THECUBAREVIEW. 29 



cane. The mill is in first class condition, President Gomez affixed his signature 



much new machinery having been installed Dec. 19 to the bill approved by Congress 



during the last few years. Last season's suspending the decree whereby the use of 



output was 47,000 bags, ^nd for this year the cartroads was prohibited for the trans- 



the estimate is 60,000. . . , portation of sugar cane. 



The price paid for the property is said 



to be $250,000 currency. The property in- According to law the decree will not be- 



cludes 147 caballerias of land, the mill come operative until May, 1911, but the 



proper and batey property and cane on the President may permit such transportation 



ground for 50,000 bags of sugar. in special cases. 



CUBAN PRODUCE IN .NEW YORK. 



Season Opens With Liberal Receipts of Tomatoes and Light Arrivals of Onions, 



Other Vegetables and Fruits. 



(Especially written for the CUBA REVIEW by the Urner-Barry Co., New York.) 



At this season of the year Cuban vegetables commence to arrive in the New York 

 market in quantity, and receipts usually increase during the winter and early spring until 

 stock from nearby sections becomes so plentiful that further Cuban shipments are 

 unprofitable. 



The first lot of Cuban vegetables was received in the first week of December. Total 

 arrivals for the month of December were 19,062 packages, mostly tomatoes and onions. 



The opening price for Tomatoes was $2.S0(a)$3 for fancy, and $1.50(ai$2 per crate for 

 good to choice. Later prices fell to $1.75(a:$2 for fancy and $1.25@$1.50 for the lower 

 grades, with no further changes to the close of the month. California Tomatoes were of 

 very ordinary quality and sold at $1@$1.50 per small box, but as soon as Cubans arrived 

 in quantity the California product was neglected, prices became unprofitable and ship- 

 ments were discontinued. A very few Florida Tomatoes are arriving, but generally small 

 and green and a factor of little importance at present. 



Cuban Onions came in about December 22, and opening sales were from $2.50@ 

 $2.65 per crate. Demand was limited, however, and later the price dropped to $2.50, 

 a few sales being reported at $2.40 per crate. The New York market is liberally 

 supplied with old onions of very attractive quality, from nearby and western sec- 

 tions, and it is impossible to interest dealers in the new Cuban product. The only 

 outlet for them is to out-of-town trade, and probably about only one-tenth have been 

 sold to local dealers, the balance having been shipped to out-of-town markets. 



Okra, Peppers and other Cuban vegetables have arrived in such limited quantities as 

 yet that settled values have hardly been established. Receipts from Florida, however, 

 are also very limited, and a very cold wave about Christmas is reported to have badly 

 damaged the crop in Florida, so that light receipts are expected fT some time to come 

 and these only from more southerly sections. In view of this, the outlook seems very 

 favorable for Cuban vegetables during the next few weeks, especially for Eggplants, 

 Peppers, Okra, etc. 



Florida Oranges and Grapefruit have been in very heavy supply of late and the 

 light receipts from Cuba have met with very little attention. Much of the Cviban 

 fruit, especially Oranges and Grapefruit, has been more or less wasty in the past 

 upon arrival, and is in less favor with buyers than the Florida fruit. The Oranges 

 are usually very sweet and sell best in the season when Florida fruit is less plenty 

 and inclined to be green and sour. Cuban Oranges in strictly sound conditioji, well 

 packed and graded, average just now, when Florida fruit is so plenty, abput 75_c@$l 

 per box under prices realized for Florida. Cuban Grapefruit is often thick skinned 

 and less attractive than fine Florida stock, and also averages somewhat lower in 

 price. 



Pineapples are arriving moderately from Cuba and meeting a very limited demand 

 at rather low prices. Sales of late have been in range of $1.50@$1.75 for size 18, with 

 24s selling from $1.50@$2; 30s, $1.25@$1.50, and 36s, $1@$1.25 per crate. Some 

 wasty stock has had to go somewhat lower. The demand for Pineapples is rather 

 limited during the cold weather, and just now quite liberal supplies are coming from 

 Porto Rico, with some Florida pines also on the market. The Cuban pines compare 

 very favorably with other stock and command at present about same prices as are 

 being obtained for Florida and a little more than sellers realize for Porto Rico stock. 



New York, January 4, 1910. 



