THE CUBA REVIEW 21 



INTRODUCING MOTOR TRUCKS 



AN INTERESTING JOURNEY THROUGH CUBA 



Cuba, since the independence of the island, has followed the initiative of the Americans 

 who developed many of the highways for military purposes, and there is now an excellent 

 foundation for what will eventually be a complete highway system, and this will be of great 

 economic value, for the railroads of the island have small mileage as compared with the United 

 States. 



For several months a motor truck manufacturing company has had two men in Cuba, who 

 haA^e devoted themselves to practical demonstrations of the work that can be accomplished 

 with a 3.000-pound truck of the company's manufactm-e, and before their task is completed 

 they will have well exliausted the possibiUties, so far as the preliminary exploitation of motor 

 vehicles in the commercial centres is concerned. They have not only to interest and educate 

 practical men who may engage in the distribution of motor trucks, but they have to lay the 

 foundation for business that these men can later develop. 



On making a tour of the island several months before, the two men carefully noted the 

 condition, both- in the cities and on the plantations, and found there were many opportunities 

 for the use of motor wagons in the haulage of tobacco, sugar cane and sugar products, fruit 

 and vegetables. These facts impelled the concern to immediately make an endeavor to 

 develop business in the island. 



With this pm-pose in view a truck was prepared to meet the requirements of the men, who 

 were commissioned to make a torn- of the island to establish agencies and sub-agents and to 

 practically demonstrate the advantages of the Federal truck in general haulage work. The 

 truck was equipped with an express body, with a frame that might support a water proof 

 cover, either to protect the loads or the occupants, and this was provided with the usual form 

 of folding canopy over the driver's seat. It also had a tight-fitting water proof top to cover the 

 body frame, and means were provided for storing food, cooking utensils, clothing, bedding, etc., 

 for the machine was intended to serve for shelter whenever circumstances necessitated, for 

 there was reason to beheve they would frequently be compelled to pass nights away from 

 hotels where they would be dependent entirely upon their own resources. 



The first attention was given to Havana and a number of demonstrations were made. 



Then the crew began work in the western end of the sland, crossing the mountain ridge, 

 and going as far west as Pinar del Rio, making sub-agencies in a number of the principal 

 towns and cities and demonstrating the machine at the plantations of interested men. In 

 Havana considerable demonstrating was done for the International Brewing Company, 

 which has a very well equipped plant and which makes dehvery at considerable distances 

 from the city. 



Relative to the drive to Pinar del Rio, a letter briefly stated the following: "We got back 

 here last night from Pinar del Rio after a very successful trip. Our demonstration load con- 

 sisted of 10 barrels of bottled beer and five cases, each containing 16 dozen bottles. The 

 total load weighed 4,800 pounds. We dropped half of this load at Guanajay, about 30 miles 

 out, and the going most of the way was over good macadamized roads. The total run to 

 Pinar del Rio was 118 miles. Our actual running time was 8.5 hours. We used 12 gallons 

 of gasoline and 1.5 pints of oil. We took two daj's to come back, stopping at the towns en 

 route to show the truck. There is an excellent opportunity to place some trucks with fruit 

 growers, tobacco plantations and fisheries in this section." 



The intention of the demonstrators is to start east from Havana and to go as far as Santiago, 

 which is well toward the eastern end of the island, stopping on the way to give demonstrations 

 in the largest towns and at the different plantations. — Motor Truck, Pawtucket, R. I. 



SPAIN GREETS CUBAN CADETS TEXAS CATTLE TO CUBA 



The Cuban School Ship "Patria" arrived During the last eighteen months more 

 at Corunna, Spain, on July 12th, from the than 2,950 head of horses have been con- 

 West Indies. An elaborate series of fetes signed to the island of Cuba from Fort 

 were organized in honor of the visitors and Worth. — Fort Worth (Texas) Record, June S. 



the residents presented a golden salver to 



the captain of the "Patria." 



On July 4th President JMenocal pardoned 



Em-ique ^laza, the Cuban journalist, who in 



Jose Miguel Tarafa, the well known August, 1912, was sentenced to two and a 



financier, was the victim of an automobile half years' imprisonment for assaulting 



accident in Havana recentlj'. He suffered Hugh S. Gibson, then Charge d'Affaires of 



two broken ribs. the American Legation in Havana. 



