THE CUBA REVIEW. 



COMMERCIAL MATTERS. 



Imports and Exports to Cuba — Salable Cotton Goods. 



Cuban treasury officials year. To increase our business for the fis- 

 Errors in complain with emphasis as to c^l year 1907 a million and a half we 

 American the carelessness and incorrect- bought more than eight times as much. 

 Invoices, ness exhibited in American Cuba imports yearly cotton 

 invoices. These may be gen- Cotton goods valued at $10,000,000, 

 erally described as lack of specification as Goods in of which Great Britain sup- 

 to the character of the goods, erroneous Cuba. plies 42 per cent, and the 

 weights, and confusion of kilos and pounds, United States 18 per cent, 

 insufficient data as to valuation, errata in PoHtical ties, geographical proximity and 

 invoices not properly certified_ by the con- favoring duties, should give the bulk of 

 sular officer, failure to classify _ and de- ^^lis business to the United States, but ex- 

 scribe American-made and foreign goods porters should famiUarize themselves with 

 included in the same shipment, and van- ^j^^ Cuban customs tariff as applied to cot- 

 ous deficiencies in bills of lading. _ ^^^ goods. Invoices, consequently, should 

 It should be remembered that owing to specify the gross weight, mark, and num- 

 lack of wharf space at Habana there is ^^^ ^^ ^^^^1^ (,j^gg. ^nd descriptive details, 

 but limited time for the clearance of goods, ^^^^ , ^^^^ q£ ^^^]^ different class of goods 

 and after seventy-two hours, high charges contained therein, as follows: Number of 

 for transfer and storage commence, and pjpces quality or brand, and total net 

 these constituting a first lien on the ship- ^,^.eicrht • and also, for goods in the piece, 

 ment oftentimes, in event of delays in the ''"width," total number of yards, and 

 clearance through defective papers, failure -^^ ^^^ ^^^^ Likewise the count of 

 of consignees to receive, and other causes threads on such goods as pay duty thereby, 

 of related character, will not only absorb Printed percales calicoes 

 profits but also occasionally result in con- ^^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ ginghams, 60 threads to 

 fiscation. They are sufficiently high to warn Most Salable, th^ sqn2.r^ inch, are more 

 exporters of the wisdom and economy of salable than any other kind, 

 exercising the greatest care m their expor- ^.^^^^ ^^^ ^^^j^ underwear, sweat- 

 tation documents.— Report of United States etc., are likewise salable, and cotton 

 Consul-General James L., Rodgers, Havana. ^^^^j^^ sheeting, ladies' summer blouses, 

 Analyzing our exports to ^hite duck or pique skirts, belts, garters, 

 Imports owcf Cuba for the fiscal year 1906- suspenders, men's shirts, collars, etc., all 

 Exports Far 1907, the New York Tribune receive a favorable reception. 



Apart. finds a gain in trade of 125 Only a small part of this 



per cent By comparing these ^^ 90-^03; trade is conducted on a cash 



ater exports with those of 1903, a year ■^ j.^^"^^^ -^ ^^^^-^^ ^j^j^.^ ^o ninety-day 



when Cubari merchants, says the New ^^^^^ prevail. American 



York Press, were holding back purchases ^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ terms as liberal 



until they should see the outcome of the ^^^ European, which fact curtails to 



pending reciprocity treaty, and when con- ' ^^^^^^ expansion of American trade; 



sequently_ our exports were at the very ^^^^^ ^ Ij^^l^ "spreading" 



owest point smce 1899. . The Press fails ^ Liberal oi terms by the Americans 



to find any cause for rejoicing m the 125 ^^^^-^ ^^^j.^ ^^et with favorable re- 



per cent increase believing it secured at Advised. sponse in trade and would 



too great a cost It fortifies its opinion by ^^^^^il ^^^ 3^,^11 risk if regu- 



tne following terse presentation of trade j^^^^ ^^ ordinary precautions, for it is a 



figures r^ , M • , fact worthy of note that the textile im- 



In 1900 we bought from Cuba thirty-one of Cuba are as a class eminently 



H d°"L°H . H T yV ^^ f^ ^^" '^T solvent and bear a well-deserved reputation 



ty-six and a half millions of our exports ^ ^ j^ integrity, sustained for years, 



?"h if ^'ifn" ^\^^\^J"'^ ""^"^ ^°" r^K^^ even through the disastrous financial period 



a half millions _ In 1901 we gave Cuba ^ ^ j^- j^j^ i„3t Spain.-Re- 



torty-three milhotis of our money for ^ United States Consul James L. 



twenty-six of hers. We were out, on the fe„Ler, Havana 



swap, seventeen millions. In 1902 we gave ^o^S^rs, Mavana. 



her thirty-four millions for less than twen- During the fiscal years 1905- 



tv-seven millions; we were out seven mil- Immigration Ob and 1906-07, the following 



lions. But in the last fiscal year, showing Figures. immigrants came into Cuba: 



our "gain of 125 per cent.," we gave Cuba ^^i'^^? 1906-07 



more than ninety-seven millions for forty- Europeans 46,560 25,114 



nine millions ; we were out forty-eight mil- Asiatics 862 701 



lions. -r ^ , , ^ , Americans 5,i5i 3.657 



in 1906-07 we sold Cuba a Others 72> 20 



Trade Bal- ™'llio" ^"d a half more than 



ance Very ^^ ^°^^ ^^'' ^" ^^"^^ previous Total 52,652 29,572 



Uneven ^^^^^ ^^^''' ^"^ ^^ bought a decrease of 23,080 arrivals in the 



twelve and a half millions present fiscal year as compared with the 



more from her than in the previous fiscal last year. 



