THE CUBA REVIEW 



15 



Key West, and there is nothing extraordinary 

 in the extension of that service across the 

 islands of Santo Domingo and Porto Rico. 



The completion of the Panama Canal has 

 left disengaged an immense quantity of 

 construction machinery which was used in 

 the work and which the American Govern- 

 ment will dispose of cheaply. The plan of 

 a waterway across Cuba recommends the 

 excavation of a canal of sea level, 100 meters 

 wide by 15 or 16 deep, between Jucaro 

 and Moron on the south and north coasts 

 of Cuba respectively, in Camaguey province 

 (see map). 



The idea of making a canal from Jucaro 

 to Moron is not a new one, as is neither that 

 of the Panama Canal. The Spanish Govern- 

 ment had the former under study for many 

 years, knowing well the economic advantages 

 which would result from it, and did not fail 

 in the reaUzation of their scheme, through 

 indolence or apathy, but through a lack of 

 money and because of the opposition of 

 interests that were not willing to see Spanish 

 power secured in any part of America. For 

 the same reason the Cuba Railroad was not 

 constructed until North Americans conceived 

 the idea which was then rapidly carried to 

 completion. 



As may be seen in the map, the line 

 between New York and Panama would be 

 almost straight with increased saving of 

 time and expense in navigation. Now that 

 Cuba is in a way to enjoy an era of per- 

 manent peace, the old obstacles to her 

 complete development are removed and the 

 matter of a canal from Jucaro to Moron is 

 simply a question of setting about its con- 

 struction with vigor. The same Spanish 

 Government indicated the manner of making 

 a canal in building the Trotcha across the 

 island which consists of a wide and deep 

 ditch, a strong barb wiring and a series of 

 fortifications raised at certain distances, 

 between the two ports named. If, then, 

 with shovels, picks and spades, 50 or 60 

 kilometers of ditch are excavated, what 

 might not be excavated with the tools 

 employed at Panama? 



This new canal venture presents no 

 difficult engineering problems. The ground 

 is flat and the distance about four-fifths or 

 less of the Panma Canal. The advance in 

 value in the magnificent lands of the district 

 which wiU come will amply compensate 

 Cuba for the expenses occasioned by digging 

 the canal The locahty abounds in excellent 

 materials necessary for this class of work 

 especially in Ume. The richness of the soil 

 which has been already partly developed 

 in the region described is a guarantee of 

 the immense returns which may be confi- 

 dently awaited at the proper time 



For many reasons the work should be of 

 national character. There are capitalists 

 desirous of executing it, but under no con- 

 sideration should such work be confided to 

 private initiative, that is foreign, creating 

 obhgations unjustly onerous of the young 

 nation. It will be an everlasting mark of 



glory for the Government which accom- 

 phshes it and a claim to immortality for the 

 administration of General Menocal if the 

 initiative is taken now. 



CUBA'S POSTAL SERVICE 



The following, from the pages of Modern 

 Cuba of Havana, may explain the complaints 

 of Cuba Review subscribers who do not 

 receive their copy regularly. Modern Cuba 

 says: 



We are sorry that we must still call at- 

 tention to the poor condition of our rural 

 postal service. 



One of our subscribers calls attention 

 to the fact that he rarely receives second 

 class mail intended for him. He also states 

 that there is little wonder, when once con- 

 siders the way the local post offices are 

 administered. In some of them people are 

 allowed to sort their own mail, also the 

 children are allowed to play in some of the 

 offices and have even been known to take 

 the mail from the boxes and play with it 

 on the floors of the apartments. Little 

 wonder that both first and second class 

 mail is lost when subjected to such careless- 

 ness. Strange as such things may seem, 

 we have ourselves seen the like on several 

 occasions in various parts of the island 

 within the last ten years. 



Postmasters should have it impressed 

 upon them that mail is pubhc property in 

 the strictest sense of the word and must not 

 be tampered with in any way whatsoever. 



ORANGE PRICES AT HOME 



At present the orange crop of the La 

 Gloria district is practically all sold in the 

 island. Cuban buyers come and buy the 

 fruit on the spot, the price being based either 

 on orchard run, picked, at the grove, or de- 

 livered at the nearest shipping point on the 

 bay. Thence it goes in small boats, in bulk, 

 mostly to Caibarien, from where it is sent to 

 various points along the railroad. Prices are 

 not what they should be, but the grower 

 benefits greatly by the sales being "orchard 

 run;" thus he does not lose the large per- 

 centage of culls as in shipping north. 



The present season has been a satisfactory 

 one on the whole, though the prices have been 

 somewhat erratic. The crop, except late 

 varieties, is now cleaned up. Prices ranged 

 all the way from $3.50 to llO per thousand. 

 ^La Gloria Cuban- American. 



TRUST COMPANY DIVIDEND 



The board of directors of the Trust Com- 

 pany of Cuba agreed to distribute a dividend 

 of three (3%) per cent, of the earnings of the 

 first half of the current year, due June 30, 

 1914, and which was paid on July 6th, at 

 the offices of the company in Havana, to the 

 stockholders. 



