THECUBAREVIEW 19 



DECREASE IN SHOE IMPORTS OF CUBA 



The sale of American-made shoes in Cuba decreased in the fiscal year ended June 30 

 1912, by 282,673 pairs, valued at $236,125. The following table shows the shoe imports 

 into Cuba during 1910-11 and 1911-12, together with the amount of the trade with the 

 United States and the amount of imports through the port of Santiago de Cuba : 



Imports — Total 1910-11 1911-12 



Pairs Value Pairs Value 



Men's S61,SS4 $1,731,424 874.588 $1,755,054 



Women's 1,783,245 1,724,448 1,584.264 1,525 215 



Children's 1,186,948 547,759 1,090,552 487,237 



Total 3,832,077 $4,003,631 3,549,404 $3,767!506 



From United States 



Men's 619,053 $1,277,642 603,844 $1,241,781 



Women's 1,556,334 1,574,569 1,379,997 1,241,781 



Women's 1,556,334 1,574,569 1,379,997 1,349,258 



Total ^ 3,080,573 $3,339,284 2,858,760 $3ioi7!961 



Into Santiago de Cuba 



Men's 41,046 $60,882 49,336 $74,237 



Women's 62,502 56,573 80,098 76,071 



Children's 43,211 19,729 46,023 22,417 



Total 146,759 $137,184 175,457 $172,725 



The decrease is due to the establishment of factories in the city of Havana which 

 manufacture for the local trade, especially for the military forces, which were formerly 

 supplied under contract with American manufacturers. 



There are no statistics available showing the status of the shoe business for the fiscal 

 year 1912-13.* It appears, however, from statements made by representatives of the 

 American shoe companies in this island, that the sale of the American shoe is increasing 

 by no small amount. One representative stated that his sales had more than doubled in 

 1913 and that the American-made shoe was by far the most pop.ular and satisfactory. 

 Practically all the leading American shoes are on sale. The long French last is still the 

 most popular, especially for women's shoes, but the typical American lasts, particularly 

 those with the blunt toe, are becoming more popular for men. 



On account of the high rate of duty on shoes imported into Cuba from other countries, 

 the shipping charges, etc., the retail price of shoes is about $1 higher than in the United 

 States. Therefore the first-class shoe of the United States has little sale in this country. 



Customs duties on imports from the United States are collected at the following rates: 

 Men's shoes. No. 5 and larger, American measure, $0. 13(i5 per pair and an additional 9.1 

 per cent ad valorem ; young men's smaller than No. 5, ladies' and misses' shoes, $0,091 

 per pair and an additional charge of 9.1 per cent ad valorem; children's shoes, No. 9^-j 

 and smaller, $0.0455 per pair and an additional 9.1 per cent ad valorem. 



In addition to the duties prescribed by the customs tariff, there is levied .under the 

 provisions of the port improvement law an additional charge of 70 cents per 1,000 kilos, 

 or 32 cents per 1,000 pounds, on all nnported merchandise. — Report of U. S. Vice-Consu! 

 at Santiago, January 9, 1914. 



* The figures for the first nine months of 1913, showing boot and shoe imports into Cuba from the 

 United States were printed in the December issue of The Cuba Review, a marked increase for the 

 year is shown. 



PARCELS POST TREATY COMING C'uba has heretofore steadfastly refused 



to consent to anv parcels post arrangement 



A parcels post treaty with the United for the reason that while there are thou- 



States which will permit of the exportation sands of products in the United States 



of Cuban tobacco to that country in small that can lie exported to Cuba under a 



packages is probable in the near future parcels post treaty there is practically only 



according to a statement given out January one product that Cuba can export in small 



22d by the Cuban State Department. packages, namely tobacco, and that product 



It will be of immense advantage to the is forbidden by the regulations except in 



cigar and cigarette industry of the republic large quantities. 



because at the present time no package If the treaty is carried into efl:'ect. pack- 

 containing less than 3,000 cigars can be ages weighing up to 11 pounds, can be 

 shipped to the United States. shipped by mail to the United States. 



