This material is difficult to handle on account 

 of its thickness, and on this order it was 

 necessary to use twenty-four skins, selected 

 and assorted from sixty skins submitted for 

 the purpose. 



Another novel feature of the finish of the 

 car is the roof, which is constructed of 

 joined slats of selected and polished Cuban 

 mahogany. The central idea back of this 

 scheme of finishing in white enamel, pigskin, 

 and mahogany was to afford an impressioa 

 of coolness. The pigskin, of course, does not 

 attract the dust as would a fabric, and is very 

 easily cleaned. The entire steering gear, 

 door handles, lamp brackets, and other ex- 

 terior metal fittings were finished in white 

 porcelain enamel, while the tire covers at the 

 rear were made up especially in white fabric 

 to accord with the general finish. 



CUBA PROSPEROUS AND BUSINESS OUTLOOK 

 GOOD 



Conditions in Cuba are very favorable for 

 the opening of new lines of business. The 

 effects of the recent years of low prices for 

 sugar are rapidly disappearing as a result of 

 the profitable prices prevailing during the 

 European war. There has been a widespread 

 liquidation of old indebtedness. Banks have 

 been liberal with advances and money has 

 been easier to obtain from private sources. 

 Optimism prevails in nearly all lines. 



The grinding season of 1914-15 has just 

 closed, and the accepted figures are that the 

 crop consisted of 2,582,845 tons, valued at 

 $204,000,000, or more than $68 per capita for 

 every man, woman and child on the island. 

 The prospects are good for the new grinding 

 season, which begins in December. The 

 cane crop is well gi-cttii and a large yield is 



