THE CUBA REVIEW 



13 



trie cars, for there are many in com- 

 mission, carried their charcoal down to 

 the boat, waiting at the dock, they as 

 promptly recognized their usefulness and 

 were glad to use them. 



The factory in its appointments equals 

 many of the factories in France. A 

 gas manufacturing machine of English 

 make makes gas out of charcoal, which 

 runs the engine and oither machines and 

 dynamo, the latter in turn supplying 

 electric lights for the houses and power 

 for the electric road. A series of stor- 

 age batteries now being made, will re- 

 lieve the dynamo at night. Labor-sav- 

 ing devices are in operation here, for 

 Mr. Balbis, the proprietor, is an expert 

 engineer and electrician, and the result 

 of his work, is celerity and thorough- 

 ness of service, almost automatic and re- 

 quiring but little labor. There are kilns 

 with electric indicators by which the 

 heat is regulated. There is machinery 

 on every hand fashioning the clay into 

 forms for the presses which in turn 

 stamp it into moulds for the hollow 

 bricks and stamping machines for the 

 flat tiles. There are numerous wheeled 

 trucks which, when loaded are wheeled 

 to the drying racks and later to the 



kilns. The output of the factory is now 

 from 2,000 to 4,000 tiles daily; but more 

 capital would easily and largely increase 

 the output. As showing the profit it 

 might be well to say that the total prod- 

 uct daily is sold to one merchant in Cien- 

 fuegos for $50.00 per thousand. The cost 

 of production is about $15.00 per thou- 

 sand. This contract, it is understood, will 

 not be renewed, but it is the intention of 

 the company to establish distributing 

 yards in Cienfuegos and sell direct to the 

 consumer at prices much less than the 

 imported article can be sold for. 



The nation-made half-round tile is 

 a very inferior article, easily broken by 

 the pressure of the hand, because made 

 of a poor quality of clay. During a rain 

 storm they absorb water readily, prevent- 

 ing its shedding, while the company's tile 

 has no porosity, but is hard and sheds 

 water quickly. A magnificent spring of 

 pure water is on the property and runs 

 full even during the dry season. And 

 water is usually a difficult proposition in 

 Cuba. There are several springs, but the 

 largest is located just in front of the fac- 

 tory. The best families of the city get 

 their supply of drinking water from this 

 spring. 



The trolley and clay pits of the "Simpatia" estate. 

 El trolley y yacimiento de arcilla de la propiedad el "Simpatia." 



